Momentus XT, Momentus, Momentus Thin, MobileMax, and other notebook drives

[bigjump]

Hello,

I took care to update my Momentus XT's firmware because I thought it was the right thing to do. 

So SD28 is running. 

I also take care to update the drivers. 

My notebook is an ASUS G73JW / i7-740QM / GTX 460M (1536 Mo) / 8116 Mo DDR3 / 1920x1080 / HDD1 SSH 500Go@7200tmn Momentus XT _ SD28 / HDD2 640Go@5400tmn ST9640320AS / Seven 64bit

But since some weeks I have freezes. 

I don't know what to do, Sea Tools for Windows didn't find any wrong thing, the disk passes the tests. 

I would like to know if Seagate keep on working on Momentus XT' issues ? 

Since my first destop I built 7 years ago, I choose for all my pc Seagate hard drives. But now I began to be tired and disappointed. 

Does anyone have advice or help, please ? 

Thanks alot in advance. 

@+ 

[Klok]

Hey,

This is a personal opinion, but I think that lag and freeze occur because you're using more space than the cache frequently (doing diverse task, more often) and this can't be resolved no matter how long you wait. There is probably no harm for your data, unless you have to hard power down your computer AKA BSOD, or complete iresponsiveness.

Since you can't get SeaTools to give you a rma number, well you can't return them.

You can always try the many suggestion that you can find on this forum, but I doubt that you bought the drive to tinker and get gray hairs...

My solution is, if you're having problem with the drive forget about them(any problem that make you wonder if it's working or not), give or sell them to someone you know make basic task on there computer.

Bonne chance,

Klok

edit:a few typo

[WiseDrive]

Need specifics of what software you are running, what you are doing to cause the freeze and whether it is repeatable.

Do a video for us to see.

Do you use tools like Acronis, or Background defrag, etc?

[bigjump]

Here you are the link of CrystaDiskInfo about my Momentus XT : 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/crystalxt.jpg/

Please, could someone explain about "end-to-end error" ? 

SeaTools doen't find any error, none. 

Thanks.

The freeze isn't repeatable.  It may hapen during some internet, or photoshop, or ...

So I can't make any video.

No acronis or so on my pc.

I never defrag on background. 

[ajarmoniuk]

I can see that you have UltraDMA CRC Error Count at 200 which would suggest problems with SATA cables or connectors.

[WiseDrive]

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ajarmoniuk wrote:

I can see that you have UltraDMA CRC Error Count at 200 which would suggest problems with SATA cables or connectors.

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Yup.

Put the drive in an external case and retest -- if it test good you got your answer.

[WiseDrive]

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Klok wrote:

Hey,

This is a personal opinion, but I think that lag and freeze occur because you're using more space than the cache frequently (doing diverse task, more often) and this can't be resolved no matter how long you wait. There is probably no harm for your data, unless you have to hard power down your computer AKA BSOD, or complete iresponsiveness.

Since you can't get SeaTools to give you a rma number, well you can't return them.

You can always try the many suggestion that you can find on this forum, but I doubt that you bought the drive to tinker and get gray hairs...

---

The facts are as follows.

If it is a "cache overload" issue, the drive defaults to the speed of a normal, 7,200rpm SATA drive of comparable speed.

A normal, comparable 7,200RPM SATA drive do not freeze, stutter, or otherwise deliver unaceptable user performance.

Furthermore, a later post by OP shows actual, multiple errors that are well beyond specifications.

Conclusion: it is certainly not a cache problem.   Almost certainly not a cache overload issue.

Such an issue would suggest that Seagate engineers fell down on the most basic issue of hard drive / cache management for "soft" overfills, which happen quite a bit in hard drives ever since the first data buffer / cache was installed on a Wincheseter (IBM 3880) hard drive with a semiconductor cache circa 1981.

http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/storage/storage_chrono20.html

Seagate happens to have some of the finest hard drive engineers in the world --- and they could not (and did not) make such a basic engineering error implementing a 30 year old hard drive technology.

If you have evidence otherwise, present it and let us see ---- heads (and more) will roll at Seagate Engineering.

[Klok]

You are right WiseDrive, I should have precised that i was talking about the Flash Cache(4Gb). Sadly I have no idea how the Adaptive Algorithm is implemented in the firmware, this information isn't share by Seagate. But one is allowed to speculate. Let me ask you, if you were to design a Adaptive cache algorithm for a hard drive, which cache eviction policy would you use? Also, as you noted, if:

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WiseDrive wrote:

A normal, comparable 7,200RPM SATA drive do not freeze, stutter, or otherwise deliver unaceptable user performance. 

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Then what is the difference that could make that happen with the MXT? I might be too positive that machine is in a correct and working state, that is if it's not a MBP then there is no cable problem.

Finally, i must say that i'm still having a hard time interpreting SMART attributes because it seems like every manufacturer have different meaning for every attribute. Also take note the difference between current, worst, threshold and raw value doesn't make it easier. Could it be that the real value is given by (current - worst)?

Klok

[beepee199]

Hello all,

I am confirming that this drive model has issue. I is installed on a Dell M4500 with dual quad cores.(x8) During a work day the laptop freezed many time. I observed that the drive light is flashing but the mouse, page changes etc is all dead. The cooling fan keeps running. The only way out is a dirty reboot.

I cloned this drive to my old drive and so far no issue. I understand that Seagate is making effor to address this issue and I seriously hope they do. What a nice product! The speed difference are totally noticable.

How can I help you in detecting what the problem is?

[bigjump]

@Klok

Hey Klok,

I agree with you : 

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Klok wrote:

... it seems like every manufacturer have different meaning for every attribute.

...

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Because SeaTools never find only one error, the disk passes SMART test, short and long test, ALL tests.