M.2 SSD on old X58 system with M.2 PCI adaptor. Can it work?

[Tomgang]

Go

Good that it is detected, how were the ratings on the adapter you got?

Ratings Arent bad on the adaptor and the heatsink does a good job to. Ilde about 30 C and max load havent seen the SSD exceed 45 C yet. M.2 SSD tends to be hot and throttle down speed, this adaptor prevents that from happening.

Here is some speed comparison. Please note that at the given test mobo where sat to raid mode and not AHCI, that may effect results and as other X58 owners might know, these first gen sata 3 port driven by marvel controller does not have full real sata 3 speed. Max out at about 400 Mb/s read and 250 MB/s ride. Samsung 950 Pro does nok show its full speed cause of speed limitations on PCIe 2. Thats why it max out close to 1700 MB/s and not the rated 2200 MB/s. But the speeds are still better than any sata setup can give even two SSD in raid 0 at full sata 3 speed can not come up at those speeds 950 PRO hits.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Ratings Arent bad Here is some speed comparison. Please note that at the given test mobo where sat to raid mode and not AHCI, that may effect results and as other X58 owners might know, these first gen sata 3 port driven by marvel controller does not have full real sata 3 speed. Max out at about 400 Mb/s read and 250 MB/s ride. Samsung 950 Pro does

Shaite, I will try my 950Pro in rampage II... so far in MSI X58 Pro-E and Intel DX58SO didn't start... So I concluded it for a platforma as such. Asus left a gift.

Many excuses for my conclusions before.

 

[Tomgang]

Shaite, I will try my 950Pro in rampage II... so far in MSI X58 Pro-E and Intel DX58SO didn't start... So I concluded it for a platforma as such. Asus left a gift.

Many excuses for my conclusions before.

I havent installed windows on the samsung 950 PRO yet. But so far so good. Every other thing has worked perfect so far. Tomorrow i will try windows install. Thanks samsung for providing Legacy mode. Its brilliant so far and if i also can boot windows that i will test out tomorrow, what more can i ask for.

If you look at crystal disk mark. Samsung EVO 250 GB is stil C-drive but not for much longer.

No its not asus only feature. I have seen gigabyte being reported aswell to work whit this SSD and to get the SSD to show up in bios, sata must be set to AHCI, Raid dosent work.

 

[Tomgang]

Alright back with a final update: Well lets say all of you that said it cut not be done, you guys where so wrong. Samsung 950 PRO at least work perfect also as a boot drive and it where almost to easy to get to work. No mods/mod bios or other tweaks where needed, only set bios back to AHCI from raid and ssd to boot drive after install and wroom of it goes to windows. Only problem i had where then after installed windows 10 and after first reboot and after done posting when that white marker in the corner of the screen, just blinking and nothing more happened and that happened every time. But after unplug all other SSD/HDD and installed windows again only with the M.2 SSD plug in the motherboard it worked flawless. Booted to windows and restarted perfectly. And it looks like it still works great after plugged all other SSD/HDD in again, it still boots to windows.

So final verdict: Yes M.2 SSD can indeed work and boot on old non NVME/UEFI supported bios. Well at least as long the M.2 SSD has legacy mode build in like the Samsung 950 PRO has. None legacy mode M.2 SSD like the newer samsung 960 EVO/PRO will properly never get to work. But that dosent matter 950 PRO does indeed and i am more than happy with that. And with that said, here is a screenshot of my system where the 950 PRO indeed is C-drive now (se in crystal disk info under drive letter). Oh and the performence from the m.2 SSD also got a bit better after changing from raid to AHCI mode and installed samsungs NVME driver and to compare to before with raid and now with AHCI se image under here and in #26.

So what you guys think of this?

 

[dorsetknob]

just goes to prove
Still life in the old dog and you can teach it new tricks woof woof

 

[Tomgang]

just goes to prove
Still life in the old dog and you can teach it new tricks woof woof

Yes i can indeed lean this old dog new tricks, but also show that you dont need to have some of the latest hardware to use a M.2 SSD properly. You just need a M.2 SSD with Legacy support and there are unfortunaly not many of then out there with legacy mode support. I have seen Kingston HyperX Predator M.2 SSD also shut work, but they are slower and thats why i chose 950 PRO.

This old and good X58 system just got even better now. You guys can keep your new and shiny X99, Z270 and M4 system, X58 rocks on for me

Or as CAPSLOCKSTUCK would say: Long live LGA 1366/X58...

 

[Ferrum Master]

Yeah. So far I am sorry really. Nice piece of info.

 

[Tomgang]

Yeah. So far I am sorry really. Nice piece of info.

You are forgiven. I dit also do som digging on google before i took the move and get a M.2 SSD, but after see other had succes with there old systems i took the move and i am glad i dit now.

But you are some what right as m.2 SSD with out legacy mode will not work.

How dit it go with your 950 pro in the rampage II?

 

[Tomgang]

I made a video showing bios and then goes to boot and shutdown. sorry the video is not the bedst but is done with a cheap smartphone so both holding phone and control pc is not so easy.

 

[Tomgang]

Just a quick update. So far no problem with m.2 booting and the old pc also feels more snappy and responsive than running ssd on those crappy onboard sata 3 ports. Boot and shutdown also got a boost.

M.2 rocks just as x58 does.

 

[Tomgang]

Second and last Update. It still works great and no problems to report. It has now been running for about 2 weeks now, so i think i can confirm that long time use also works now. M.2 SSD ass long it has Legacy mode and mobo support boots from PCIe can safely be used in old computers aswell. But bfore you go bay one i will say you will be in good favor if you google you mobo and M.2 SSD before going all out. Cause if other reports succes with your current mobo its shut work.

It would be a shame to spend money and havent google it before that and it turns out to fail.

I have teste my drives also a ram disk to compare M.2 SSD on X58. Remember that PCIe 2 at X4 limits speed to around 1700 MB/s and that sata 3 on X58 is first gen sata 3 with a crappy marvel controller that dosent give full true sata 3 speed.

 

[flappyone]

Hey, glad to hear your PC is running.
If you wonder why you had no issues, booting from this SSD with an old fashioned system, here is your answer:
The Samsung 950 Pro (and so far, only this drive) has a special legacy option ROM built in. This ROM is exclusive to this SSD, so do not try to upgrade to another =)

http://www.samsung.com/semiconducto.../document/Samsung_SSD_950_PRO_White_paper.pdf

 

[dorsetknob]

If you wonder why you had no issues, booting from this SSD with an old fashioned system, here is your answer:
The Samsung 950 Pro (and so far, only this drive) has a special legacy option ROM built in. This ROM is exclusive to this SSD

OP posted this info earlier and also there is another M2 SATA SSD that works

Yes i can indeed lean this old dog new tricks, but also show that you dont need to have some of the latest hardware to use a M.2 SSD properly. You just need a M.2 SSD with Legacy support and there are unfortunaly not many of then out there with legacy mode support. I have seen Kingston HyperX Predator M.2 SSD also shut work, but they are slower and thats why i chose 950 PRO.

This old and good X58 system just got even better now. You guys can keep your new and shiny X99, Z270 and M4 system, X58 rocks on for me

Hope you don't mind being Corrected with additional Info

PS your info and link is also appreciated

 

[catbertz]

Second and last Update. It still works great and no problems to report.

I joined this forum to thank you for putting the pieces together that I was seeking! I will be installing the same m.2 cooler and 256gb 950 PRO in my xeon 5675 equipped Asus p658d.

 

[Tomgang]

I joined this forum to thank you for putting the pieces together that I was seeking! I will be installing the same m.2 cooler and 256gb 950 PRO in my xeon 5675 equipped Asus p658d.

You are welcome and great that it helps others as well.

Since this thread is bump back to life, i can also report that after about 4 months, it still works flaw less with this m.2 ssd.

Why havent samsung putted this feature in there 960 series as well or for that matter other producents. Cause this legacy mode is really briliant and makes it get to work on old systems really easy.

 

[EarthDog]

Good to know a couple drives can do it (minority situation). Nueters them a bit, but it is still way better than sata ssd.

 

[Aenra]

Told you it can be done

Enjoy your nvme ^^

( edit: and actually, we have the exact same Aqua platform, lol..i just refrained from using the aluminum sink, got me some of these istead; they do a much better work, am about 5Cs lower than you: http://www.enzotechnology.com/mos_c1_le.htm )
(( you do have to remove the sticker though, voids warranty ))

 

[Tomgang]

Good to know a couple drives can do it (minority situation). Nueters them a bit, but it is still way better than sata ssd.

Yeah its deffently better than sata ssd, even two sata 3 ssd in raid 0 max out at about 1200 mb/s. Thats means to reach the speed of a m.2 ssd, you would need at least 3 sata ssd's just to get to the level i have at about 1700 mb/s in read while whrite is abous 950 mb/s. But i dont complain, m.2 ssd is great. Fast, simple install, small form factor that do not take much space and the bedst parts is no need for power or sata cable. With means a great help for a better cleaner look.

The only major downside of m.2 nvme ssd i can think of is that m.2 is still holding higher price tag compared to sata ssd with same capacity.

Told you it can be done

Enjoy your nvme ^^

( edit: and actually, we have the exact same Aqua platform, lol..i just refrained from using the aluminum sink, got me some of these istead; they do a much better work, am about 5Cs lower than you: http://www.enzotechnology.com/mos_c1_le.htm )
(( you do have to remove the sticker though, voids warranty ))

Thanks to the legacy mode inside 950 pro, it works really great.

I am enjoy nvme to its fullest. In fact after dropping gtx 970 sli for one card setup, i am going with the idea of getting another one since i now have one pcie slot free and i know it works for sure and i need more capacity since my two old wd velociraptors gave up on life after over 8 years in service.

About aqua adaptor the stock heatsink works great here and never is temp over 45 c. If i eventually get a nother 950 pro, i will deffenly get a nother aqud adaptor.

 

[trunks9us]

Hi I also have a Asus P6x58-de and I am about to get me a used samsung 950 pro. I am trying to figure out where you guys where buying your aquacomputer kryom.2 evo? I know You don't have the evo but I am in the USA and I can't seem to find any retailers here that carry this model. I am assuming the aquacomputer kryom.2 evo is a better heat sink from the kryom.2. If someone can link me to a USA website I'd appreciate it thanks. I am excited to get this done as I am running a intel x25-m 80gb still :\

 

[Keullo-e]

Don't know how this behaves with Samsung 950/960 drives, but at least it helped with my Intel 600p. Though I have no idea is this available in USA.

https://www.alphacool.com/shop/-new-products-/20838/alphacool-hdx-m.2-ssd-m01-80mm-schwarz

 

[cucker tarlson]

Hi
Just today I was thinking of the same kryoM.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter with 950 Pro 512GB. I have Z97X gaming 5 board, with pci-e 2.0 x4. Do you think it will work well ?

 

[Keullo-e]

I think u have no problems.

 

[cucker tarlson]

well you never know until you try, which I'm gonna do. currently selling my old 4790K+16GB DDR3, which will cover the expenses of the drive and adapter. I just remembered I also have the alpenfohn fan bracket with two 80mm slient fans just sitting in the pc junk drawer for years. That'd be pretty cool to install it under the adapter to give it a bit of active cooling.

 

[Keullo-e]

Damn. I said it wrong.

I had i7 920 @ 4GHz, 6x4GB of different RAM and a GTX680. That was 2½ years ago but no. Not a single problem.

 

[Tomgang]

Hi
Just today I was thinking of the same kryoM.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter with 950 Pro 512GB. I have Z97X gaming 5 board, with pci-e 2.0 x4. Do you think it will work well ?

If your motherboard support booting from PCIe, there shut be no problem at all. But if your motherboard is this in the image below here, why not just put that samsung 950 PRO in the onboard M.2 slot? dont waste money on a pci adaptor and waste a pcie slot, when you have one onboard the motherboard. Se where the AMD and sli logo is next to it where there is riden 10 GB/s M.2. Thas your onboard M.2 slot. Use that in steed unless you have other plans for that?