Intel 530/535 NAND write problem (firmware update)

[Spicedaddy]

I bought an Intel 535 SSD 480GB about 6 months ago. I check the Intel SSD toolbox once in a while to make sure everything is ok. I noticed that the "Expected Life Remaining" was going down quickly, it's around 90% now, which doesn't make sense. I've had other Intel SSDs and they barely lost a percent or 2 after years of usage.

So I investigated a bit, and my Host Writes is around 2TB, but NAND Writes is through the roof at 84TB! It seems there's a known problem with the firmware. Here's the thread on Intel's site:
https://communities.intel.com/thread/46941

And here's the updated firmware:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26452/Write-Amp-Firmware-for-Intel-SSD-530-535-Series

 

[razel]

Thanks. Impressed Intel is still supporting the 530. Mine got demoted to being used in a gaming console and would have never bothered to ever check for a firmware update or even manually run TRIM on it. I'll have to see the SMART values and what state it's in now.

 

[VirtualLarry]

So I investigated a bit, and my Host Writes is around 2TB, but NAND Writes is through the roof at 84TB! It seems there's a known problem with the firmware.

That's crazy. Even moreso, when Intel's own SATAII SSD controller used in the G2 and 320 Series drives, had such good WA numbers (for a non-SLC-cache device).

 

[thilanliyan]

I've got a 530 drive. I've got 12.9TB of host writes and 78% "life remaining". I've had it for about 2.5yrs now. Is there anything I should be worried about? Should I even update the firmware? It's in a desktop.

 

[Spicedaddy]

That's crazy. Even moreso, when Intel's own SATAII SSD controller used in the G2 and 320 Series drives, had such good WA numbers (for a non-SLC-cache device).

I have a couple of older Intel SSDs, that's why I noticed something wasn't normal with this one. The older ones have barely lost any Expected Life after years of use.

 

[Spicedaddy]

I've got a 530 drive. I've got 12.9TB of host writes and 78% "life remaining". I've had it for about 2.5yrs now. Is there anything I should be worried about? Should I even update the firmware? It's in a desktop.

Compare host to nand writes in SSD Toolbox to see if it's worth it. Firmware update was quick and easy on my 535, and should extend its life.