Architecture News

Unraveling the Mystery: Separating OS Updates from Firmware Flaws in SSD Performance

Unfounded Blame: Why Windows Updates Aren't the Culprit for SSD Issues

For several weeks, information circulated claiming that specific Windows 11 security updates (KB5063878 and KB5062660) were responsible for causing certain SSDs, particularly those utilizing Phison controllers, to malfunction. Despite numerous online videos and social media discussions pointing fingers at Microsoft, Phison has now clarified that the real cause lies with “early versions of firmware and BIOS.”

The Root Cause: Pre-release Firmware and BIOS Identified as the Source of Anomalies

Michael Wu, General Manager and President of Phison US, stated that many of the reported incidents originated from media evaluations conducted on hardware equipped with pre-release firmware and BIOS. These components, intended for performance previews, differ from the final versions distributed to consumers through official channels. Wu urged reviewers encountering these problems to update their SSDs using manufacturer-provided tools, highlighting that outdated firmware is still in use on some drives.

Misleading Claims: The Case of the Failing Crucial T500 Drive

YouTuber JayzTwoCents recently published a video claiming widespread issues with Windows updates and SSDs, demonstrating a Crucial T500 drive (featuring a Phison E25 controller) failing after installing the latest Windows 11 security updates, requiring a power cycle to restore functionality. However, it remains uncertain whether the SSD used in this demonstration was running pre-release firmware or an outdated motherboard BIOS.

Confirmed Discrepancies: PCDIY! Community Reports and Engineering Preview Firmware

Phison successfully replicated the problems reported by the PCDIY! community and confirmed that these were indeed attributable to engineering preview firmware. Wu explained that the specific SSDs examined from PCDIY! testing utilized a preview firmware, not the production-ready firmware found in consumer models like the Corsair Force Series MP600 SSD 2TB, which uses the E16 controller. Tests conducted by Phison on retail SSDs revealed no crashes or failures.

Microsoft's Stance: No Link Between Security Updates and Drive Failures

Microsoft had previously asserted that it found "no connection" between its security updates and the drive failures reported online. This official statement aligns with Phison's findings, refuting the widespread accusations against the operating system. Despite Microsoft's history of occasionally problematic Windows updates, which might explain public skepticism, the current evidence suggests a different cause for the SSD issues.

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