Can anybody recommend a good 2TB M.2 2280 SSD?

[Brian]

Hi everybody:

I have a vague recollection that someone (Ron B perhaps?) mentioned getting bitten by an SSD with funky drive firmware, so I figured I'd ask around a bit before purchasing.

I thought I had heard good things about the various Samsung EVO's, but then I also thought I'd heard that these had the funky firmware some time back...?

I'm setting up a new-to-me Dell Precision i9 system that came with a 1TB drive, and it occurred to me that I might just get a larger boot drive *now* rather than revisit this in a couple of years when I've got it full up....

Thanks, Brian

[Jeff]

When in doubt I like to go to Tom's Hardware for info.
They're saying the Samsung 990 Pro is the best.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-ssds,3891.html

[gcode]

"but then I also thought I'd heard that these had the funky firmware some time back...?"

they released a firmware update that bricked a few specific hard drives.
the data was not lost but the drives became read only, making them useless.
they got it fixed quickly, but that was a small consolation to people who got their hard drives bricked.
This happened to Ron (Crazymillman)

[Jeff]

"but then I also thought I'd heard that these had the funky firmware some time back...?"

they released a firmware update that bricked a few specific hard drives.
the data was not lost but the drives became read only, making them useless.
they got it fixed quickly, but that was a small consolation to people who got their hard drives bricked.
This happened to Ron (Crazymillman)

Yeah for the 980 Pro back in the beginning of this year.

https://www.pcgamer.com/an-error-in-samsungs-980-pro-firmware-is-causing-ssds-to-die-id-check-your-drive-right-now-tbh/

But there was another firmware update that prevented that issue.

[Brian]

When in doubt I like to go to Tom's Hardware for info.
They're saying the Samsung 990 Pro is the best.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-ssds,3891.html

Thanks Jeff-I'd forgotten about these guys.

Cheers, Brian

[TSmcam]

I run dual Samsung 990 Pros in my notebook (with space for another one that I will fit soon). I bought them based on Toms Hardware recommendations.

No complaints at all.

[CNCAppsJames]

I've had Samsung Pro drives in my last 2 rigs. Zero complaints. Ron's experience sucked and unfortunately it happens from time to time. The best way to thwart data loss is judicious backups of your data. It may not prevent all data loss but will certainly make for the least amount to loss to a bare minimum.

When my laptop was stolen 6 years ago (I think) I lost about 8 hours of data since I was not connected to the internet that day. Not bad. Could have been WAY worse.

Speaking of security, not only are judicious backups essential, but seriously consider setting up a boot password and drive encryption. Nothing is 100% but the boot password and drive encryption will keep all of your stuff out of the hands  of all but the most professional of IT thrives.

[Brian]

Speaking of security, not only are judicious backups essential, but seriously consider setting up a boot password and drive encryption. Nothing is 100% but the boot password and drive encryption will keep all of your stuff out of the hands  of all but the most professional of IT thrives.

I have no experience with drive encryption; do you use something like Bitlocker, or self-encrypting drives, or....?

Are there any downsides to this? (Performance?) Do you do this for all of your computers, or just laptops?

Thanks, Brian

[CNCAppsJames]

Yes, Bitlocker. I couldn't remember.

I don't know if there is a performance hit or not. I've never tested that. 

I use it on ALL my drives for every computer regardless of portability. Is it paranoia? Not really. More IP concerns. Some of the work I do is of a sensitive nature so in my mind, should my equipment ever be stolen, I need to know I did everything I could do reasonably to protect the data should I ever have to defend my data protection policies in court. Chances of that happening are very small but it could happen so I do it. 

JM2CFWIW 

[gcode]

I don't know if there is a performance hit or not. I've never tested that.

I think you will find you're suffering a 30-40% hit on read/write access to your drives.
I read an article a couple of months ago that was saying Windows 11 was automatically enabling
Bitlocker... and 30 to 40 percent was the hit people were seeing.

[CNCAppsJames]

Guess I'm going to need to investigate other security measures.