Sabertooth X79 Motherboard - PCIe to M.2 Converter

[heroofspirits]

Hi all, its been a long time since last posting.

As per the title, I have the following: https://www.asus.com/au/Motherboards/SABERTOOTH_X79/ Currently at home. Nice and old, straight from 2011. 3930k does its job, and it's still too powerful to deem a complete system upgrade.

I am aware that I am unable to natively install an M.2 SSD. Digging around, I have found the following converter: https://www.pccasegear.com/products/33235/silverstone-ecm20-expansion-card-m-2-to-pcie-sata-adapter

I will be getting a Samsung 960 PRO m.2 Drive

Long story short, has anyone here attempted to run a similar setup? I'd be curious about performance loss running through PCIe x4 and bootablility into WIN 10.

From what I can see from research, I might not be able to boot in to windows. No problem. I just really need someone to hold my hands and say it will work within windows as a storage location.

 

[topcat6868]

Hi Freeman,

Please check my post above (manos_k @ 14 December 2017 12:55:50)

There is a link to the modded BIOS. (Download Modified Bios 4801)

Greetings Manos_k,

Thank you for the modded BIOS. I'm highly interested in implementing an M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe SSD (WD Black 512GB SSD PCIe NVMe WDS512G1X0C) as my primary boot drive on my SABERTOOTH X79 motherbaoard. This is to request your valuable help please provide the BIOS settings / steps you used to successfully install and boot your PCIe NVMe SSD.
I have the following configuration:
Motherboard ASUS SABERTOOTH X79, with BIOS 2104 (2012/08/14),
CPU Intel (R) Core (TM) i7-3930K CPU @ 3.20GHz,
RAM G Skill RipjawsZ F3-17000CL9-4GBZH 16GB (4x4GB).

Anyone with experience on this matter is very much welcome to contibute with the BIOS settings / steps.

Regards,
Beto_Galdamez.

 

[topcat6868]

See above Bios updates that do work..! 100%

 

[gilberto.galdamez070]

@ tomcat6868: This is awesome! Thank you for the settings and steps.
1. The modded 4801 BIOS update that you mention and that you are using it's the one from the link manos_k provided?
2. On which PCIe slot did you installed the PCIe 3.0 4x adapter of your M.2 Samsung Evo?
3. Which version of Windows 10 are you using?
4. Any other information / precautions that I should be aware off before, during and after the installation?
Regards,

 

[topcat6868]

@ tomcat6868: This is awesome! Thank you for the settings and steps.
1. The modded 4801 BIOS update that you mention and that you are using it's the one from the link manos_k provided?
2. On which PCIe slot did you installed the PCIe 3.0 4x adapter of your M.2 Samsung Evo?
3. Which version of Windows 10 are you using?
4. Any other information / precautions that I should be aware off before, during and after the installation?
Regards,

 

[topcat6868]

First PCIE x16 slot should be used for GPU - this is next to CPU & RAM
Second I used the next x16 for my OS Samsung Evo
Third I used the next x8 for my OS Samsung Evo

Yes I used the Bios from this page link, only thing is that you have to update mobo bios from the usb port at the back of mobo and used the white button.

Go for it ..! 100% worked for me

I also used "Driver Easy" to find new drive updates for this older mobo. but only install one driver at a time and keep a windows restore point. you can download driver for free but you have to manually install the driver but that is free and no biggy...it does try to get you to buy the software but don't bother.

That is it..!

 

[gilberto.galdamez070]

March 28, 2018 2:12:12 PM
topcat6868

First PCIE x16 slot should be used for GPU - this is next to CPU & RAM
Second I used the next x16 for my OS Samsung Evo
Third I used the next x8 for my OS Samsung Evo

Yes I used the Bios from this page link, only thing is that you have to update mobo bios from the usb port at the back of mobo and used the white button.

Go for it ..! 100% worked for me

I also used "Driver Easy" to find new drive updates for this older mobo. but only install one driver at a time and keep a windows restore point. you can download driver for free but you have to manually install the driver but that is free and no biggy...it does try to get you to buy the software but don't bother.

That is it..!

Thank you for the extra information.
1. Which version of Samsung Evo are you using?
2. Which version of Windows 10 are you using?
Regards,

 

[gilberto.galdamez070]

Greetings,

I’ve updated my ASUS SABERTOOTH X79 motherboard with the provided Modified BIOS 4801 using the ASUS BIOS Flashback and configured the above mentioned BIOS settings. I’ve purchased and installed the Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB on the 2nd PCIe slot of my ASUS SABERTOOTH X79 motherboard to be used as Windows boot drive using an Mailiya M.2 PCIe to PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter. All other drives were disconnected. When initially installing Windows 10 Pro 64-bit using the USB drive (Where do you want to install windows? screen) I have encountered the following issue:

“Windows can’t be installed on drive 0 partition 1”

I have tried formatting the drive but no positive result. There’s an option to “Load driver” but don’t know how to use it.

The 960 Evo is working since it shows up as a normal drive under Windows 7 Ultimate install.

Please see attached pictures for error and BIOS settings.

Please, I really need your valuable help with this matter. Thanks in advance.

https://onedrive.live.com/edit.aspx?cid=fad3fde2ef53a140&page=view&resid=FAD3FDE2EF53A140!463&parId=FAD3FDE2EF53A140!133&app=Word