AMD Users Warned: GPU Utility May Harm SSD Longevity
A bug in AMD's External Events Utility is causing SSDs to wear out prematurely. Here’s how to mitigate the issue.
For many users with AMD Radeon graphics cards, a troubling bug in the External Events Utility (EEU) is leading to unexpected wear on solid-state drives (SSDs). This utility, included with AMD's drivers, is causing frequent writes to SSDs, which could dramatically reduce their lifespan.
Identifying the Issue
The issue first gained visibility in July when a user reported on AMD's official forums that their SSD was facing excessive read/write activity after installing the Radeon 9060XT graphics card. As conversations grew, several others confirmed similar experiences, noting their SSDs were showing significant health degradation despite multiple updates aimed at solving the issue.
Recent reports from Reddit user darklinkpower indicated that the AMD Adrenaline Edition application, which manages the utility, might exacerbate the problem. Over a period of about 16 months, they observed a decline of approximately 1% in SSD health each month, indicating a potential major risk if the problem continues unchecked.
AMD's Acknowledgment and Response
A representative from AMD, known as AMD_Vik, acknowledged this problem on Reddit and hinted that a fix may be included in an upcoming update. As of now, no specific timeline for a permanent solution has been provided, leaving users in a precarious situation as they manage their SSD health.
Effective Workarounds to Protect Your SSD
While users await a comprehensive patch from AMD, here are some recommended workarounds to minimize the impact on SSD lifespan:
1. Disable the External Events Utility
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type services.msc and hit Enter.
- Locate the AMD External Events Utility.
- Right-click to open its properties, stop the service, and change its startup type to Disabled.
This action has been effective for numerous users dealing with the writing issue. However, be cautious, as this could disrupt features like AMD FreeSync or lead to problems when changing display settings while your computer is on.
2. Adjust Smart Access Memory Settings
- Launch the AMD Adrenaline Edition software.
- Click the gear icon to access Settings.
- Find the Smart Access Memory setting and check if it's enabled.
- If it is enabled, consider turning it off to reduce unwanted memory usage by your CPU and GPU.
This method may introduce its own set of complications related to performance, so it is advisable to only attempt it if disabling the EEU does not resolve your SSD issue.
Conclusion
Currently, AMD users affected by this problem have a couple of stopgap measures at their disposal. Implementing these solutions could help mitigate SSD wear while waiting for a lasting fix from AMD. Proactive action is essential for safeguarding your system’s storage health, as many users are experiencing significant risks to their drives due to this bug.