Q: Firmware update and SATA II hard drive

Vitaeergo wrote:
Having gone through two Intel X-25's that were not able to even be seen on my MBP after the 1.7 update last June, I finally downgraded to 1.6 today and am able to see the X-25 without problem.

XBench after the 1.6 today (with a drive that actually could be seen):
Disk Test 197.98
Sequential 128.22
Uncached Write 116.60 71.59 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 107.82 61.00 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 109.27 31.98 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 238.50 119.87 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 434.18
Uncached Write 558.24 59.10 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 200.17 64.08 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 1319.81 9.35 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 599.48 111.24 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Oh geezz....I thought someone has mentioned SATA 1.5 won't take much of a hit even from current SSD....to me...that result was QUITE a hit...lol

Below is my result with the X-25m G2 under EFI 1.7 without any hiccups so far (two weeks medium-heavy use)

Disk Test 259.22
Sequential 168.32
Uncached Write 130.38 80.05 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 136.46 77.21 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 155.50 45.51 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 428.30 215.26 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 563.53
Uncached Write 691.75 73.23 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 251.02 80.36 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 1535.23 10.88 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 982.99 182.40 MB/sec [256K blocks]

I hope Apple could fix this real soon...or it is so much of a ''high-tech/pro' machine that cannot even utilize the potential of today's hottest technology....

for all of you with spinning beach balls frequently and system hangs (around ten seconds at a time), i had a very similar problem and the forum thread that cracked this problem for me is here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2084745&start=150&tstart=0

note that this will link you to an external forum (on mac rumors forums i think) where there are instructions on how to download the Apple EFI firmware rollback tool (from 1.7 to 1.6) that has, to date, cured this problem for me.

do let us know how it works for you. the best solution going forward, of course, is to make apple address this issue adequately.

also note that performance of my hard drive has not diminished at all based on Xbench tests as the updated EFI firmware seems to only effect performance of SSD-based drives with higher speed and has no effect on moving/mechanical drives.

Just an update on my situation....I have a June 09 15" MBP which I had updated to EFI 1.7 firmware. I had purchased a Seagate 500Gb 7200rpm HD (AS model) which my MBP would occasionally recognize but would never allow OSX to be installed. I had been in touch with both Apple and Seagate. Seagate was willing to RMA the HD even though it worked perfectly in a USB enclosure. Apple gave me the typical "We don't support 3rd party drives" spiel. I also had a problem with the SD card slot not working at all on my MBP even after numerous OSX reinstalls.

Two days ago I rolled back the firmware to 1.6 (via the MacRumors link) and now the Seagate drive mounts fine and OSX Snow Leopard also installed without a problem. To top it all off, the SD card slot now recognizes my cards! I'm somewhat happy again but will still keep pressuring Apple to fix this and for other tech sites to write about this problem.

Canadiandude:

This is the same problem which I had with my 15 inch Unibody MacBook Pro purchased in mid July and the same Seagate 500 GB HD installed by an Apple Dealer. The MBP booted up OK before the EFI 1.7 FM update. I did the software update cleanly on several software packages. No issues up to this point.

The Apple software then prompted me for an update for the FW 1.7 update, and now MBP froze upon restart. Gray screen with File Folder with "?" mark and a Circle with a slash.

I contacted the dealer who replaced the logic board. It restarted OK at this point. I was prompted to install the Software updates--all OK once again. It restarted again OK.

I then ran software update and was prompted to install FW 1.7. Upon restart, it froze again displaying similar behavior.

I returned it to the Apple dealer who removed the Seagate 500 GB hard drive and reinstalled the original 250 MB HUD.

Now the MBP works OK with the 1.7 FW installed--but I do not have the 500 GB Seagate drive that was purchased.

I have not tried the SD slot yet.

I have not down graded the FEW as the Mac works so far with occasional beach balls.

I am to receive a Snow Leopard upgrade disk soon--and I am hesitant to try anything else until this issue gets resolved.

I do not know if the local Apple store will do downgrade for me as it was purchased through a dealer who installed the larger 3rd party HD.

bobg

pendolino wrote:
for all of you with spinning beach balls frequently and system hangs (around ten seconds at a time), i had a very similar problem and the forum thread that cracked this problem for me is here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2084745&start=150&tstart=0

note that this will link you to an external forum (on mac rumors forums i think) where there are instructions on how to download the Apple EFI firmware rollback tool (from 1.7 to 1.6) that has, to date, cured this problem for me.

old news... but thanks for playing.

Has anyone tried the 1.6 downgrade on a mid '09 15" MacBook which shipped with 1.7 and the 500GB Seagate drive, rather than one which was updated to 1.7 through Software Update?

Yes, I have. It worked flawlessly, first try. I installed Snow Leopard immediately after with no problems, and no more beachballs.

Well, I had a case number and appointment to deal with the SD card and they said they would also look at the HD issue but repeatedly stated that they could not do much since they didn't support 3rd party drives. They would only fix the Sd card slot. The firmware rollback I performed two days ago fixed the Seagate drive problem completely but I don't know if it had anything to do with the SD card slot. it does, however, seem strange that the slot would not work with Leopard and firmware 1.7 but does work with Snow Leopard and 1.6. i should have tried the slot with Snow Leopard before I rolled back the firmware but was already set to go to the appointment and get it fixed. I'm happy I didn't have to send the Hd back to Seagate as they are very particular about repackaging HDs for RMA returns and it would have cost more than I was willing to spend just for the proper packaging.

Personally, while I have rolled back the firmware, I am not very happy. This is simply a temp solution so I am able to use the HD I paid good money for. It doesn't change the fact that Apple really should be supporting SATA II drives since the majority of 2.5" drives for sale today are SATA II.

Try your SD card slot and see if it works and I would roll back the firmware only if you need to. If you are happy with the stock drive then don't roll back.

Canadiandude wrote:
Well, I had a case number and appointment to deal with the SD card and they said they would also look at the HD issue but repeatedly stated that they could not do much since they didn't support 3rd party drives.

Personally, while I have rolled back the firmware, I am not very happy. This is simply a temp solution so I am able to use the HD I paid good money for. It doesn't change the fact that Apple really should be supporting SATA II drives since the majority of 2.5" drives for sale today are SATA II.

Apple can't be expected to support 3rd party drives... but this issue isn't a problem with 3rd party drives, it's with Apple's SATA II interface (something they absolutely should be expected to support). It's a very important distinction.

I agree and should have stated the interface and not the drives themselves. It's what I actually meant but it didn't come out that way when I typed it.

this isnt going anywhere, were nearing 100 pages and not even a nod, or hint at apple acknowledging this. i believe the chances of a fix coming along are slim.

Peter Di Arcangelo wrote:
this isnt going anywhere, were nearing 100 pages and not even a nod, or hint at apple acknowledging this. i believe the chances of a fix coming along are slim.

You can say that again! There is a fix... Ring Apple, tell them the problem, and they will swap you MacBook for a unit that has newer hardware. I did, and my Seagate 500GB works fine now.

fishbert wrote:

Canadiandude wrote:
Well, I had a case number and appointment to deal with the SD card and they said they would also look at the HD issue but repeatedly stated that they could not do much since they didn't support 3rd party drives.

Personally, while I have rolled back the firmware, I am not very happy. This is simply a temp solution so I am able to use the HD I paid good money for. It doesn't change the fact that Apple really should be supporting SATA II drives since the majority of 2.5" drives for sale today are SATA II.

Apple can't be expected to support 3rd party drives... but this issue isn't a problem with 3rd party drives, it's with Apple's SATA II interface (something they absolutely should be expected to support). It's a very important distinction.

They do support it. Ring them and find out

katmeef wrote:

nico-apple wrote:

fishbert wrote:
Apple has apparently said that they do not ship 3.0 Gb/s drives \[...\]

Hmmm... But how about the 500GB Seagate in my machine? It was supplied by Apple as part of my CTO uMBP 15" order. I don't think it's jumpered to 1.5 b/c after I patched to EFI 1.7 the interface was reported to be running at 3Gbps. So I think Apple do ship 3.0Gbps drives.

The interface itself will report 3GB/s with 1.7 installed, regardless if the drive is jumpered to 1.5 or not. (Mine does anyways with a Hitachi locked down to 1.5G)

The minor point I was making was, in response to fishbert, that Apple does ship 3.0Gbps hard drives, as witnessed with my machine, which was shipped with a Seagate 500GB ST9500420ASG - documented as equipped with a 3.0Gbps SATA-II interface.

Does that mean your running 1.7 flawlessly on your MBP Coolas?