Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 40

Thread: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

  1. #1
    HEXUS.admin
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    31,709
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2,073 times in 719 posts

    Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    One SSD maker's component swap resulted in 41 per cent slower copy speeds.
    Read more.

  2. #2
    <Insert witty one liner> Kanoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    969
    Thanks
    96
    Thanked
    109 times in 77 posts
    • Kanoe's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus ROG STRIX X299-E GAMING II
      • CPU:
      • Intel 7960X (4.4GHZ All Core)
      • Memory:
      • 64GB Corsair Vengeance PRO (8 x 8GB) 3200
      • Storage:
      • 1x 2TB M.2, 2x 1TB M.2, 960GB SSD, 2TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nvidia 3080 FE (1965MHz @906mV +1500 VRAM)
      • PSU:
      • Superflower 1200W
      • Case:
      • Phanteks Enthoo Primo v2
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • 28" Gigabyte M28U 4k + 24" Dell U2412M
      • Internet:
      • Zen 1 Gig Fibre

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    That's very disappointing, I have 3 of the drives as originally when they came out and the non pro version before it they represented excellent value for the performance.

    Only just got the last of them 2 weeks ago and thought it strange that it reported a different drive size to the others when formatted, so something had changed between the models.

    Guess I will need to do some performance tests to see if it is not as expected and send it back.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    3,895
    Thanks
    935
    Thanked
    971 times in 717 posts

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    My initial reaction to that is that it's tantamount to fraud, if not legally quite there.

    My second thought is that, if allowed to get away with it, it renders product reviews utterly pointless.

    Most major review sites (and I'm talking pre-internet) used to require products to be sold as tested, or at least as well as tested, for a minimum period as a condition of submitting for testing. I wonder what happened to that?

    My third thought is that it's a good reason to only buy from companies that have sufficient to lose from underhand tactics that they wouldn't risk the reputational damage in case they got caught. But ... who?
    A lesson learned from PeterB about dignity in adversity, so Peter, In Memorium, "Onwards and Upwards".

  4. #4
    HEXUS.Squirrel Output's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    2,220
    Thanks
    986
    Thanked
    437 times in 309 posts
    • Output's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte AORUS Master X570
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
      • Memory:
      • 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 Kingston Fury Renegade @ 3600MHz CL16
      • Storage:
      • Sandisk Ultra 3D 2TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7800 XT
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G3
      • Case:
      • bequiet Dark Base Pro 900 Rev.2
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro x64

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    Quote Originally Posted by Kanoe View Post
    Guess I will need to do some performance tests to see if it is not as expected and send it back.
    According to the original Tom's Hardware article, not only was the newer Pro version provided by ADATA different from the original Pro version, but the one they bought themselves was different from both of those too.
    Last edited by Output; 03-12-2020 at 12:37 PM. Reason: Clarified to state I am referring to the Pro versions as stated in the original Tom's Hardware article.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Posts
    278
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    28 times in 19 posts

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    Adata seems to be a brand to avoid then. Bait and switch alive and well.

    Is there a utility available that can identify which controller and NAND is being used on any particular drive?

  6. #6
    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Not here
    Posts
    32,039
    Thanks
    3,910
    Thanked
    5,224 times in 4,015 posts
    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    Excellent work - Adata,Kingston and Sabrent have all done this before.

  7. Received thanks from:

    kompukare (03-12-2020)

  8. #7
    Senior Member cptwhite_uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    4,420
    Thanks
    513
    Thanked
    685 times in 474 posts
    • cptwhite_uk's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI B450i Gaming plus Wifi
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 3700X
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb DRR4 Trident Z 3200 C16
      • Storage:
      • Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 1Tb NVME SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • RX 6800 16Gb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair SF600 Gold
      • Case:
      • Ncase M1 v6
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF (2560x1440 144Hz Nano IPS)
      • Internet:
      • Bt 500 Mbps

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    I got the 1Tb variant of the 8200 Pro (in August 2019), it's been a great drive, but this will make me avoid Adata products in the future. I was coming from a 2.5" SSD so it felt fast regardless, I never tested it.

  9. #8
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    23
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2 times in 2 posts

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    I guess my fanboyism for Samsung SSDs let me dodge a bullet there...

  10. #9
    Keep it sexy Zhaoman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Dublin
    Posts
    1,527
    Thanks
    234
    Thanked
    126 times in 106 posts

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    Great investigation, we need more tech journalism like this.

  11. #10
    Spreadie
    Guest

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    I knew about the controller swap out, which is why I avoided Adata drives for recent upgrade. The rest is news to me but unsurprising.

    Iirc, they were also pretty shady about disclosing which of their drives were DRAMless models.

  12. #11
    Now 100% Apple free cheesemp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Near the New forest
    Posts
    2,948
    Thanks
    354
    Thanked
    255 times in 173 posts
    • cheesemp's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS TUF x570-plus
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 3600
      • Memory:
      • 16gb Corsair RGB ram
      • Storage:
      • 256Gb NVMe + 500Gb TcSunbow SDD (cheap for games only)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • RX 480 8Gb Nitro+ OC (with auto OC to above 580 speeds!)
      • PSU:
      • Cooler Master MWE 750 bronze
      • Case:
      • Gamemax f15m
      • Operating System:
      • Win 11
      • Monitor(s):
      • 32" QHD AOC Q3279VWF
      • Internet:
      • FTTC ~35Mb

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    I have the cheaper sx6000 and really liked it. Was tempted with adata again but this really puts me off. It might not technically be illegal if it still hits specs but its certainly dishonest. This sort of thing really should be published as I don't want to reward this sort of behaviour with a purchase. Thanks for bring it to everyone's attention.
    Trust

    Laptop : Dell Inspiron 1545 with Ryzen 5500u, 16gb and 256 NVMe, Windows 11.

  13. #12
    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Not here
    Posts
    32,039
    Thanks
    3,910
    Thanked
    5,224 times in 4,015 posts
    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    Quote Originally Posted by cheesemp View Post
    I have the cheaper sx6000 and really liked it. Was tempted with adata again but this really puts me off. It might not technically be illegal if it still hits specs but its certainly dishonest. This sort of thing really should be published as I don't want to reward this sort of behaviour with a purchase. Thanks for bring it to everyone's attention.
    There have been some good deals on the Western Digital/Sandisk drives(same company) and they tend to make their own NAND,and increasingly their own controllers.

  14. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    388
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    19 times in 17 posts
    • simonpreston's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Prime X370 Pro
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 7 3800X
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3000mhz
      • Storage:
      • A lot.
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Radeon RX580
      • PSU:
      • Corsair RM850x
      • Case:
      • Zalman MS1000
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 / Kubuntu 20.04
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2x Dell 2412m
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    Quote Originally Posted by huggi View Post
    I guess my fanboyism for Samsung SSDs let me dodge a bullet there...
    Similar with Crucial, for me. Who haven't been accused, in the article.

  15. #14
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    West Sussex
    Posts
    1,721
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked
    243 times in 223 posts
    • kompukare's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P8Z77-V LX
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5-3570K
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 8GB DDR3
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 850 EVo 500GB | Corsair MP510 960GB | 2 x WD 4TB spinners
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sappihre R7 260X 1GB (sic)
      • PSU:
      • Antec 650 Gold TruePower (Seasonic)
      • Case:
      • Aerocool DS 200 (silenced, 53.6 litres)l)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10-64
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2 x ViewSonic 27" 1440p

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    Quote Originally Posted by huggi View Post
    I guess my fanboyism for Samsung SSDs let me dodge a bullet there...
    Yes, but whatever happened to those first guinea pigs for TCL who bought the 840 and 840 EVO?

    At least for the 840 EVO Samsung acknowledge a problem and a fix - although I always wondered what the fix did to endurance - but for the non-EVO nothing was ever acknowledged.
    However, some people on this story report their non-EVO was also affected:
    https://www.extremetech.com/computin...ped-by-samsung

  16. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen999 View Post
    My initial reaction to that is that it's tantamount to fraud, if not legally quite there.
    Their asses are covered by that pesky little "up to" phrase.

    I keep saying we need to stop accepting that bullrubbishrubbishrubbishrubbish and force companies to give complete spec sheets of their products, with component names.

    How many times have you searched for info about a laptop and found 0 information on whatever the rubbishrubbishrubbishrubbish's inside it?

  17. #16
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    3,895
    Thanks
    935
    Thanked
    971 times in 717 posts

    Re: Investigation uncovers SSD maker bait and switch practices

    Quote Originally Posted by dirtycopgangsta View Post
    Their asses are covered by that pesky little "up to" phrase.

    I keep saying we need to stop accepting that bullrubbishrubbishrubbishrubbish and force companies to give complete spec sheets of their products, with component names.

    How many times have you searched for info about a laptop and found 0 information on whatever the rubbishrubbishrubbishrubbish's inside it?
    Exactly. If, and I stress if the 'bait and switch' is done deliberately then yeah, iy might be legal but it's sure deceitful.

    it's not unknown (historically at least) for PC builders to do something similar, such as switching brand of hard drive, but often not for 'gouging' reasons. It's more that when a model line comes out, brand X are available, but 3 or 6 months later, theyaren't available or have gone up, so brand Y gets used instead. Provided there isn't a significant drop in performance as a result, and that they didn't promise brand X in the first place, fair enough. it's very different from bait-n-switch tactics, which are disgraceful.

    I agree with comments about sticking to Crucial and Samsung, and similar. I wouldn't personally guarantee it can't happen there but it would surprise me, and at least I think it minimises the chances of getting caught that way. I only have Crucial and Samsung SSDs, and 'reputation', in the general sense, is largely why, even though I knew I was paying a premium. Going 'cheap' can result in getting excellent value. Probably often does. But it's a bit more of a gamble.

    I guess the same is true everywhere. But a £200 "cheap" washing machine and it might last years, but might not. Buy a £1000 Miele and you'll be very unlucky if it doesn't .... and it might still be under maker's guarantee anyway. We all pays our money and takes our choice (if you can afford a grand, or more, for a washing machine).


    PS. Before someone tells me, yes, the washing machine example is simplistic, quite a few other brands are £1000, and some Miele are a LOT more than that.
    A lesson learned from PeterB about dignity in adversity, so Peter, In Memorium, "Onwards and Upwards".

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •