Hi everyone,
I am considering getting a Samsung 950 Pro 512GB.
I know the M.2 slots on these boards are limited to PCIe 2.0, so I would simply get an M.2 to PCIe adapter and use one of my unpopulated PCIe slots. I've been reading different threads and guides on how to use these M.2 SSDs on these boards, but my findings are a little inconclusive, and the user feedback inconsistent/contradictory.
 
Here are my specs:
-Evga Classified X99
-6850K 4.3GHz 43x100MHz
-4x 4GB GSKILL DDR4 3200MHz (baseclock remains 100MHz, not 125)
-1TB Samsung 840 EVO SATAIII
 
Here are my questions:
1- I intend on installing my OS (Windows 10 64-bit) on and booting off of the 950 Pro directly. Will that be possible?
2- I'd like to be able to install the OS directly onto the SSD and not have to copy an image from another SSD or some similar hack. Will that be possible?
3- Do I need to enable/disable any settings that will restrict compatibility with other devices/peripherals?
4- I've read some people talking about having to go into the BIOS each time they want to boot into Windows, not sure which context they were talking about. Is there any weird behavior and workarounds that I'll have to deal with in order to be able to use this drive the same way I would use a SATA SSD on a daily basis?
 
Thanks!

I did come across that thread earlier.
 
 #2
Make sure to enable M.2 support (Found under the advanced tab)
and that "Improve Compatibility" is also enabled
 
Does this step apply to people plugging in the SSD into a PCIe slot instead of the M2 slot?

I've got the 950 PRO 512GB installed and running Windows 10 in an expansion card and running in my X99 Classified with the latest BIOS. Works fine.

No, step 2 doesn't apply unless you want to disable your PE5 slot. I have that option disabled so I can use that slot, funny enough, for my 950 Pro in an expansion card.

However, you should be forwarned that game load and Windows load times are no different than a good quality SATA III SSD - http://forums.evga.com/EV...ad-Times-m2556132.aspx

Knowing what I know now, I'd have gone with a 2TB SATA III SSD instead.

One more question, does fast boot need to be disabled?
 
I'm having a hard time installing Windows onto it. With the boot mode select set to UEFI, I can't even boot on my bootable Windows 7 installation USB stick. If I try to do a boot override in the BIOS, a blue screen (literally blue, not a BSOD) flashes for a split second and I'm back in the BIOS. If I set it Legacy, I can boot on it but it can't find the NVME even after I supply drivers.
 
CSM configuration
Launch CSM ENABLED
Launch PXE OpROM Policy DO NOT LAUNCH
Laucnh Storage OpROM Policy UEFI
Other PCI device ROM priority UEFI
 
 

The Samsung 950 PRO should work fine with the X99 Classified, as long as you update your motherboard's Bios to the latest version (2.03) found here:
http://forums.evga.com/Ne...OSs-9216-m2543420.aspx
 
 
As for installing Windows 7, you will need to load a driver during install, which you can find here:
http://www.etcwiki.org/wi..._Windows_7_x64_Install
 
(Scroll down to the part that says NVMe Drivers).
 

ypsylon
You don't need newest BIOS to run NVMe devices.

Although this is true, there have been made several improvements to NVMe devices since Bios 1.14.
 
For example, true EFI-install on an Intel 750 wasn't working properly on the Classified until Bios 1.19,
so updating the Bios to the latest version is still recommended.

Well I'm now happily running my 1TB SM961 and Windows 7 Pro 64-bit on my Classified. I posted benches here under the name "Emmanuel":
http://www.overclock.net/t/1603995/samsung-sm961-nvme-thread/240
 
My boot mode is set to LEGACY, if set to UEFI it doesn't seem to detect the drive and it can't even boot on my USB stick.
 
I'm still using the following settings:
CSM configuration
Launch CSM ENABLED
Launch PXE OpROM Policy DO NOT LAUNCH
Laucnh Storage OpROM Policy UEFI
Other PCI device ROM priority UEFI
 
I already see a major improvement in shutdown time over my previous 2x 128GB Samsung 840 Pro in RAID0, and startup is at least just as fast as before, if not faster. All in all, I'm currently very happy.

Isn't CSM needed for Windows 7?
 
Looking at your signature rig which is pretty similar to my setup, how did you personally install your OS onto your Samsung 960? And is it Windows 10 or 7?

I'm also using a PCIe slot for mine and I'm getting great benchmark scores as a result. The only thing that bothers me is that the only PCIe slots that I can use (because of my 2 GPUs and sound card) force my GPU PCIe slots to x8 instead of x16. I have yet to see if this causes any stuttering in gaming, having one card running @ x16 while the other @ x8. My benchmark scores in 3DMark11 haven't dropped at least. I wonder how close I am to saturating PCI 3.0 x8 with a heavily overclocked 980ti.

H-Emmanuel
 The only thing that bothers me is that the only PCIe slots that I can use (because of my 2 GPUs and sound card) force my GPU PCIe slots to x8 instead of x16. 

And thus why I suggested using the onboard m.2 slot. The GPU is much more likely to make use of the full x16 than the SSD is going to use x4 3.0.

GTXJackBauer
 
 
It's still going to use x4.

Yes of course, but OP's concern was x4 2.0 (on board m.2) versus x4 3.0 (PCIe add in card).
 
Since they are using SLI they are much more likely to use the full x16 bandwidth on the GPUs than using the full x4 3.0 bandwidth with the SSD.

somethingc00l

GTXJackBauer
 
 
It's still going to use x4.

Yes of course, but OP's concern was x4 2.0 (on board m.2) versus x4 3.0 (PCIe add in card).
 
Since they are using SLI they are much more likely to use the full x16 bandwidth on the GPUs than using the full x4 3.0 bandwidth with the SSD.

You're right for the wrong reasons - 2.0 vs. 3.0 for m.2 matters if you file copy to a drive/array that can keep up and/or have a big database. It does NOT make any difference for game load times and Windows boot times.

https://hardforum.com/thr...e-comparisons.1911914/

Scroll to the bottom of the first post for professional reviewers who find the same results. TLDR version - get a good quality SATA III SSD and it will be every bit as good in normal gamer/desktop use as the fastest and most expensive NVME m.2 drive is.

GTXJackBauer

arestavo

somethingc00l

GTXJackBauer


It's still going to use x4.

Yes of course, but OP's concern was x4 2.0 (on board m.2) versus x4 3.0 (PCIe add in card).

Since they are using SLI they are much more likely to use the full x16 bandwidth on the GPUs than using the full x4 3.0 bandwidth with the SSD.

You're right for the wrong reasons - 2.0 vs. 3.0 for m.2 matters if you file copy to a drive/array that can keep up and/or have a big database. It does NOT make any difference for game load times and Windows boot times.

https://hardforum.com/thr...e-comparisons.1911914/

Scroll to the bottom of the first post for professional reviewers who find the same results. TLDR version - get a good quality SATA III SSD and it will be every bit as good in normal gamer/desktop use as the fastest and most expensive NVME m.2 drive is.

.........
 

arestavo
the more drives you have and the more add in cards you have (like a RAID card, discrete or the motherboard) the longer it takes to boot the PC.

 
You've been told in the past by some that used a timer that it was a faster boot.   You keep telling people on these forums to stay away from M.2 and purchase SATA SSDs when we know they're slower in general.  Why is it so hard to comprehend?  Because your data trumps everyone else's?  I've had enough with this argument.  

Could result in a marginally faster boot. But honestly, is that really  a good usage parameter for judging the how well something suits a particular need? At the end of the day, it is a subjective choice. Folks need to decide for themselves if the extra cost and possible draw backs of losing a PCIe slot/lanes is their best option.

arestavo
You're right for the wrong reasons - 2.0 vs. 3.0 for m.2 matters if you file copy to a drive/array that can keep up and/or have a big database. 

I'm well aware of the dubious value of the desktop performance of NVMe drives, thus my advice. I'm right for the right reasons. PCIe 2.0 gives 500 MB/s/lane, so x4 total is 2 GB/s. The 950 Pro 512 GB can barely go faster than that with sequential read, nothing else (and only at queue depths you won't see on the desktop). If we were talking the 960 Pro 3.0 makes a bit more sense, for a 950 pro it gets you nothing.
Just like normal HDD to SSD upgrade, the real value comes from a reduction in latency, not sequential rates. An NVMe drive won't help your boot or loading times much, but it does indeed improve latency which is what people actually notice when using a computer.