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Can I use an NVMe SSD in my PC?

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mott555

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My gaming PC is an older system with an i5 2500k, still running mechanical hard disks, with an ASUS Z77-A motherboard. I want to upgrade to an SSD but after getting an NVMe M.2 drive at work I'd prefer to avoid SATA and try one of Intel's NVMe PCI Express add-in cards. Obviously my system doesn't have an M.2 slot but I have plenty of unused PCI Express slots.

I'm running Windows 10 so I know my OS supports NVMe, but do I need BIOS/UEFI support too? If so, how can I tell if it'll work?
 
#2 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by mott555 View Post

My gaming PC is an older system with an i5 2500k, still running mechanical hard disks, with an ASUS Z77-A motherboard. I want to upgrade to an SSD but after getting an NVMe M.2 drive at work I'd prefer to avoid SATA and try one of Intel's NVMe PCI Express add-in cards. Obviously my system doesn't have an M.2 slot but I have plenty of unused PCI Express slots.

I'm running Windows 10 so I know my OS supports NVMe, but do I need BIOS/UEFI support too? If so, how can I tell if it'll work?
Click to expand...
Only Z97 chipsets and higher have BIOS NVME support.
 
#3 ·
You could try this: Not sure it's going to work but it may work in ACHI...someone confirm...
https://www.amazon.com/ZTC-Thunder-Board-Adapter-ZTC-AD001/dp/B00HKV2TVK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474381710&sr=8-1&keywords=ztc+m.2+to+sata+adapter

I used an m.2 ACHI drive in my Z77 prior to upgrading my motherboard. Worked great!

IF you want I still have my adapter, PM me if your interested. I can ship it to you for just the price of shipping. I don't plan on selling it so it's yours if you want it.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cakewalk_S View Post

You could try this: Not sure it's going to work but it may work in ACHI...someone confirm...
https://www.amazon.com/ZTC-Thunder-Board-Adapter-ZTC-AD001/dp/B00HKV2TVK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474381710&sr=8-1&keywords=ztc+m.2+to+sata+adapter

I used an m.2 ACHI drive in my Z77 prior to upgrading my motherboard. Worked great!
Click to expand...
Interesting, but that would limit the drive to SATA III speeds and negate the advantage of having an NVMe drive over raw PCI Express lanes.
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by mott555 View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cakewalk_S View Post

You could try this: Not sure it's going to work but it may work in ACHI...someone confirm...
https://www.amazon.com/ZTC-Thunder-Board-Adapter-ZTC-AD001/dp/B00HKV2TVK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474381710&sr=8-1&keywords=ztc+m.2+to+sata+adapter

I used an m.2 ACHI drive in my Z77 prior to upgrading my motherboard. Worked great!
Click to expand...
Interesting, but that would limit the drive to SATA III speeds and negate the advantage of having an NVMe drive over raw PCI Express lanes.
Click to expand...
True but unless someone says otherwise, IMHO you cannot use the PCIe unless you have a board that has an m.2 NVMe slot... Your board predates m.2 and NVMe
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
M.2 is just PCI Express x4 in an alternate form factor, with provision for operating as a SATA port if the device requests it.

But, sounds like my BIOS doesn't support booting over the NVMe protocol (whether it's M.2 or normal PCI Express slot) so I guess I'll just stick with a SATA III drive for now. It'll still be a major improvement over WD Blues though.
 
#7 ·
I could add NVMe boot support to your BIOS if you want. It's not a guarantee it will work, if it doesn't work just flash the original BIOS back onto the board. Fernando at win-raid got it working on a Z68 board. I'm still waiting on a poster to test it on his Z77 I modded a BIOS for a few days ago.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1244232/asus-asrock-msi-gigabyte-bioss-with-updated-raid-orom/3880#post_25508548

This below is the adapter you'll need to get.

https://www.amazon.com/Lycom-DT-120-PCIe-Adapter-Support/dp/B00MYCQP38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474529172&sr=8-1&keywords=Lycom
 
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#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cakewalk_S View Post

True but unless someone says otherwise, IMHO you cannot use the PCIe unless you have a board that has an m.2 NVMe slot... Your board predates m.2 and NVMe
Click to expand...
Not true you can use a M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 adapter and install it in the 2nd PCIe x16 slot and the 1st and 2nd slot become x8 lanes.
 
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#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Palorim12 View Post

Only Z97 chipsets and higher have BIOS NVME support.
Click to expand...
Officially yes but you can add NVMe boot support into the BIOS for Z68/Z77 boards. It's tricky to do it right but I've seen it work.
 
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mott555
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