A multi-cell disk drive test system that provides for asynchronous software module updates that includes a test platform, one or more test manager computers (TMCs), and a test coordinator computer (TCC). The test platform includes a plurality of cells in which each cell is configured to receive and to provide communication with a disk drive. The TCC is configured to communicate with one or more TMCs and to store a plurality of updated software module versions. After a disk drive is determined to be in an appropriate cell, the TMC: determines a test step to be performed on the disk drive and a cell software module currently stored for the cell; determines if an updated software module version associated with the test step is stored on the TCC, and if so, downloads the updated software module version, and updates the TMC with the updated cell software module version.