Samsung NvME 970 Evo Plus Firmware Issue

bikemanI7 · Dec 8, 2021

Ohh didn't know they changed version of my M.2 since i got it, interesting, and i'm panicing over nothing, story of my life, always tend to do this quite a bit in regards to drivers, and such

was up at 6am working on this issue more this morning, and maybe for nothing
Didn't know the hardware was changed, and kept same name--oops

ish4d0w · Dec 8, 2021

bikemanI7 said:
Hmm Not seeing RST here, can install Samsung NvMe Driver soon as i get a moment here, do have it downloaded

Don't see anything saying Intel Optane or RST in Device Manager here myself

View attachment 15734

This is correct, this is not running in RST mode.

I'm sorry I thought this screenshot was yours. That one system is running in RST/Optane mode and that is not desirable for these SSDs.

But checking your new screenshot, yours is fine. Sorry for the confusion!

Besides, Magician should still recognize your SSD no matter what.

bikemanI7 · Dec 8, 2021

it sees it in Magician, but if it's true mine is of the old Controller, then maybe i am panicing for nothing. Bought this one December 20th 2020 for first ever M.2 install into my newer June 2020 Desktop, and started this thread for nothing after all lol, i'll feel so dumb once truly figure this out

Kinda do already as meant to install the Samsung NvME Driver eariler, but got sidetracked in RL, and came back, and thought i had at the time, turns out i didn't yet

amEliza · Dec 8, 2021

you are not "dumb" and you should not feel so, it is samsung's decision to not communicate accurately
easily they could have named a revision or new type, but they pretend it is the same drive
i am sorry for your panic, life is stress enough without technology <3
there are no problems with your SSD, and there is required no extra drivers/software for it to function correctly with windows
samsung magician can be trusted in that if a new firmware is ever released for the drive, you will be offered it when applicable

also since my comment was moderated for "insulting" i will clarify, i have no frustration aimed at you, but the incorrect answers/guidance i frequently see online i feel is entirely avoidable, but if anybody is annoyed or upset i am sorry for making selfish judgements

bikemanI7 · Dec 8, 2021

Not upset at you or anyone in this thread. I didn't know Samsung changed controllers at all, now i do know, and i appreciate that, will see what offical support says in next reply, and probably be end of this frustrating issue, probably frustrated over nothing possibly

Dru2 · Dec 8, 2021

bikemanI7 said:
Hmm Not seeing RST here, can install Samsung NvMe Driver soon as i get a moment here, do have it downloaded

Don't see anything saying Intel Optane or RST in Device Manager here myself

RST drivers aren't going to interfere with Magician or NVMe drivers. I know this because I used them together and they got along just fine. And not just me, but many in at ten forums. Here's one thread - Fast Question about Intel Rapid Storage ? - Windows 10 Help Forums

amEliza said:
everybody is missing the simple point: your firmware is likely already up to date, the firmware is for a different SSD

Not everyone; and most here already know this, which is why I said, I'll wait and see if anything appears in Magician :wink:

ish4d0w · Dec 9, 2021

Dru2 said:
RST drivers aren't going to interfere with Magician or NVMe drivers. I know this because I used them together and they got along just fine. And not just me, but many in at ten forums. Here's one thread - Fast Question about Intel Rapid Storage ? - Windows 10 Help Forums

Yes, this is correct, however what I wrote was not that RST "drivers" are causing compatibility issues with Samsung Magician or the SSD. They do not. RST drivers are perfectly fine by themselves.

There are some computers which have a UEFI SETUP setting called "SATA operation mode" or "RST mode", having options like "AHCI" and "RST with Optane Memory". This is very confusing to say at least, because RST stands for Rapid Storage Technology, has nothing to do with Optane memory, and is enabled with the other option as well. And it works perfectly well, enabled by default, everybody should be using it .
Actually it would create a huge performance drop if you disabled it (by removing the driver).
Setting this "SATA operation mode" to "RST with Optane Memory Support" without actually having "Optane Memory" installed is wrong, it causes a compatibility issue with Samsung Magician, it would no longer "recognize" the SSD properly, also the Samsung NVMe driver cannot be loaded then.

See this screenshot , this is what I am talking about!!!

If you enable what "RST mode for optane memory" there, without actually having any Optane Memory installed in your system, then it would not really enable RST (which already is, so no need) but change the operation mode of the I/O controller and as such, its name in the device manager would change as well, "RST" would be added to the name and a Microsoft driver would be loaded instead of the Samsung or Intel one. Now that is such a configuration in which Samsung Magician just won't recognize the SSD.

I have tried this many times ,and reached out to Samsung to add explicit warnings and diagnostics steps to Samsung Magician about this.

I no longer think that this is causing the issue for the original poster, however this is a frequent scenerio and I think worth to elaborate. I hope this makes that clear.

hdmi · Dec 9, 2021

ish4d0w said:
Yes, this is correct, however what I wrote was not that RST "drivers" are causing compatibility issues with Samsung Magician or the SSD. They do not. RST drivers are perfectly fine by themselves.

There are some computers which have a UEFI SETUP setting called "SATA operation mode" or "RST mode", having options like "AHCI" and "RST with Optane Memory". This is very confusing to say at least, because RST stands for Rapid Storage Technology, has nothing to do with Optane memory, and is enabled with the other option as well. And it works perfectly well, enabled by default, everybody should be using it .
Actually it would create a huge performance drop if you disabled it (by removing the driver).
Setting this "SATA operation mode" to "RST with Optane Memory Support" without actually having "Optane Memory" installed is wrong, it causes a compatibility issue with Samsung Magician, it would no longer "recognize" the SSD properly, also the Samsung NVMe driver cannot be loaded then.

See this screenshot , this is what I am talking about!!!

If you enable what "RST mode for optane memory" there, without actually having any Optane Memory installed in your system, then it would not really enable RST (which already is, so no need) but change the operation mode of the I/O controller and as such, its name in the device manager would change as well, "RST" would be added to the name and a Microsoft driver would be loaded instead of the Samsung or Intel one. Now that is such a configuration in which Samsung Magician just won't recognize the SSD.

I have tried this many times ,and reached out to Samsung to add explicit warnings and diagnostics steps to Samsung Magician about this.

I no longer think that this is causing the issue for the original poster, however this is a frequent scenerio and I think worth to elaborate. I hope this makes that clear.

To make things even more confusing, another option that can also appear in the UEFI settings (as of Intel 11th Gen) is "VMD Volume Management Device with Optane Memory Support". Although it can't hurt to enable it, it causes the NVMe SSD to be hidden by it, thereby potentially giving the false impression that the drive fails to be detected─that is, in spite of the fact that the drive is still working like normal, just that the drive appears to be invisible in Device Manager / HWiNFO / Magician / etc., until the UEFI setting is changed to AHCI. Next thing you know, they'll be designing grocery store laptops that can make you believe that it also supports VROC.

obelix · Dec 9, 2021

You invent what you don't need and everything works perfectly under windows 11: Install samsung magician. Then install Samsung_NVM_Express_Driver_3.3 and then you get the samsung driver.

Scramjet · Dec 9, 2021

Turned on my monitor this morning and there was a Samsung Magician firmware update Samsung SSD 980 latest version 2B4QFX07 and installed without a problem.

brummyfan · Dec 22, 2021

I have installed Samsung Controller driver and updated the firmware today, the benchmark looks slightly better than the previous firmware, I had to switch to AHCI mode to install the drivers, these are the results before and after:

ish4d0w · Dec 22, 2021

Its not really the firmware but the AHCI controller mode. Use it. That is the proper mode for your scenerio. Not RST-Optane memory mode.
But I agree the FW updates are of a help sometimes as well

bikemanI7 · Dec 22, 2021

My Drive Info, Guess i'll keep waiting to see if mine ever gets the 970 Evo Plus Newer Firmware, so far nothing yet, Yes i use system daily, and even late into most nights, i know it has alot of hours on it already, Purchased December 2020 for Christmas

brummyfan · Dec 22, 2021

bikemanI7 said:
My Drive Info, Guess i'll keep waiting to see if mine ever gets the 970 Evo Plus Newer Firmware, so far nothing yet, Yes i use system daily, and even late into most nights, i know it has alot of hours on it already, Purchased December 2020 for Christmas

Go to Device Manager and update the driver for Samsung SSD under Disk Drives, Health Status will change to 100% in Crystal DiskInfo.

bikemanI7 · Dec 22, 2021

brummyfan said:
Go to Device Manager and update the driver for Samsung SSD under Disk Drives.

Says My Drivers are the latest, did install Samsung NvMe driver a week ago, still says the latest though on my Windows 11 x64 Pro build.

brummyfan · Dec 22, 2021

bikemanI7 said:
Says My Drivers are the latest, did install Samsung NvMe driver a week ago, still says the latest though on my Windows 11 x64 Pro build.

Sorry, my mistake, don't update the driver, just uninstall the driver for Samsung under Disk Drives and reboot, Windows will reinstall the driver.

bikemanI7 · Dec 22, 2021

I assume it would be this driver if i'm right or looking in the right spot

Think all items possibly correct as far as i know, ((Not a hardware or software setting expert though))

bikemanI7 · Dec 23, 2021

This Correct for Device Manager now, Did uninstall the Driver for the NvME SSD Drive, and Restarted, now shows the following in Device Manager

Think System properly setup now or i hope

brummyfan · Dec 23, 2021

bikemanI7 said:
I assume it would be this driver if i'm right or looking in the right spot

Think all items possibly correct as far as i know, ((Not a hardware or software setting expert though))

bikemanI7 said:
This Correct for Device Manager now, Did uninstall the Driver for the NvME SSD Drive, and Restarted, now shows the following in Device Manager

Think System properly setup now or i hope

Run CrystalDiskInfo and post the picture.