Can't Find M.2 SSD

jessewashere2009 · Feb 16, 2018

My friend bought me a Samsung 860 Evo M.2 SSD

Its plugged into the motherboard but I cant see it in windows 10 or in the Bios,

Motherboard MSI Z170A SLI Plus
CPU i7 6700k
SSD Samsung 860 Evo M.2 SSD

jimthenagual · Feb 16, 2018

Looks like your m.2 slot only supports PCI-e SSDs. The one you have is a SATA ssd. Even though it is m.2 interface, unfortunately, it is not compatible with your motherboard.

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

Start by making sure you have the latest bios version installed. There are MANY threads about a lack of support for all UEFI (Legacy ROM not supported) M.2 drives on these boards. Also, make sure that in the bios it shows enabled Windows 8.1/10 WHQL Support
and keep SATA Mode as AHCI.

Most likely this is a bios version issue. Update to latest bios THEN power off, unplug PSU from the wall, remove cmos battery for two minutes, put cmos battery back, power on, into bios, see if drive is detected.

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

How can you tell that Jim? Samsung 860 EVO comes in both SATA and PCI versions. I and others here have PCIe M.2 860 EVO drives that we've installed on a variety of Z170 boards. They never tend to work if the bios is not more recent than the drive. That board was released long before that drive was.

Am I missing something?

jimthenagual · Feb 16, 2018

Good point!

Dark>Jim

Listen to the master!

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

Are you SURE that is an 860 EVO and not a 960 EVO? Jim is right. 860 EVO will not work in that board.

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

jimthenagual :

THAT, is highly questionable. LOL.

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

Ok, now I'm confused. The 860 EVO seems to be even NEWER than the 960 EVO, looks like they abandoned the numerical progression. This probably is back to being either a bios issue or maybe wrong form factor. Do you have an exact model number for YOUR 860 EVO?

Seems this drive comes in 2.5" SSD, SATA M.2 SSD AND PCIe M.2 SSD. This is a brand new drive released only recently and there is a good chance it is not yet supported on your board if you do not have a very recent bios version installed.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/samsung-860-evo-ssd-review,5446.html

jessewashere2009 · Feb 16, 2018

Ok now I just have to figure out how to update my Bios, Something I have never done. Hope I dont mess things up!

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

Hold that thought, or look into it. I gotta go do something but I can find you some specific information and a tutorial on that when I get back.

In the meantime, if you can identify WHAT bios version is currently installed, that would be really helpful.

jessewashere2009 · Feb 16, 2018

When I go into my Bios it says the version is E7998IMS.170

Calvin7 · Feb 16, 2018

As you can see in the Review link that was posted, ALL 860 EVO series drives are SATA and are NOT PCIe NVMe.

Your motherboard specs:
1x M.2 slot
- Supports PCIe 3.0 x4 standard, 4.2cm/ 6cm/ 8cm length M.2 SSD cards
- Supports PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe

BIOS update won't help you as motherboard does not support SATA interface M.2 drives.

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

Yep. That was the conclusion I mostly came to as well, although, I have never heard of an M.2 drive, SATA or otherwise, not working in any other M.2 2280 slot, just at SATA III speeds.

This drive is clearly M.2 2280, same as any other NVME or SATA M.2 2280 drive, and should technically be usable in that slot unless there is something on that board that specifically says it does not support SATA M.2 devices on that slot.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/G9rmP6/samsung-860-evo-250gb-m2-2280-solid-state-drive-mz-n6e250bw

The 960 EVO is an NVME M.2 2280 device, PCI. The 860 EVO is a SATA III M.2 2280 device. Unless I'm off my rocker, any M.2 2280 device should work in any M.2 2280 slot, with the exception of some motherboards that won't work with older Legacy ROM M.2 2280 devices.

I'm calling in reinforcements, because this is starting to piss off my sense of sensibility.

USAFRet · Feb 16, 2018

No.
m.2 drives are either SATA based or PCIe based.

m.2 slots can be either, or both. Obviously only one at a time.

This particular motherboard only accepts a PCIe based drive.
A SATA based m.2 drive will never, ever work on it. No matter what magic dust you sprinkle on it or BIOS changes you make.

m.2 is only the physical connection type.

jessewashere2009 · Feb 16, 2018

Thank you all for responding so quickly, I will have him return this one and get the Samsung 960 that it Compatible!

USAFRet · Feb 16, 2018

For instance...on some boards with 2 x m.2 slots.
1 slot, m.2_1, will take either SATA or PCIe based drives.
The other slot, m.2_2, will take only one type.

example, picked at random:

Z370 AORUS ULTRA GAMING 2.0
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z370-AORUS-ULTRA-GAMING-20-rev-10#sp

1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 PCIe x4/x2 SSD support) (M2Q_32G)
1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2242/2260/2280 SATA and PCIe x4/x2 SSD support) (M2A_32G)

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

I guess I just never paid attention to that in the past as I've only installed PCI M.2 drives. It is good to know though and thanks for the clarification.

USAFRet · Feb 16, 2018

Darkbreeze :

The only benefit a SATA m.2 drive gives you is fewer cables.
Same price and performance as a 2.5" drive, just in a different package.

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

Unfortunately I cannot change the best answer to Jimthenagual, but I think it should be, since he answered your question accurately off the bat in the first place prior to anybody else chiming in.

jessewashere2009 · Feb 16, 2018

So can I just get the 960 m.2 and plug it into the M.2 and ill be good to go?

jessewashere2009 · Feb 16, 2018

Darkbreeze :

Changed!

Darkbreeze · Feb 16, 2018

jessewashere2009 :

Yes, that should be a plug and play solution.

USAFRet · Feb 16, 2018

jessewashere2009 :

Yes.

Rogue Leader · Feb 17, 2018

Darkbreeze :

The 860 EVO is the replacement for the 850 EVO. The 8xx drives are SATA interface, hence they also have an 860 evo M.2 SATA

The 960 EVO is the replacement for the 950 PRO, which is now both the 960 EVO and 960 PRO. 9xx drives are PCIe Interface.

Can't Find M.2 SSD

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