Crucial M4 New 0009 Firmware Update Steps up Speeds by 20%

btarunr · Aug 29, 2011

A new firmware update by Crucial for its M4 series SATA 6 Gb/s SSDs was released last weekend, marked 0009. The new firmware, applicable to Crucial M4 SSD models CT064M4SSD2 (64 GB), CT0128M4SSD2 (128 GB), CT0256M4SSD2 (256 GB), and CT0512M4SSD2 (512 GB), packs a large number of changes. To begin with, the update is said to increase sequential read speeds by 20%. Tests run by SSD Review verify this. PCMark Vantage Disk performance is also increased.

The new firmware also works to increase throughput performance, lower write latency, wider compatibility with latest chipsets (AHCI modes), and fixes various kinds of cold-boot failures. The firmware lowers SATA speed negotiation time with host controllers, resulting in faster boot. Depending on the model, the 0009 firmware update for Crucial M4 series SSDs can be downloaded from here.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

Velvet Wafer · Aug 29, 2011

btarunr said:
A new firmware update by Crucial for its M4 series SATA 6 Gb/s SSDs was released last weekend, marked 0009. The new firmware, applicable to Crucial M4 SSD models CT064M4SSD2 (64 GB), CT0128M4SSD2 (128 GB), CT0256M4SSD2 (256 GB), and CT0512M4SSD2 (512 GB), packs a large number of changes. To begin with, the update is said to increase sequential read speeds by 20%. Tests run by SSD Review verify this. PCMark Vantage Disk performance was also increased.

The new firmware also claims to increase throughput performance, lower write latency, wider compatibility with latest chipsets (AHCI modes), and fixes various kinds of cold-boot failures. The firmware lowers SATA speed negotiation time with host controllers, resulting in faster boot. Depending on the model, the 0009 firmware update for Crucial M4 series SSDs can be downloaded from here.

[url]http://www.techpowerup.com/img/11-04-26/164a_thm.jpg[/URL]

Unbelievable! Pretty good FW update it seems!
Now we need something like that for the Vertex 3 too! OCZ *wink,wink*

LAN_deRf_HA · Aug 29, 2011

Been using this for a few days. Boot went from 39 to 32 seconds and read went from 435 to 508.

buggalugs · Aug 29, 2011

wow nice update...

Mussels · Aug 29, 2011

nice update indeed.

Jstn7477 · Aug 29, 2011

I showed my dad this and he's going to flash his 64GB M4 tonight, hopefully. Haven't benched the drive at all because I don't know of a safe method to do so for SSDs. Hope it makes as much of a difference as is claimed.

DanishDevil · Aug 29, 2011

I was already eyeballing these for their price/perf over the Sandforce 2000 drives, and this just made them even more appealing! I hope this doesn't raise their prices.

[H]@RD5TUFF · Aug 29, 2011

The real question here is the new firm ware that good or is the old firm ware that bad ?

DanishDevil · Aug 29, 2011

IMO, it doesn't matter. It's added value on top of what people have already paid for.

[H]@RD5TUFF · Aug 30, 2011

DanishDevil said:
IMO, it doesn't matter. It's added value on top of what people have already paid for.

Fair enough but it raises an interesting question imo.

buggalugs · Aug 30, 2011

[H]@RD5TUFF said:
The real question here is the new firm ware that good or is the old firm ware that bad ?

Maybe they were just being conservative until they are proven....and to avoid the kind of issues the sandforce drives are experiencing.

[H]@RD5TUFF · Aug 30, 2011

buggalugs said:
Maybe they were just being conservative until they are proven....and to avoid the kind of issues the sandforce drives are experiencing.

doubtful IMO, in a market where being the fastest is everything I don't think they would gimp their own product, that makes no sense at all.

DanishDevil · Aug 30, 2011

If they had the speed to match sandforce drives, but at a similar or higher failure rate, they would have never gained market share. If they were able to get near 99% reliability with a lower price point, but slightly slower speeds, those who either were afraid of sandforce's failure rates, or had been burned by them would flock to Crucial's drives. They spent the time between release and now to work out the bugs in the firmware for increased speed, and now it's ready. If they would have waited until now, people would have said "ho hum, they're not quite as fast, whatever" but by now they have established a reputation and market share for reliability and performance/price.

Sorry for the rant

Jstn7477 · Aug 30, 2011

Flashed my dad's 64GB M4 last night with my laptop, so far so good. Didn't brick it.

DanishDevil · Aug 30, 2011

Noticing any discernible difference in speed?

[H]@RD5TUFF · Aug 30, 2011

DanishDevil said:
If they had the speed to match sandforce drives, but at a similar or higher failure rate, they would have never gained market share. If they were able to get near 99% reliability with a lower price point, but slightly slower speeds, those who either were afraid of sandforce's failure rates, or had been burned by them would flock to Crucial's drives. They spent the time between release and now to work out the bugs in the firmware for increased speed, and now it's ready. If they would have waited until now, people would have said "ho hum, they're not quite as fast, whatever" but by now they have established a reputation and market share for reliability and performance/price.

Sorry for the rant

Perhaps, but one could make the argument they have a reputation for being slow .. . . sorry I'm flippant by nature.

DanishDevil · Aug 30, 2011

No worries, everybody's entitled to their opinion. Either of us could be right

[H]@RD5TUFF · Aug 30, 2011

DanishDevil said:
No worries, everybody's entitled to their opinion. Either of us could be right

Nah I'm just being obtuse, but I am curious what changes were made to make it 20% faster.

DanishDevil · Aug 30, 2011

Firmware on the controller can do quite a bit. They may have simply overclocked it for all we know. Would be the same thing as flashing a GPU BIOS from a 6950 to 6970

DanishDevil · Aug 31, 2011

These are a Shell Shocker right now for $170!

Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Int...

Black Haru · Aug 31, 2011

DanishDevil said:
These are a Shell Shocker right now for $170!

Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Int...

man, don't have the cash. maybe next time.

DanishDevil · Aug 31, 2011

Said the same thing, myself.

Mussels · Sep 1, 2011

damn i'd like one of those for that price

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Crucial M4 New 0009 Firmware Update Steps up Speeds by 20%

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