Question Samsung NVM Express Driver cannot be installed for Samsung 990 Pro SSD ?

[kohck]

I have 2x M2.2280 SSD slots in my Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 G4 IML. On the “D” Drive, I am using Samsung 990 Pro (2TB, M2.2280 SSD). I am using Samsung Magician 8.1.0 and it had no problem detecting the drive as it is. It is also using the latest firmware (4B2QJXD7) as it comes with.

But when I tried to install the Samsung NVM Express Driver (version 3.3), I received an error message saying that “Samsung NVM Express Device is not connected. Connect the Device and try again”.

I read the manual, and it stated that 1) It need my M.2 or PCIe slot connected to PCH. In addition, the Windows Operating System cannot load the driver under following BIOS configurations where:

2) PCH Storage Configuration is set to “Raid Mode, or

3) NAND/Storage Remapping option*” is enabled.

My Lenovo BIOS do not have these options and I had tried to start my Windows 11 in safe boot, but the same error persists. I am sure my laptop is not in Raid Mode and ACHI is already enabled. I think all M2 should be connected to PCH, right?

What should I do? Should I do a fresh installation?

 

[CodeConnoisseur]

You don't need that driver for the 990 Pro. The download page states it is for the "SSD 970 PRO, 970 EVO, 970 EVO Plus, 960 PRO, 960 EVO, and 950 PRO" only. The default Windows NVMe driver is sufficient.

 

[kohck]

Look at the updated PDF. It can be used for 990 Pro, without which it is so much slower

 

[CodeConnoisseur]

Look at the updated PDF. It can be used for 990 Pro, without which it is so much slower

Where do you see this? I skimmed through the PDF linked on the downloads page and see no mention of the 990 Pro.

 

[kohck]

Thanks. I re-read and yes the PDF was not updated to include 990 PRO, but if i am using the Windows Driver, it seems much slower than what is stated on 990 Pro

 

[Bob.B]

Thanks. I re-read and yes the PDF was not updated to include 990 PRO, but if i am using the Windows Driver, it seems much slower than what is stated on 990 Pro

How are you measuring 'slow'?

Run a pass of .....crystal disk mark.....see what it shows.

 

[COLGeek]

Thanks. I re-read and yes the PDF was not updated to include 990 PRO, but if i am using the Windows Driver, it seems much slower than what is stated on 990 Pro

As measured how?

 

[kohck]

Below you can see the difference between what is promised in the brochure and what I get from running the Performance Benchmark in Samsung Magician 8.1.0

If this is the case, there is no problem with the Windows driver. Then may I know why the performance values I get from running Performance Benchmark is so slow and different from what is promised in the brochure?

Brochure	Sequential Read (MB/s)	Sequential Write (MB/s)	Random Read IOPS	Random Write IOPS
	7,450​	6,900​	1,400,000​	1,550,000​

SSD2	Sequential Read (MB/s)	Sequential Write (MB/s)	Random Read IOPS	Random Write IOPS
	5,718​	3,505​	118,652​	66,894​
	5,372​	2,882​	120,117​	63,476​

 

[COLGeek]

What is the make/model of your motherboard? That may be the issue, using an older generation of the m.2 support. A driver can't overcome this potential hardware limitation.

 

[kohck]

How do i check this? THis is a new laptop by Lenovo. Manufacture date is April 2024. I had updated the BIOS, run Windows Update and Lenovo Updates. Lenovo FIrmware is already updated.

 

[COLGeek]

How do i check this? THis is a new laptop by Lenovo. Manufacture date is April 2024. I had updated the BIOS, run Windows Update and Lenovo Updates. Lenovo FIrmware is already updated.

According to Lenovo, it has:

PCIe® NVMe®, PCIe® 4.0 x4

Source: https://psref.lenovo.com/Product/ThinkBook/ThinkBook_14_2_in_1_G4_IML

Does performance improve if only one SSD is installed?

 

[kohck]

Yes, Samsung Magician also detect both M2 Slots as 4x4. I brought 2 Samung 990 Pro so will be installing later. Just wondering if the performance benchmarking is affected by the fact that this is a empty drive.

 

[Bob.B]

Yes, Samsung Magician also detect both M2 Slots as 4x4. I brought 2 Samung 990 Pro so will be installing later. Just wondering if the performance benchmarking is affected by the fact that this is a empty drive.

Just to be clear.
You bought 2 990 ssd's.
You are running off of the orig ssd in slot 1.
You installed one of the 990's in slot 2 and it's slow.
What happens if you test the other 990 in slot 2?

 

[kohck]

good idea. i will test that later. Whether the drive is emoty or not should not affect the performance benchmark, right?

 

[Bob.B]

good idea. i will test that later. Whether the drive is emoty or not should not affect the performance benchmark, right?

Write perf will be affected as the drive gets full.
Empty or 1/2 full should not make a diff.

 

[COLGeek]

I am wondering whether performance is impacted when the second m.2 slot is populated. A sharing of resources/lanes sort of scenario.

Regardless, from a user perspective, those speeds will not impact day to day use. Only when testing or benchmarking would a difference be noted.