#Ocz ssd utility update firmware by usb boot how to#
#Ocz ssd utility update firmware by usb boot install#
#Ocz ssd utility update firmware by usb boot upgrade#
#Ocz ssd utility update firmware by usb boot software#

#Ocz ssd utility update firmware by usb boot install#

Additionally, they both display connected SSDs, enabling users to click, find the update and install it. Both require users to download the client and to find the firmware update to download (or the group of updates that contains the one required). The two clients are near-identical, so weвЂ™ll discuss them synchronously.

OWCВ and Kingston both utilize the standard SandForce-based client which is sufficient, but doesnвЂ™t offer anything extra. They donвЂ™t quite exude the overall refinement Samsung and IntelвЂ™s clients feature, but they are far beyond just being labeled вЂњserviceable.вЂќ OCZВ and CorsairвЂ™s applications also do that, and they go a step further by featuring a bunch of additional features such as Secure Erase, SMARTВ and TRIM management, etc. That feature along with the smooth layout, even if basic, got SanDisk a spot in Tier 2. For instance, with all of the Tier 2 updaters, the application finds the latest update for users, meaning they donвЂ™t have to find the files on their SSD brandsвЂ™ support site and manually select them in the client. Their overall functionality vaults them substantially ahead of Tiers 3 and 4. While not as visually stunning as the Tier 1 clients and with slightly fewer extra features, SanDisk, OCZ and Corsair deliver applications that simplify the process more than the Tier 3 updaters, generally offerings extra features too. Like SamsungвЂ™s tool, IntelвЂ™s will similarly automatically find updates and users wonвЂ™t have to go download firmware after finding the appropriate support site. Users also gain access to features designed to boost SSD performance and monitor health вЂ“ not to mention a Secure Erase function to wipe the drive. In comparison, Intel too provides a client that features a smooth layout and excellent usability.

We award major style points to Samsung as well, which has provided the most visually-appealing GUI.

#Ocz ssd utility update firmware by usb boot software#

For Samsung, thatвЂ™s because their tool is embedded in companyвЂ™s Samsung Magician software which is actually a management suite for tuning and optimizing SSDs, configuring performance settings and evaluating SSDsвЂ™ health. Samsung and Intel offer the most complete firmware update tools, going above and beyond the other SSD brands by providing extremely well-designed GUIs that are highly intuitive and deliver far more functionality than one would expect from an update tool. Note that Seagate, being relatively new to the consumer SSD space, isnвЂ™t included as it hasnвЂ™t yet issued a consumer firmware update. With these points considered, we arrived at four tiers comprising the 9 Brands That Matter.

What extra features, if any, were offered?.

Did we have to download individual firmware files and load them into the installer or was that process automated and handled within the application?.

#Ocz ssd utility update firmware by usb boot upgrade#

Was there a special firmware upgrade tool or would we have to burn onto optical media or use a USB flash drive?.

There are several factors that helped us arrive at our conclusions on which were the best updater tools, but these considerations were foremost:

Ranking firmware update tools, we look at 9 SSD manufacturers вЂ“ those from our list of The Brands That Matter. On the other hand, some others provide a much more bare-bones approach that is far less automated and requires the user to download a file from a very specific location, burn it onto optical media and have the system boot to it. Some SSD manufacturers deliver their firmware updates in a client that downloads and updates your SSD with the simple click of a button, and they might even include some bonus features such as Disk Clone, Secure Erase, Drive Optimization, etc.

#Ocz ssd utility update firmware by usb boot how to#

Recently weвЂ™ve pored over our How To Upgrade SSDВ Firmware page, adding several guides and updating a few others in order to give consumers a grasp on how to complete a process which can vary quite drastically from brand to brand.