Question M.2 not detected on M2P but works on M2A

[Camhawk]

Gigabyte z390 Aorus Ultra
Crucial M.2 sata 1TB (CT1000MX500SSD4)

Bios will not detect this SSD on M2P. After multiple reseating and checking what I think are the correct settings in the bios, I moved it from the M2P slot where I wanted it and tested it in M2A. It showed up right away.

My question: should it work on m2P? Not sure if I have a bad slot (less than ideal for a new mobo) or if I am missing a config somewhere to detect it. Thought?

 

[Rogue Leader]

The M2P slot on that board only supports PCIe drives. See page 21 in the manual

If thats your only M.2 drive you should replace it with a PCIe one anyway, M.2 SATA drives are no faster than cabled sata drives yet cost more for the form factor.

 

[Camhawk]

Missed that, thank you.

What is my best option for running the OS on?

 

[Camhawk]

What is my best option for running the OS on?

For clarity: I am operating under the impression that the OS should not be on an NVMe drive. That is what drove me to the crucial drive.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Missed that, thank you.

What is my best option for running the OS on?

For clarity: I am operating under the impression that the OS should not be on an NVMe drive. That is what drove me to the crucial drive.

Where would you get that impression? Thats totally incorrect, the best place for an OS is an NVMe drive.

 

[Camhawk]

Ok ... i need an NVMe drive then. What slots are optimal for the two M.2 drives then?

Board has 3 slots ... M2M, M2A and M2P.

I also have a WD black 4TB drive. My plan is OS on NVMe ... and i will probably split out games and general data (pictures, documents, etc) between the other two.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Ok ... i need an NVMe drive then. What slots are optimal for the two M.2 drives then?

Board has 3 slots ... M2M, M2A and M2P.

I also have a WD black 4TB drive. My plan is OS on NVMe ... and i will probably split out games and general data (pictures, documents, etc) between the other two.

Any slot will give you the same speed, however if you use the M2P slot it splits lanes with the PCIeX4 slot so if theres a card in there the speed drops for the PCIe slot and M.2 slot from x4 to x2. If you're not using that slot then it doesn't matter.

If I were you Id probably use M2M for the NVMe drive, M2A for the SATA drive, just to leave that option open if you need to stick a wifi card, sound card, or capture card in there some day. Plug the WD Hard drive into SATA 0 port, to avoid conflict with any disabled ports.