Win 10 Installed on M2 (thanks!) Win 10 Tweeks ensue!

Specific Question up front:

What M2 SSD will actually fit and function in my Asus Z97 Motherboard;
https://www.asus.com …therboards/Z97P​ROWiFi_ac/

I would prefer Samsung 970 500gb or 1TB.

Most everything now is labeled NVME, and I know that this MB does not support that.

There is an Asus conversion kit. but the one that was recommended for the Z97 even that is old discontinued tech.
https://www.asus.com …es/HYPER_M2_X4_​MINI_CARD/

I have the M2 slot and 2 PCI-E X16 slots available.
The M2 slot is labeled as "socket 3" and listed at 10GBs.

Thanks in advance, now I see why when it built this years ago I just used SATA SSD. I'm about ready to give up and just do that again.


FYI, The reason for doing this, is I need to finally cave and upgrade from Windows 7
My plan is to set up Dual Boot with Windows 10 so any legacy apps or hardware I may still have access to.

For that I need larger boot drive than the 250GB I ma using now.

It's going to be a few steps;

- Transfer existing Boot windows to the larger drive
- Set up dual boot.
- The get Windows 10 as useful as possible.
- I'll turn off any internet on the Win7 install to keep it safe.

Jake,
The user manual specs for storage clearly states:

"Intel® Z97 chipset :
1 x SATA Express port, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode)*3
4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology *4
ASMedia® PCIe SATA controller : *5
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), black"

If you shop Amazon for 'm.2 SSD 2260" you get https://www.amazon.com …0/s?k=m.2+ssd+2​260&page=3
or shop Amazon for 'm.2 SSD 2280" you get https://www.amazon.com …ssd+2280&ref=nb​_sb_noss_1

About SATA vs NVME:

"SATA

SATA is the most popular interface for SSDs today, perhaps in part because it is both the least expensive option and the best known. SATA is used in an enormous array of commercial and industrial products and has long offered users a reliable solution for SSD interface needs.

There are a few drawbacks to SATA, however. First, it is difficult to expand when using SATA, because hosts generally cannot have more than six SATA devices at any one time. The other major issue is the limit on transfer speeds. The newest version of SATA is more than a decade old, and it uses the legacy AHCI protocol. AHCI was designed for use with rotating HDDs, not SSDs, which is a further drawback on operation potential.

NVMe

NVMe is designed specifically for use with NAND flash, which is the storage format used in SSD devices. It uses PCIe to allow easy growth for host systems, without limits on the number of devices that can be used. It also provides a direct CPU connection for fast data transfer speeds, and frees up room in the storage device stack.

NVMe can deliver significantly higher data transfer rates than SATA systems. The drawback for many engineers is that NVMe interfaces are more expensive—and that so many devices already have SATA interfaces. However, as NAND flash becomes standard, it is possible that NVMe could replace SATA in terms of popularity.

Discuss your questions about SATA and NVMe interfaces and your embedded storage needs with Delkin. We’re ready provide the information you need to ensure your application can deliver optimum performance.

But because of the text in green, I would speak directly with the manufacturer's customer support to make sure NVME storage will work. ASUS tech support: 1-812-282-2787

Wilt wrote in post #18984428
Jake,
The user manual specs for storage clearly states:

"Intel® Z97 chipset :
1 x SATA Express port, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode)*3
4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology *4
ASMedia® PCIe SATA controller : *5
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), black"

If you shop Amazon for 'm.2 SSD 2260" you get https://www.amazon.com …0/s?k=m.2+ssd+2​260&page=3
or shop Amazon for 'm.2 SSD 2280" you get https://www.amazon.com …ssd+2280&ref=nb​_sb_noss_1

Thanks Wilt, when I searched for "M2 SSD Socket 3" I got everything! My mistake was not including the "2260".

thanks.

OK, well I;m still lost.
I did that search and first Samsung drive that showed up is this;
https://smile.amazon.c​om …260&qid=1577921​329&sr=8-4

It's NVMe.

My motherboard uses the SATA Express lane for the M2 slot.
NVMe uses the PCI-Express lane.

So, I still don't know that that drive is actually compatible with my motherboard.
I THINK what I need is the 860. Even the contact layout looks different on the Samsung 970.

I would speak directly with the manufacturer's customer support to make sure NVME storage will work. ASUS tech support: 1-812-282-2787

This reminds me of many hours spent at Fry's in selecting compatible products, only to find that in spite of apparent compatability, the combination just does not work together. Even for something as simple as a keyboard compatability with the motherboard (I had one keyboard which was NOT compatible!)

M.2 is the form factor
2260/2280 is the length of the drive (distance from the socket to the mounting screw)
SATA/NVME is the interface

As you've figured out, you need an M.2 drive that is 2260 or 2280 long and has he SATA interface.

So, one of these: https://www.newegg.com …60-_-20-510-047-_-Product


I don't think you'll find an EVO drive with SATA anymore, so that Transcend drive will work just fine.

The other option would be a PIC to NVME adapter card, then you could run an EVO NVME drive and get PCI performance.
Although some motherboards won't boot from a PCI card.


But a SATA disc is more than fast enough to saturate your CPU, you won't get any noticeable performance improvement going to NVME, and M.2 SATA is just as fast as SATA over a cable.

I ordered the m.2 860 EVO, which says it's SATA 6GB vs. the 960 which is NVMe.
We shall see if this works.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18984481
I ordered the m.2 860 EVO, which says it's SATA 6GB vs. the 960 which is NVMe.
We shall see if this works.

Good find!
Small thing to note, if you use the eSATA connector on the board, it will share bandwidth with the M.2 connector.

NVME should work, NVME uses PCI protocol but those boards are a bit goofy. Did some digging and you may need to make sure your BIOS is up to date for that board to be happy with an NVME drive (looks like you need at least BIOS Version 2205 from 2015/02/17). Don't see any issues reported with SATA other than the fact that, as mentioned previously, you can't use that and the SATA Express simultaneously.

NVME will be faster than SATA on your board but it looks like your m.2 slot doesn't provide enough lanes of a fast enough PCIE protocol to take full advantage of an NVME drive. SATA drives are plenty fast for most people anywho.

Colorblinded wrote in post #18984573
NVME should work,

I completely missed that, even after reading the specs page.

CDS I think your still better off with a SATA drive, as Colorblinded mentioned, at least you know the SATA drive will work.

I'd still go with the NVME, even if you have to update your BIOS, but that's me.

All this well intended educated guessing! That is why I have twice previously recommended,
"I would speak directly with the manufacturer's customer support to make sure NVME storage will work. ASUS tech support: 1-812-282-2787"

A good guide to the various for factors can be found at https://insights.samsu​ng.com …-factor-for-your-upgrade/

Wilt wrote in post #18984860
All this well intended educated guessing! That is why I have twice previously recommended,
"I would speak directly with the manufacturer's customer support to make sure NVME storage will work. ASUS tech support: 1-812-282-2787"

I mean, it's not really a guess if you go to the BIOS updates history and read the update notes. They added NVME support.

Well, it's all resolved now. (yes I am kicking myself that I didn't go with the NVMe!) but now i have a semi successful dual boot. typing this back on "7" since that's the one with bookmarks and firefox,. for now, but I was just pulling my hair out trying to find my way around "10" a few seconds ago.

Wow WHAT A CHORE this was. I thought I had done my research, but the whole day was plagued with problems, some of which were totally out of my control regardless of what I knew or didn't!


Steps for how it SHOULD have gone:
1 Shut down PC and install the new M.2
2 Use cloning tool to clone existing & install to new larger M.2
3 Power down, unplug old 7 drive so it can't boot.
4 Boot up to flash drive with Win10 install
5 Install Win 10 "custom" in new partition on un-allocated space on new M.2 drive.
6 Reboot and select which OS to install.

Done.


But, that's not how it went, from the start I should have known. Instead;

1 Shut down PC
2 Wait as Win7 decides to install last minute end of life updates
3 Wait longer as PC hangs for the first time in 5 years, choking on the updates.
4 Attempt multiple times to get the damn thing running again, unsuccessfully.
5 Cry as no matter what I di every time I try to boot, it insists on continuing to try to "finish the updates" and hangs
6 Try "safe mode" - fail, safe mode also tries to complete the update, and you guessed it, hangs.
7 Try system restore.
8 System restore successful, but that does not prevent the older 7 from trying to complete the update anyway, so we hang again.
9 Take wife and nephew out for dinner and an old school video arcade!!!
10 Get home at 10:30 and give it another go. This time it finishes booting. No idea why. turn off all updating!

...go back to Step 1 in the first list!

-
-
-
15 Boot to flash drive with 10 installation on it.
16 Begin install, select custom, select unallocated space
17 Get message that the drive I want to install on is MBR and Windows 10 requires "GPT" Can not install!
18 - 23 or so,. make several misteps in trying to figure out how to make it all work, including making the original 256gb SSD with Windows 7 on it completely unbootable.
24 Back to the intenet to research
25 Get live tech support on my laptop from easeUS Partition Manager (awesome app with AWESOME SUPPORT) because the license I just paid for to do the advance options of cloning, etc. is locked up on the Windows 7 drive that is unbootable, get new license info so I can;
26 Create PE boot flash drive with EaseUS Partition Manager utility on it.
27 Use that to reboot the workstation and fix the broken original install so it will boot... again.
28 back to step 2 in the first lest, reclone to M.2
29 use the same PE flash drive to convert that new clone to GPT.
30 Reboot with the OTHER flash deive with the 10 installation files
31 Go through 10 install again,.
32 Get to the place in custom install where I need to chose the unallocated space, get the message "Can not install on GPT drive!!!!!! WTF!?
33 More internet research!
34 Go into bios for the 20 somethingth time, and set all the boot and UEFI parameters for the umteenth time,. and ..
35 This time I get it all right!
36 Follow steps 5 and 6 and voila!

Oi, it's waaay past my bed time!

Good night all.

Tomorrow I will try to see what 10 will do with my hardware and software. In the meant time, I do know that one RAID array is not working in 10. No biggy, but it's exactly why I did the dual boot.