[garikfox]

The Official Samsung SM951 Owners Club


Part Number(s):
128GB AHCI MZHPV128HDGM-00000
256GB AHCI MZHPV256HDGL-00000
512GB AHCI MZHPV512HDGL-00000
128GB NVMe MZVPV128HDGM-00000
256GB NVMe MZVPV256HDGL-00000
512GB NVMe MZVPV512HDGL-00000

Win 8.1/10 AHCI Boot compatible motherboard(s) (CSM Disabled)

GA-Z97X-UD3H BIOS F8e
GA-Z97X-UD3H-BK BIOS F7e
GA-Z97X-UD5H BIOS F9f
GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK BIOS F7g
Rampage V Extreme BIOS 1302
H97-Plus BIOS 2501
Z97-Deluxe BIOS 2205
X99-Deluxe BIOS 1302
Fatal1ty X99X Killer BIOS 1.80
Fatal1ty X99 Professional BIOS 1.60
X99 WS BIOS 1.70
ASRock Z97 Extreme6 BIOS P2.10
ASRock X99 WS-E BIOS P1.4 - Not fully compatible, PCIe 2.0 x2 speeds.

Reviews

The SSD Review (NVMe)
The SSD Review (AHCI)
AnandTech (AHCI)
TweakTown (AHCI)
Tom's Hardware (AHCI)
PCPer (AHCI vs NVMe)
Legit Reviews (AHCI)
Tom's Hardware (AHCI)
Storage Review (AHCI)

Buyer Links

AHCI Version(s)
Amazon
RamCity
Flexx Memory

AHCI/NVMe Version(s)
Ashlin Tech

M.2 PCIe to PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter(s)
Lycom DT-120
Addonics ADM2PX4

 

[garikfox]

I received my AHCI SM951 128GB and Lycom DT-120 today, It works and boots perfectly with my motherboard.

I'll update the first post with Boot compatible motherboards.

 

[Crepshaw]

MZHPV256HDGL-00000 (Bought from Flexx)

Using a ASUS H97 Plus BIOS Version 2501

Using this PCIE card: http://www.amazon.com/NGFF-PCIe-Adapter-Samsung-XP941/dp/B00RTSFLBY/ref=pd_cp_pc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1C8CC3FKTYJ9ECPNSACA

It has a heatsink, but it seems like you need thermal pads on your chips to go in between. Since there is a sticker covering the chips I didn't bother to use the heatsink else I might void the warranty (Is there a warranty? No idea).

Other reason that I got a PCIE card is because my motherboard's M.2 slot runs at PCIE 2.0 x2. Not good enough. Even with the card, I still only run at PCIE 2.0 x4. (Need a better motherboard)

I think that's why my benchmarks are a bit slower than some of the numbers I've seen in the other SM951 thread. It's definitely faster than running off the M.2 slot though.

 

[garikfox]

Awesome, yeah PCIe 2.0 x4 is still plenty fast

I think you'll need a 1.5mm thermal pad for that, might even be 2mm heh, No need to take off the sticker on the SM951 just stick the thermal pad on top of it, That's what Plextor does with there new Black Edition M6e's.

 

[Sean Webster]

I think mine came in the mail today. I may have more on the way too. lol I'll post up once I get back home.

 

[SuprUsrStan]

There aren't any NVMe versions available today right?

 

[garikfox]

That's correct.

 

[garikfox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Webster

I think mine came in the mail today. I may have more on the way too. lol I'll post up once I get back home.

I'm assuming you also got an adapter also ?

 

[Sean Webster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by garikfox

I'm assuming you also got an adapter also ?

Unless I was supplied with one I did not. I have a PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot on my test bench. I may have to get one for a RAID 0 review tho....but I think my boss is going to do that one. I'll be taking photos and initial benches today, I can't wait, but I have soo much other stuff I have to do before I can. :'(

 

[garikfox]

Ok excellent

 

[bbond7]

All very odd. Purchased a new Samsung SM951 256GB AHCI M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 card which arrived a few days ago. Stuck it into the M.2 slot on a Asus x99 Deluxe board and fired up into the BIOS. Card was read out of the box and I was one happy bunny. I then checked on my current BIOS version (1305) and just as all good boys followed the advice on RAMCITY and upgraded the boards BIOS to the latest version 1702. Rebooted and the new M.2 drive had disappeared. After a good 5 hours of fiddling with the BIOS settings/resetting the BIOS x times and a good bit of g research discovered this page - spotted the 1602 compatibility note next to my board and hence installed the X99-DELUXE BIOS 1601... still no luck.

Can anyone tell me what the correct settings for this board should be? Most say just load up the default settings... but so far no good.

Many thanks.

 

[Crepshaw]

Try
Quote:

Originally Posted by bbond7

All very odd. Purchased a new Samsung SM951 256GB AHCI M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 card which arrived a few days ago. Stuck it into the M.2 slot on a Asus x99 Deluxe board and fired up into the BIOS. Card was read out of the box and I was one happy bunny. I then checked on my current BIOS version (1305) and just as all good boys followed the advice on RAMCITY and upgraded the boards BIOS to the latest version 1702. Rebooted and the new M.2 drive had disappeared. After a good 5 hours of fiddling with the BIOS settings/resetting the BIOS x times and a good bit of g research discovered this page - spotted the 1602 compatibility note next to my board and hence installed the X99-DELUXE BIOS 1601... still no luck.

Can anyone tell me what the correct settings for this board should be? Most say just load up the default settings... but so far no good.

Many thanks.

Try enabling CSM and disabling secure boot in the BIOS.

 

[bbond7]

Hi Crepshaw,

Many many thanks for taking the time to reply.

Launch CSM was already Enabled with the following settings:

Boot Device Control -> UEFI and Legacy OPROM
Boot from Netweoth Devices -> UEFI first
Boot from Storage Devices -> UEFI first
Boot from PCI-E/PCI Expansion Devices -> UEFI first

That said I have fiddled with most of these settings with no luck.

I also disabled Secure Boot state - to do this I had to send OS Type to 'Other OS' and then needed to go into Key Management and uninstall Secure boot keys - sadly BIOS still cannot 'see' the new M.2 drive.

Just in case any of these ring a bell here are a few settings that I am not 100% sure are correct:

Hyper ket Mode -> Disabled
SATAEXPRESS_1 SRIS Support -> Auto
S.M.A.R.T Status Check -> On
SATA Controller 1 Mode Selection -> AHCI
Support Aggressive Link Power Management -> Disabled

Intel Rapid Storage Technology is Enabled

Fast boot -> Disabled (but would like to think I have tried Enabled with most settings)

DirectKey (DRCT) -> Enabled
Above 4G Decoding -> Disabled

With more than thanks

 

[Crepshaw]

Sorry you couldnt get it working. You could try getting a M.2 to PCIe card. It might work booting from that.

 

[taowulf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbond7

All very odd. Purchased a new Samsung SM951 256GB AHCI M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 card which arrived a few days ago. Stuck it into the M.2 slot on a Asus x99 Deluxe board and fired up into the BIOS. Card was read out of the box and I was one happy bunny. I then checked on my current BIOS version (1305) and just as all good boys followed the advice on RAMCITY and upgraded the boards BIOS to the latest version 1702. Rebooted and the new M.2 drive had disappeared. After a good 5 hours of fiddling with the BIOS settings/resetting the BIOS x times and a good bit of g research discovered this page - spotted the 1602 compatibility note next to my board and hence installed the X99-DELUXE BIOS 1601... still no luck.

Can anyone tell me what the correct settings for this board should be? Most say just load up the default settings... but so far no good.

Many thanks.

have you checked the Asus X99 support thread?

http://www.overclock.net/t/1510328/asus-x99-motherboard-series-official-support-thread-north-american-users-only/0_30

 

[bbond7]

@taowulf

Yes, checked that thread out but you are right probably best post there which I have done. Thanks for the advice.

 

[MakoOC]

Just installed the SM951 512GB size after finding it for $352 shipped, what a beast.

-MSI X99S Gaming 7 / i7-5820 CPU

Everything look ok to you guys, any low numbers or something strange stand out? In comparing the tests to review tests using the same apps mine is slow in a few numbers, especially ATTO where a couple tests hit 400000+ at the 4.0 file size whereas mine is doing around 250000:

 

[MakoOC]

Well, I used the benchmark results above and compared them to scores that are posted on various review sites, and my SM951 is performing extremely well in the larger file read/writes but is getting killed in 4k tests...particularly high que depth 4k tests. It's about -45% lower than the marks should be in the following specific test spots:

Anvil 4K QD16 : Scores 98,473 IOPS, should be around 150,000 IOPS

ATTO - Everything Below 64.0 K: Scores are off on 0.5 through 64.0 by -30 to -50%, then magically catch back up to 100% where they should be by 256.0...odd)

CrystalDiskMark 4K Q32T1: Scores 337.2/308.8 while it should be around 512/450

AS SSD 4K-64Thrd: Scores 400/361 while it should be around 680/360

ASS SSD Copy-Benchmark, "Program": Scores 417 MB/s with a 3.37 s duration, should be around 780 MB/s with a 1.80 second duration

HD Tune Pro 5.50 4K random multi (32): 47202 IOPS, should be around 100000 IOPS

I'm running Windows 7, any particular OS setting or something that should be checked that would affect the smaller file transfers?

It's strange because what I've listed above are the only areas within each benchmark that were off, the other 20+ measurements within those tests were spot on. Wonder what I'm missing.

 

[Aibohphobia]

They're listed on Newegg now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=sm951&N=-1&isNodeId=1

 

[taowulf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aibohphobia

They're listed on Newegg now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=sm951&N=-1&isNodeId=1

The AHCI version has been availble for a couple of weeks, so far I haven't seen an in stock listing for the NVMe version. Well, other than maybe the Ramcity listings.