Add an NVME SSD to an ASRock Z75 Pro 3

Bobtekfun

Commendable
May 20, 2016
10
0
1,510
If this is in the wrong place, please point me to the right place
How to add an NVME SSD to an ASRock Z75 Pro 3
Note: you need an open PCIE X4 slot.

Purchased an NVME to PCIE adapter card
eBay item
PCIE X4 Adapter Card for Samsung PM951 SM951 950 PRO PCIe GEN3 NVME M.2 NGFF SSD

Purchased an M.2 Samsung 950 Pro 256 SSD

Install hardware

Add windows hot patch
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2990941

reboot

My PC recognizes the SSD drive.

Here's the catch. My win 7 install disk doesn't recognize the drive because it doesn't recognize the NVME device.

Workaround.
Used a partition manager to clone my C drive to the Samsung 950. (bootable)

Disconnected the regular C drive.
During hardware boot, go into the Z75 UEFI
Select boot
Select BBS Hard drive

Select the Samsung SSD as first boot device.

Save and Exit UEFI

Now it boots from the NVME PCIE Samsung SSD drive. I am using using it in this configuration while I write the article.
 
Aug 31, 2018
3
0
10


This is already dated, but I need help....
How did you get the motherboard to recognize the SSD? I am using the 960 EVO on an adapter in the 2nd PCIe slot and the MOBO doesn't see it even though Win 10 disk management do.

Any ideas?

 

Bobtekfun

Commendable
May 20, 2016
10
0
1,510


 

Bobtekfun

Commendable
May 20, 2016
10
0
1,510
I believe the 950 pro has a feature that allows the system to recognize it as a boot device. Newer ssds don't need that because the newer MBs have NVME built in.
Note: I just changed to an ASUS Z77 premium and could still use my 950 as a boot device after selecting it in the UEFI as the boot device. This ASUS MB has 4 PCIe slots so I can add another M2 SSD as a fast data drive.