Samsung Magician 8.2.0.800

Overview

Samsung Magician is a Samsung SSD drive testing application direct from the electronics maker. The software is intended for use with Samsung SSD 470 Series, 830 Series, 840 Series and 850 Series.

The software can help Samsung SSD owners to test the performance of their solid state drive to see whether it is performing up to the standard expected either shortly after purchase or months later after continued use. The system software, known as firmware, can also be scanned and a check run on the internet to see if there is a newer version. This is a good way to update the crucial operating system within the SSD drive without needing to check other online sites for it.

Periodic use of the Samsung Magician software can act as a health test on the hardware because it will confirm whether SSD is functioning well. The stress test will put the drive through its paces to see if it is going to continue to run well. Whether the SSD has replaced the main hard drive as a main system storage or is used as secondary storage, knowing it is functioning well is vital.

Drive optimization is also a feature with the software to fine tune for the Windows system that it is installed with. There are three profiles: Maximum Performance, Maximum Capacity and Maximum Reliability. The owner can select which is their preferred choice.

There is also the option to safely wipe data from the data (or the whole drive) which can make it safe for resale inside a PC or separately.

Installation

The installation completed without any problems. The software requires a Samsung SSD to be detectable.

There was no malicious software included with the setup program.

Samsung Magician requires Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 (32-bit or 64-bit).

Interface

The interface is attractively laid out with subtle menus down the left side of the application window. There are sections there for Disk Management, System Management, and Data Management.

By default the drive information is shown which acts as a kind of main dashboard. Here the determined health status is shown, some system information, and quick access to a performance test.

Overall, the interface is pretty slick for a SSD testing software package from a manufacturer.

Pros

• Stress test the Samsung SSD drive
• Optimize the drive between three profiles: Maximum Performance, Maximum Capacity and Maximum Reliability
• Slick interface
• Update firmware from within the application
• Safely wipe the drive

Cons

• Specific to Samsung SSD drives and only specific models at that.

Alternatives

There are no recommended alternatives to a specialist Samsung software package developed for their own SSD drives. Users using Intel SSDs can use Intel Solid-State Drive Toolbox.

Conclusion

Samsung Magician is an excellent little utility for the Samsung SSD drives to optimize their performance, stress test them, update their firmware, and generally take care of them.