Compatible PCIe SSD for H97/Z97 MB

[tatarik]

Dear All,

Sorry if it's a noob's question..

Both of the ASUS H97M-E and the Z97M-PLUS specs are giving "1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode)" for their storage.

I'm aiming for a fast Samsung XP941 as storage for my desktop computer's OS. It says in the specs that it requires a "PCI-Express 2.0 x4".

Will I be able to plug the SSD on the motherboard?
I'm a little confused, I would have liked to read PCIe x 4 on the motherboard to avoid any misunderstanding.

Thanks in advance,
T.

 

[jdcranke07]

You can use that SSD on your mobo[strike], but not in the M.2 slot. You actually have to buy an adapter that is going to use a PCI-E 2.0 x4 slot and the SSD will plug into the adapter. At least, that is what I was told in the past.[/strike]

 

[jdcranke07]

Just read the link to the SSD, you can use it in your M.2

 

[tatarik]

Thanks JDcranke!

 

[jdcranke07]

No problem, bud.

 

[tatarik]

I've finally got an Asus H97M-E motherboard that I tried to couple with the M2 SSD Samsung XP941.
My issue is that after completing the built and booting the computer for the first time, the stock BIOS didn't recognize the SSD. I tried updateing from version 2106 to 2205 of the BIOS, but this didn't help 🙁

I've been to the Asus H97M-E MB support section, and I looked at something I should have looked at earlier: the list of compatible devices.
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1150/H97M-E/H97M-E_Devices_report.pdf
I didn't see the Samsung XP941, which is getting me worried that I might have wasted 200 bucks. :-0

 

[jdcranke07]

I've finally got an Asus H97M-E motherboard that I tried to couple with the M2 SSD Samsung XP941.
My issue is that after completing the built and booting the computer for the first time, the stock BIOS didn't recognize the SSD. I tried updateing from version 2106 to 2205 of the BIOS, but this didn't help 🙁

I've been to the Asus H97M-E MB support section, and I looked at something I should have looked at earlier: the list of compatible devices.
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1150/H97M-E/H97M-E_Devices_report.pdf
I didn't see the Samsung XP941, which is getting me worried that I might have wasted 200 bucks. :-0

It could also be that you have to setup the M.2 SSD to handle the OS as well like I had to do with my Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSDs. I would call Asus first to make sure the model you have will/will not work first.

 

[tatarik]

Guys I'm pretty embarrassed to admit that it was simply a mechanical issue. I just had to re-plug the M.2 SSD correctly in the slot and it was finally detected while installing Windows (available parition for Win81 installation).
😱

I'm posting a couple of pictures in case this can be of any help to anyone. It was just about pressing the SSD into the M2 slot until you can't see the pins anymore.

before: http://imgur.com/qWbY0iB,OfcVEaF#1
after: http://imgur.com/qWbY0iB,OfcVEaF#0

Thanks again for you guys help, it was very helpful!
T.