AMD Driver Bug Affects SSD Health - Fixes Available

AMD has confirmed a troubling issue affecting certain users of its Radeon graphics cards. The External Events Utility (EEU), which is included with the installation of AMD's CPU and GPU drivers, is reportedly causing excessive writing to solid-state drives (SSDs), leading to potential longevity concerns.

The Problem Unveiled

This issue came to light in July when a forum user noted that after installing a Radeon 9060XT graphics card, their SSD showed alarming signs of wear due to relentless data writing by the EEU. The situation sparked widespread discussions among AMD users, with many reporting similar problems that persisted despite multiple patch updates.

One Reddit contributor, darklinkpower, revealed that the AMD Adrenaline Edition app was part of the problem, with the EEU driver degrading their drive health by an estimated 1% each month over the past 16 months. While this may seem negligible, over time it could lead to significant issues.

AMD's Response

AMD appears to recognize the situation. A representative, known as AMD_Vik on Reddit, hinted that a fix could be included in a future update, but no specific timeline has been announced. In the meantime, users are left to deal with the consequences of this bug.

How to Protect Your SSD

While waiting for a permanent fix from AMD, there are a couple of effective workarounds to alleviate the problem:

Disable EEU Utility

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type services.msc and hit Enter.
Find the AMD External Events Utility in the list.
Right-click to open properties, stop the service, and change the startup type to Disabled.

This method has proven effective for many users. However, be aware that disabling the EEU may lead to issues such as the inability to use AMD FreeSync or cause visual glitches when swapping displays with your PC powered on.

Adjust SMART Settings

The AMD Adrenaline Edition application allows users to manage interactions between their CPU and GPU. The feature known as Smart Access Memory can enhance performance but also exacerbates the writing issue. Here’s how to check and adjust this setting:

Open the AMD Adrenaline Edition app.
Click the gear icon to open Settings.
Locate the Smart Access Memory feature, which may be set to Enabled, Disabled, or Not Available.
If it is enabled, consider toggling it off to minimize storage and RAM usage.

This solution should only be attempted if disabling the EEU does not solve the problem, as it might cause compatibility issues between your CPU and GPU.

Conclusion

Currently, AMD users dealing with this driver-related bug can utilize these workarounds while awaiting a comprehensive fix. Until a solution is rolled out, taking proactive measures to safeguard your SSD is crucial.