Asus PRIME Z270-P

[Muhammed_11]

Hello,
Can i put 2 nvme ssds in raid in this mobo?
I saw on the box that there is one for the intel optane memory so that really confused me, is that slot for intel optane ssds only?
Thanks in advance

 

[The Paladin]

as per asus web site

2 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA mode & X4 PCIE mode)*1
4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready

so yes should work just fine.

 

[Muhammed_11]

as per asus web site

2 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA mode & X4 PCIE mode)*1
4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready

so yes should work just fine.

Thank you very much!
I'll be getting 2 of these and i'll put them in raid 0!
Thanks again!

 

[Peter-CPH]

Hi Muhammed

I run the same mobo and installed two Samsung 960 EVO m.2 SSD (nvme, 250 GB each) in the two m.2 slots. Works like a dream - insanely fast! But getting there was quite a challenge (well, actually a series of challenges...). So let me share - to ease the way for you and others.

I had many problems creating a RAID-0 Windows installation, even though I followed common best practice procedures.

What finally did the trick, was these steps:

1)
Be sure to flash your BIOS to latest update (currently 0608), see link below.
When I first got my gear, there where no BIOS updates available.

2)
I first tried installing Windows 10 Home, 64-bit, (from an original Microsoft DVD) onto the RAID-partition. Different weird errors - and no luck installing. I then downloaded the latest Windows 10 ISO file, and put it on a USB-key (used "Rufus" for this, brilliant free and easy app, see link below).

3)
After this I created a seperate folder on the USB-key and named it "Intel RST driver". Then downloaded the Intel RST-driver (Rapid Storage Technology, see download link below), and saved it to that folder. During the initial Windows installation onto the newly created RAID volume, Windows is not able to see the RAID volume. At this point you then choose to load Driver, and point to the RST-folder. After this the RAID volume shows, and you then choose New (to create a new bootable partition to which Windows can be installed). From this point on, it's just a straight installation, no sweat.

4)
You will be well advised to incorporate some safety measures, applies to any PC-setup, but especially important when running RAID-0-based setups, as these by nature are more vulnerable. I suggest you make use of some imaging software to backup your RAID-drive/-partition/s - as this will enable you to restore a corrupted drive in almost no time (saving you hours or days of work re-installing all of your software). For imaging I suggest "Macrium Reflect", it works like a charm, fast and reliable, and free. You may also consider using Hard Disk Management software. I prefer "Paragon Hard Disk Manager" to handle my drives and partitions, but there are other good alternatives out there.

Best of luck - and enjoy your superfast RAID-0!

Peter



Links:

ASUS PRIME Z270-P BIOS update:
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/PRIME-Z270-P/HelpDesk_Download/

Windows 10 ISO download:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10/

Rufus download:
https://rufus.akeo.ie/

Intel RST driver (Rapid Storage Technology):
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26361/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-RAID-Driver?product=55005

Macrium Reflect, Free:
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

Paragon Hard Disk Manager:
https://www.paragon-software.com/da/home/hdm-personal/download.html

as per asus web site

2 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA mode & X4 PCIE mode)*1
4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready

so yes should work just fine.

Thank you very much!
I'll be getting 2 of these and i'll put them in raid 0!
Thanks again!

 

[Muhammed_11]

Hi Muhammed

I run the same mobo and installed two Samsung 960 EVO m.2 SSD (nvme, 250 GB each) in the two m.2 slots. Works like a dream - insanely fast! But getting there was quite a challenge (well, actually a series of challenges...). So let me share - to ease the way for you and others.

I had many problems creating a RAID-0 Windows installation, even though I followed common best practice procedures.

What finally did the trick, was these steps:

1)
Be sure to flash your BIOS to latest update (currently 0608), see link below.
When I first got my gear, there where no BIOS updates available.

2)
I first tried installing Windows 10 Home, 64-bit, (from an original Microsoft DVD) onto the RAID-partition. Different weird errors - and no luck installing. I then downloaded the latest Windows 10 ISO file, and put it on a USB-key (used "Rufus" for this, brilliant free and easy app, see link below).

3)
After this I created a seperate folder on the USB-key and named it "Intel RST driver". Then downloaded the Intel RST-driver (Rapid Storage Technology, see download link below), and saved it to that folder. During the initial Windows installation onto the newly created RAID volume, Windows is not able to see the RAID volume. At this point you then choose to load Driver, and point to the RST-folder. After this the RAID volume shows, and you then choose New (to create a new bootable partition to which Windows can be installed). From this point on, it's just a straight installation, no sweat.

4)
You will be well advised to incorporate some safety measures, applies to any PC-setup, but especially important when running RAID-0-based setups, as these by nature are more vulnerable. I suggest you make use of some imaging software to backup your RAID-drive/-partition/s - as this will enable you to restore a corrupted drive in almost no time (saving you hours or days of work re-installing all of your software). For imaging I suggest "Macrium Reflect", it works like a charm, fast and reliable, and free. You may also consider using Hard Disk Management software. I prefer "Paragon Hard Disk Manager" to handle my drives and partitions, but there are other good alternatives out there.

Best of luck - and enjoy your superfast RAID-0!

Peter



Links:

ASUS PRIME Z270-P BIOS update:
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/PRIME-Z270-P/HelpDesk_Download/

Windows 10 ISO download:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10/

Rufus download:
https://rufus.akeo.ie/

Intel RST driver (Rapid Storage Technology):
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26361/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-RAID-Driver?product=55005

Macrium Reflect, Free:
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

Paragon Hard Disk Manager:
https://www.paragon-software.com/da/home/hdm-personal/download.html

as per asus web site

2 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA mode & X4 PCIE mode)*1
4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready

so yes should work just fine.

Thank you very much!
I'll be getting 2 of these and i'll put them in raid 0!
Thanks again!

Hey peter! thanks for the reply!
I've already done/known about the first 3 steps, but I'm not sure I understood the 4th step, can I have your skype username or something so we can talk about this?
Thanks!

P.S. Use Windows media creation tool, it's way better than Rufus! https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

 

[Peter-CPH]

Hi Muhammed

Well, the 4th step is not really directly related to creating/running a RAID-0-based setup, my bad. It's more like a way of dealing with the fact, that RAID-0 is more vulnerable (and more time-consuming to restore) than regular drives. But if you have an image (like one generated with Macrium Reflect) of your bootable RAID partition, it's easy and fast to restore the partition in case of any mishaps that corrupts your raid (power-outage, flashing your bios, virus etc.). And Paragon software is just nice for managing your drives/partitions, it's lightyears ahead of native Windows options. Both Reflect and Paragon comes with bootable media, so even if your raid breaks down and you're not able to boot into Windows, you can still manage, repair and restore your system - in less than an hour! SWEET!

Peter

I run the same mobo and installed two Samsung 960 EVO m.2 SSD (nvme, 250 GB each) in the two m.2 slots. Works like a dream - insanely fast! But getting there was quite a challenge (well, actually a series of challenges...). So let me share - to ease the way for you and others.

I had many problems creating a RAID-0 Windows installation, even though I followed common best practice procedures.

What finally did the trick, was these steps:

1)
Be sure to flash your BIOS to latest update (currently 0608), see link below.
When I first got my gear, there where no BIOS updates available.

2)
I first tried installing Windows 10 Home, 64-bit, (from an original Microsoft DVD) onto the RAID-partition. Different weird errors - and no luck installing. I then downloaded the latest Windows 10 ISO file, and put it on a USB-key (used "Rufus" for this, brilliant free and easy app, see link below).

3)
After this I created a seperate folder on the USB-key and named it "Intel RST driver". Then downloaded the Intel RST-driver (Rapid Storage Technology, see download link below), and saved it to that folder. During the initial Windows installation onto the newly created RAID volume, Windows is not able to see the RAID volume. At this point you then choose to load Driver, and point to the RST-folder. After this the RAID volume shows, and you then choose New (to create a new bootable partition to which Windows can be installed). From this point on, it's just a straight installation, no sweat.

4)
You will be well advised to incorporate some safety measures, applies to any PC-setup, but especially important when running RAID-0-based setups, as these by nature are more vulnerable. I suggest you make use of some imaging software to backup your RAID-drive/-partition/s - as this will enable you to restore a corrupted drive in almost no time (saving you hours or days of work re-installing all of your software). For imaging I suggest "Macrium Reflect", it works like a charm, fast and reliable, and free. You may also consider using Hard Disk Management software. I prefer "Paragon Hard Disk Manager" to handle my drives and partitions, but there are other good alternatives out there.

Best of luck - and enjoy your superfast RAID-0!

Peter



Links:

ASUS PRIME Z270-P BIOS update:
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/PRIME-Z270-P/HelpDesk_Download/

Windows 10 ISO download:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10/

Rufus download:
https://rufus.akeo.ie/

Intel RST driver (Rapid Storage Technology):
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26361/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-RAID-Driver?product=55005

Macrium Reflect, Free:
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

Paragon Hard Disk Manager:
https://www.paragon-software.com/da/home/hdm-personal/download.html

as per asus web site

2 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA mode & X4 PCIE mode)*1
4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready

so yes should work just fine.

Thank you very much!
I'll be getting 2 of these and i'll put them in raid 0!
Thanks again!

Hey peter! thanks for the reply!
I've already done/known about the first 3 steps, but I'm not sure I understood the 4th step, can I have your skype username or something so we can talk about this?
Thanks!

P.S. Use Windows media creation tool, it's way better than Rufus! https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

 

[Paul NZ]

No it isnt rufus is better. The mediacreation tool can screw things up if you use it to put it on a flash drive