https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/hardware/western-digital-confirms-speed-crippling-sn550-ssd-flash-change/ BleepingComputer.com logo * * * [ ] [Login] [Sign up] * * * [ ] [Login] [Sign up] * News + Featured + Latest + Fake DMCA complaints, DDoS threats lead to BazaLoader malware Fake DMCA complaints, DDoS threats lead to BazaLoader malware + Microsoft warns Azure customers of critical Cosmos DB vulnerability Microsoft warns Azure customers of critical Cosmos DB vulnerability + Windows 10 upgrades blocked by old CryptoPro CSP versions Windows 10 upgrades blocked by old CryptoPro CSP versions + Boston Public Library discloses cyberattack, system-wide technical outage Boston Public Library discloses cyberattack, system-wide technical outage + Windows 11 to only support one Intel 7th gen CPU, no AMD Zen CPUs Windows 11 to only support one Intel 7th gen CPU, no AMD Zen CPUs + T-Mobile CEO: Hacker brute-forced his way through our network T-Mobile CEO: Hacker brute-forced his way through our network + Boston Public Library discloses cyberattack, system-wide technical outage Boston Public Library discloses cyberattack, system-wide technical outage + Windows 10 upgrades blocked by old CryptoPro CSP versions Windows 10 upgrades blocked by old CryptoPro CSP versions * Downloads + Latest + Most Downloaded + Qualys BrowserCheck Qualys BrowserCheck + STOPDecrypter STOPDecrypter + AuroraDecrypter AuroraDecrypter + FilesLockerDecrypter FilesLockerDecrypter + AdwCleaner AdwCleaner + ComboFix ComboFix + RKill RKill + Junkware Removal Tool Junkware Removal Tool * Virus Removal Guides + Latest + Most Viewed + Ransomware + How to remove the PBlock+ adware browser extension How to remove the PBlock+ adware browser extension + Remove the Toksearches.xyz Search Redirect Remove the Toksearches.xyz Search Redirect + Remove the Smashapps.net Search Redirect Remove the Smashapps.net Search Redirect + Remove the Smashappsearch.com Search Redirect Remove the Smashappsearch.com Search Redirect + Remove Security Tool and SecurityTool (Uninstall Guide) Remove Security Tool and SecurityTool (Uninstall Guide) + How to remove Antivirus 2009 (Uninstall Instructions) How to remove Antivirus 2009 (Uninstall Instructions) + How to Remove WinFixer / Virtumonde / Msevents / Trojan.vundo How to Remove WinFixer / Virtumonde / Msevents / Trojan.vundo + How to remove Google Redirects or the TDSS, TDL3, or Alureon rootkit using TDSSKiller How to remove Google Redirects or the TDSS, TDL3, or Alureon rootkit using TDSSKiller + Locky Ransomware Information, Help Guide, and FAQ Locky Ransomware Information, Help Guide, and FAQ + CryptoLocker Ransomware Information Guide and FAQ CryptoLocker Ransomware Information Guide and FAQ + CryptorBit and HowDecrypt Information Guide and FAQ CryptorBit and HowDecrypt Information Guide and FAQ + CryptoDefense and How_Decrypt Ransomware Information Guide and FAQ CryptoDefense and How_Decrypt Ransomware Information Guide and FAQ * Tutorials + Latest + Popular + How to make the Start menu full screen in Windows 10 How to make the Start menu full screen in Windows 10 + How to install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Runtime How to install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Runtime + How to open an elevated PowerShell Admin prompt in Windows 10 How to open an elevated PowerShell Admin prompt in Windows 10 + How to Translate a Web Page in Google Chrome How to Translate a Web Page in Google Chrome + How to start Windows in Safe Mode How to start Windows in Safe Mode + How to remove a Trojan, Virus, Worm, or other Malware How to remove a Trojan, Virus, Worm, or other Malware + How to show hidden files in Windows 7 How to show hidden files in Windows 7 + How to see hidden files in Windows How to see hidden files in Windows * Deals + Categories + eLearning eLearning + IT Certification Courses IT Certification Courses + Gear & Gadgets Gear + Gadgets + Security Security * Forums * More + Startup Database + Uninstall Database + File Database + Glossary + Chat on Discord + Send us a Tip! + Welcome Guide * Home * News * Hardware * Western Digital confirms speed crippling SN550 SSD flash change * * Western Digital confirms speed crippling SN550 SSD flash change By Sergiu Gatlan * August 26, 2021 * 01:17 PM * 1 Western Digital confirms speed crippling SN550 SSD flash change Western Digital has confirmed that it changed the NAND flash memory in one of its most popular M.2 NVMe SSD models, the WD Blue SN550, which crippled writing speeds according to several reports, leading to a 50% performance hit. The company says that, in the future, it will also introduce a new model number when making any hardware changes to its products that impact performance. Western Digital added that, although it didn't inform customers of this change, it updated the WD Blue SN550 data sheet. "In June 2021, we replaced the NAND in the WD Blue SN550 NVMe SSD and updated the firmware," a Western Digital spokesperson told BleepingComputer. "At the time, we updated the product data sheet. For greater transparency going forward, if we make a change to an existing internal SSD, we commit to introducing a new model number whenever any related published specifications are impacted. "We value our customers and are committed to providing the best possible solutions for their data storage needs." Writing speed decrease of up to 50% The first to report that Western Digital swapped the high-performance flash memory in its Blue SN550 M.2 NVMe SSDs with a lower quality one without letting its customers know was the Chinese tech news site Expreview. The NAND replacement resulted in overall writing speeds decreases of up to 50%, according to Expreview, a report that Tom's Hardware later confirmed. While in normal conditions, the SSDs with swapped NAND memory are as fast as those with the original hardware, the new ones cannot keep up with the writing requests once the 12 GB SLC cache is exhausted, and their performance will tank from 610 MBps to a meager 390Mps. Even though the company didn't reveal the reason behind the change, a possible explanation is the ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which spread to impact almost 170 industry sectors. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), the world's largest contract chip manufacturer, is also planning to increase prices by as much as 20% during late 2021 or early 2022, as reported by Wall Street Journal today. Related Articles: WD My Book NAS devices are being remotely wiped clean worldwide Hackers use zero-day to mass-wipe My Book Live devices * NVMe * SSD * Western Digital * * * * * Sergiu Gatlan Sergiu Gatlan is a reporter who covered cybersecurity, technology, Apple, Google, and a few other topics at Softpedia for more than a decade. Email or Twitter DMs for tips. * Previous Article * Next Article Comments * D0NM3GA Photo D0NM3GA - 8 hours ago + + Can we start calling this what it really is? "We are sorry you caught us; we did the absolute bare minimum that we thought we could to get away with legally ripping off customers because we knew that they wouldn't know any better." 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