SSD QLC extreme slow Read 0.01MB/s

[its.not.me]

This is an SMI2259XT controller, Ramless Intel 144L QLC (alleged by flash id, no marks on chips), 2 channels of 128GB, so 4 flash chip total. Capacity 240GB (223GB on windows). Chinese name brand (Not surprised it's not working well, but why?)

 

Capacity looks legit, I tested with H2testw. CrystalDiskinfo shows everything is Ok.

 

Installed on an old SATA2 HP 8510w laptop. It started working fine. I did a 100% NTFS partition, I installed windows 7, I used a software to reduce the partition to 190GB, and then I installed Debian 10 at a 30GB ext4 partition, with a GRUB boot.

 

The first couple of times I fired Linux it was running fast, then both Windows and Linux started to run slower and slower, even the S.O. startup is slow. Also at some moments it goes fast, I did a CrystalDiskMark test that was great in between of bad ones.

I cannot figure out why this is happening, it’s not windows, it’s not Linux, not a software, even if the partitions for whatever reasons broke the SLC cache it would not explain the slow reads.

 

I noticed a high Nand writes number compared with host writes, I thought it be because of all the testing I've done, but I got +10GB just from doing a Reset to Win7, and then 3GB just in 3 minutes doing nothing, I think its definitely malfunctioning doing writes.
 

[FI Fheonix]

Just now, its.not.me said:

This is an SMI2259XT controller, Ramless Intel 144L QLC (alleged by flash id, no marks on chips), 2 channels of 128GB, so 4 flash chip total. Capacity 240GB (223GB on windows). Chinese name brand (Not surprised it's not working well, but why?)

 

Capacity looks legit, I tested with H2testw. CrystalDiskinfo shows everything is Ok.

 

Installed on an old SATA2 HP 8510w laptop. It started working fine. I did a 100% NTFS partition, I installed windows 7, I used a software to reduce the partition to 190GB, and then I installed Debian 10 at a 30GB ext4 partition, with a GRUB boot.

 

The first couple of times I fired Linux it was running fast, then both Windows and Linux started to run slower and slower, even the S.O. startup is slow. Also at some moments it goes fast, I did a CrystalDiskMark test that was great in between of bad ones.

I cannot figure out why this is happening, it’s not windows, it’s not Linux, not a software, even if the partitions for whatever reasons broke the SLC cache it would not explain the slow reads.

 

I noticed a high Nand writes number compared with host writes, I thought it be because of all the testing I've done, but I got +10GB just from doing a Reset to Win7, and then 3GB just in 3 minutes doing nothing, I think its definitely malfunctioning doing writes.
 

Are you running your OS off of this drive?

[its.not.me]

7 minutes ago, FI Fheonix said:

Are you running your OS off of this drive?

Yes, both Linux and Windows. Next step will be trying it on a different computer as an external USB, but I don't anticipate a difference.

I also ask the seller if he has a firmware update tool.

[FI Fheonix]

Just now, its.not.me said:

Yes, both Linux and Windows. Next step will be trying it on a different computer as an external USB, but I don't anticipate a difference.

 

I also ask the seller if he has a firmware update tool.

 

Try coping everything on this drive to another drive. This drive looks like it has either died or been corrupted.

[kokosnh]

Is the 4K alignment OK?

run as ssd to check it.     

[its.not.me]

4 hours ago, FI Fheonix said:

Try coping everything on this drive to another drive. This drive looks like it has either died or been corrupted.

There's nothing on it really, just time lost installing SO, drivers and basic software. It's a 15 year old laptop, I knew I was gambling. I always wanted to try this cheap SSDs.

28 minutes ago, kokosnh said:

Is the 4K alignment OK?

run as ssd to check it.     

I didn't even know what what that meant, but I will check it.

[dnyank1]

Intel NAND would only be found on an Intel drive, with an intel/micron controller. 

 

Your drive is counterfeit, it doesn't work because it's a scam. 

[its.not.me]

2 hours ago, dnyank1 said:

Intel NAND would only be found on an Intel drive, with an intel/micron controller. 

 

Your drive is counterfeit, it doesn't work because it's a scam. 

It cannot be counterfeit, it’s a cheap chinese SSD they put whatever it’s cheaper, thats already what you expect, and they work for most people.

Also what you said about Intel NAND only available for Intel/micron controller it’s factually incorrect, I do have a Kingston A400 with a Phison S11 and the same Intel 144l QLC, I sent photos and smart, firmware, flash data to Kingston and they confirmed it's legit.

[its.not.me]

• I checked the alignment, and it was OK.
• I tried another laptop, it was also slow.
• I tried as external, and apparently it was working better, but inconclusive because it was USB 2.0 and a fast check.
• I found a post on a forum where someone had a similar problem after having dual boot partitions, and formatting solved the error for them.

So I deleted all partitions I and formatted all as one partition and installed just Windows 7, it goes fast, works very good now.

I’m not sure if after I use a % of space the problem will return (now I'm at 21GB/223GB), hopefully not, but I did notice that contrary than before where NAND writes were increasing 1GB by the minute at idle, now they are stuck, host writes might increase 10GB and NAND writes 0GB, so there is still something going on, but at least its fast.

 

My guess is the firmware is buggy.