Intel is currently finishing a new firmware for its 320 ssds. The new firmware must be within two weeks and should avoid, in certain cases, a user has only 8MB storage.
The so-called Bad Context 13x Error popped up for the first time in June. Due to a bug in the controller could, in certain cases, after a power outage the ssd to be unusable and the user has up to 8MB of storage on the drive had.
The Intel 320 series was at the end of march was officially announced and includes ssds with capacities of 40, 80, 120, 160, 300 and 600GB. All of the models, the 40GB instance, can read at 270MBps and are equipped with a practically unaltered Postville controller. The series is known as the Postville Refresh, and had the X25V and X25-M series to follow.
The 320 ssds use flash memory on 25nm is produced; the previous Postvilles had 34nm-mlc-chips on board. Another difference is that the drives have a built-in protection against data loss in event of power failure. Possible, this feature has to do with the Bad Context 13x Error, though Intel itself has no direct connection.
After Intel in July already announced to be able to reproduce the problem, the manufacturer recently said managed also the root cause to find out. There is now a new firmware developed which is currently being tested. Within two weeks, would this new firmware should be available, as Intel has this weekend published. The manufacturer recommends the new firmware to install as soon as it is available.
