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AMD Radeon driver bug causing constant SSD writes: what is confirmed and what to do

AMD Radeon driver bug causing constant SSD writes: what is confirmed and what to do

If you own an AMD Radeon card and your SSD seems busy all the time for no reason, you are not alone. AMD has acknowledged a Radeon driver bug that causes constant SSD writes, and says a fix is coming in Adrenalin 26.11.1. Here is what is happening, what is confirmed and what is not, how to check your PC, and what to do until the official update lands.

The short version

Radeon users noticed a background process writing to their SSD continuously, even while the PC was idle. According to VideoCardz, users reported writes of roughly 0.3 to 1.5 MB/s, with one report of 5 MB/s. The process involved is atieclxx.exe, part of the AMD External Events Utility that ships with the driver. Versions mentioned in reports include Adrenalin 26.10.1 and 26.10.2.

What AMD said

Per VideoCardz, AMD forum representative AMD_Matt confirmed in October that AMD was investigating. AMD_Vik later explained the issue involves an interaction between the AMD External Events Utility and Microsoft's PCIe filter driver. AMD says a fix has been submitted and Adrenalin 26.11.1 should resolve it. At the time of writing, the latest listed driver was 26.10.2 (October 30), and AMD had not published an official workaround.

Will it damage my SSD?

Nothing is confirmed. VideoCardz notes the reported writes do not necessarily represent physical NAND writes, and the actual impact on SSD endurance has not been established. Windows and the SSD controller both cache and manage writes, so what Task Manager shows is not always what reaches the flash cells.

Why does a GPU driver write to disk at all?

Modern graphics drivers are bundles of background services: game settings, recording, performance overlays and system event handling. Writing small log or settings files now and then is normal. Writing every second without stopping is not, and that is what users spotted.

An unofficial community tool

On November 11, VideoCardz reported that a ComputerBase forum member released an unofficial open-source tool to stop the writes. According to the developer, atieclxx.exe copies a file of about 660 KB every second, which the developer estimates at around 56 GB per day. Keep in mind: the tool is unofficial, VideoCardz has not tested it, it needs admin rights, and it is German only. Our advice: be careful with any tool that needs admin rights and touches driver files. If you are not comfortable, wait for the official update.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to Processes and watch the Disk column for an AMD External Events process.
  2. For more detail, open Resource Monitor (type resmon in Start), go to the Disk tab and look at "Processes with Disk Activity". If atieclxx.exe keeps writing while the PC is idle, you are likely affected.
  3. Check your driver version in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. 26.10.1 and 26.10.2 are the versions mentioned in reports.

What to do now

1. Wait for Adrenalin 26.11.1 from the official source

Get it from AMD's website or from Adrenalin itself, never from third-party driver sites.

2. Do not rush manual fixes

Some users suggested disabling the AMD External Events Utility or Resizable BAR. These are user suggestions, not official AMD fixes. Disabling Resizable BAR can reduce performance in some games, so know how to undo anything you change.

3. Check SSD health

Use your SSD maker's free tool to see health and total data written. Note the number now and check again in a week.

4. Back up important files

Always good advice. Any SSD can fail, and backups protect you.

Do I need a new graphics card?

No. The problem is in the driver, not the card, and the fix is a software update. Driver updates are a normal part of owning any GPU, AMD or NVIDIA.

Products from GamerZone

FAQ

Does it affect every Radeon card?

Reports tie it to the driver and the AMD External Events Utility, not a specific card model. Versions mentioned are 26.10.1 and 26.10.2.

When is the fix coming?

AMD says Adrenalin 26.11.1, with no specific date given in the source.

Is 56 GB per day an official number?

No. It is the unofficial tool developer's estimate. AMD has not published a figure.

Should I disable Resizable BAR?

It is a user suggestion, not an official fix, and can lower performance in some games. Waiting for the official update is the safer choice.

Will my SSD fail?

There is no confirmed evidence of real damage. Reported writes do not necessarily mean physical NAND writes. Monitor health with your SSD maker's tool.

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Message us on WhatsApp 0564121558 or visit our Olaya or Aqiq branch in Riyadh. Installments available with Tamara and Tabby.

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