Can't get new SSD Drive to Work

[derekschweigert]

Hello there! I'm having some problems (and frustrations) with a new drive I purchased. I can't get my system to recognize it at all.

Drive purchased: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820156177 (m.2 version)

I have the following motherboard https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-SLI-PLUS.html

I installed the drive in the m.2 port, but the system wouldn't recognize it. The EZ debug LED on the motherboard also was red.

I haven't done a lot of building, so I'm not very experienced with this kind of thing. I figured there was just some kind of compatibility issue, so I ended up getting the follow adapter thinking that it would fix the problem:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAE9V6AE9158

Unfortunately, the same thing is happening: the drive isn't recognized and the debug light is also coming on. Am I screwed here? Any ideas or advice? Thanks in advance!

 

[USAFRet]

That is a SATA based m.2 drive.

Your motherboard only accepts a PCIe based m.2 drive.
"1 x M.2 Key M Socket supports type 2280/2260/2242 storage devices in PCIE Gen3 x4 mode"
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-SLI-PLUS/Specification#


Even though it physically fits, that drive will never work in that motherboard.

 

[USAFRet]

Send it back, get a refund, and buy a NVMe/PCIe based m.2 drive. If you really want one.
More money and not really that much greater performance.

Or, just get a regular SATA 2.5" SSD. Same price and performance as what you bought.

 

[derekschweigert]

That is a SATA based m.2 drive.

Your motherboard only accepts a PCIe based m.2 drive.
"1 x M.2 Key M Socket supports type 2280/2260/2242 storage devices in PCIE Gen3 x4 mode"
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-SLI-PLUS/Specification#


Even though it physically fits, that drive will never work in that motherboard.

Damn... I'm assuming that the fact that you put this in bold means it won't work with any kind of adapter either? The restocking fee w/ shipping is high, so I'd like to be absolutely sure there's no way to get this working. Thanks for the reply!

 

[USAFRet]

That is a SATA based m.2 drive.

Your motherboard only accepts a PCIe based m.2 drive.
"1 x M.2 Key M Socket supports type 2280/2260/2242 storage devices in PCIE Gen3 x4 mode"
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-SLI-PLUS/Specification#


Even though it physically fits, that drive will never work in that motherboard.

Damn... I'm assuming that the fact that you put this in bold means it won't work with any kind of adapter either? The restocking fee w/ shipping is high, so I'd like to be absolutely sure there's no way to get this working. Thanks for the reply!

I do not believe it will work with that adapter.
Even if it did, it probably can't be used as the boot drive.
And further...it will still be only as fast as a regular 2.5" SATA III drive.