NVME SSD recognized Intermittently

strang3majik

Prominent
Mar 17, 2017
2
0
510
I have a very strange problem here...to start...


  • ASRock Extreme 4 X99 Mobo
    Intel Core i7 6800k
    ASUS 8800GTX
    Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3200 32GB (16x2)
    Samsung 960 EVO NVME m.2 SSD
    EVGA 1000W Modular PSU

For the problem, my SSD is recognized intermittently, and therefore only intermittently boot-able. When I say it is not recognized, the NVME menu in the BIOS isn't even available.

I had an ASRock Taichi X99 mobo to start, and it only recognized it occasionally, spoke with ASRock and they recommended I RMA it as that drive is proven to work with that board.

The exchanged board had the same problem...so I returned it assuming it was a compatibility issue.

My friend has a similar build to mine (only with a 980GTX and an i7 5820k), and my SSD worked flawlessly in his machine with an ASRock Extreme4 board...so I bought the same board he has assuming it would work.

I had the same issue as I did with the Taichi. Though...I moved my video card from PCI-E 1 to PCI-E 3 and the drive was recognized, though not boot-able. Re-seated the drive and it booted up perfectly.

Restarted several times and it works great...

Then I decided to experiment, and I shut down the machine, removed power (shut off switch on PSU), then reintroduced power and booted...SSD was not recognized.

Removed and re-seated the drive and restarted the machine...works great. Multiple restarts...works flawlessly. Cut power to the machine...same problem as before.

Tried it in my friends machine again...no issues whatsoever in his. He is running BIOS 2.10, but I cannot revert that far back. I am currently on 3.20...though I tried the newest (3.60) with no change. All my BIOS settings match my friends exactly.

I am completely confused and not even sure what to look for. When the system runs, it runs perfectly. I've edited 4k video...gamed, etc without issue. The drive tests perfect...latest firmware is installed. All latest drivers installed.

Any recommendations on what to look into? ASRock is confused and Samsung is of no assistance.
 


I RMA'd the mobo.

Since all this, I moved the graphics card to PCIe #3 on the board and everything has been working flawlessly. I'm afraid this may have slowed my card, but I haven't noticed an impact with gaming or editing.