SM951 not showing in Z170, help

[Stevoa5]

Hi
This is my first venture into Gigabyte, and I'm having real trouble installing my OS on my SM951.
I've scoured everywhere, made several UEFI USBs using different programs, tried all manner of bios configurations, got raid drivers from other manufacturers, tried both M.2 slots, and I'm at a loss.

Every video or solution I've followed gets to the "and when you run the windows install you should now see your ssd listed" But I don't

I'm trying to install Win 8.1 and then intend to update to Win10. I've got a Gigabyte Z170x Gaming 7, an SM951 ACHI, no other sata drives plugged in, my GPU is now unplugged, and I have the most up to date BIOS.
When installing Windsor there no drive there according to the computer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Steven

[dmdilks]

Does it show up into the bios? Plus how do you have the windows 8/10 features & CSM support setup?

[polypenko]

I have the Z170x Gaming 7 with an Intel I7 6700k, my Samsung SM951 ACHI worked perfectly
on the m.b. (meanwhile sold the sm951 and went for the intel 750 and this nvme ssd gave me so many problems that for the time being I went back to a Samsung 850 Evo.

I installed the SM951 on the second M2 slot, because using the first slot reduced the number of sata ports.

Did a clean install Windows 8.1 pro 64 bits using RUFUS to make a bootable Uefi stick with the
Windows iso file on it.

Installing went without any problems, you should check your bios if the SM951 is recognised at all,
if not than you might have a faulty sm951.

Rgds.

[Wattsee]

I have Z170 Gaming 7, 6700k, 16gb 2666mhz Corsair LPX and Samsung 950 Pro NVME drive and I'm having a complete nightmare with the bios and the 950 Pro.  The bios doesn't recognise it and windows will only install in legacy mode and now my boot times are double my old Samsung 840 Evo sata SSD.  The drive performs great once booted (2,600 reads and 1,550 writes) but takes a while getting there.  Gigabyte tech support offer very little/no help.  I'm considering RMA'ing the board and going for another manufacturer which is a shame as loyal GB customer.  Perhaps the combination of frustrated customers, GB can come up with some solutions.

[buzzw4]

Ive just got a Gaming 3 with a 950 pro - also having issues. I managed to get the 950 pro to show up in the Boot Options by clearing the CMOS and then "loading optimized values". 950 pro then showed up, installed win10 via DVD, all good. I installed the samsung NVM express driver, performance in Win10 is superb.
However, when it comes to booting.... takes an age to boot.
I get the normal boot logo for a couple of seconds, then the screen goes black with a flashing cursor top left, pauses for 10secs, then I get the windows flag and spinner for another 20secs, then it boots to windows.
Previous mobo (also GB) booted in about 7secs using an 840 pro on normal SATA.
Ive updated to F4 bios, 950 pro disappeared again, clearing CMOS again got it back, but poor boot performance is still there.

[Wattsee]

buzzw4 your boot process appears to be the same a mine.  Does the bios list anything under NVME Configuration (Peripherals section of Bios) as mine is blank.  When I try do a UEFI install I get the attached.  I've tried clearing the CMOS but no joy with that.  No reply at all from Gigabyte technical support, in spite of several messages.  Would have more respect for them if they just said 'Yes, we know it doesn't work.  We're working on a bios update'.  But I guess customers who have invested in their latest tech don't matter.  Was going to get their GTX980ti but may look at the Asus one instead.

[buzzw4]

Does the bios list anything under NVME Configuration (Peripherals section of Bios) as mine is blank.  When I try do a UEFI install I get the attached.

Nope, nothing! But after the CMOS clear, the 950pro appears as a Boot Option and Win10 installed to it no problem. Once in windows, performance is superb - just getting there is a bit pants.
Maybe 950 is a bit too new?

I just tried booting this new mobo with my old 840pro sata SSD - booted in about 5 seconds! Must be something with the NVMe setup.

[Wattsee]

Success.  I have managed a full UEFI install after using Rufus rather than Microsoft configured flash drive.  Boot time now down to a few seconds, similar to sata SSD.  However, not sure about the drive being reported as 10gb/sec, see pictuires from SSD Magician.  Is that why the IOPS are down?

[buzzw4]

Success.  I have managed a full UEFI install after using Rufus rather than Microsoft configured flash drive.

I installed using a dvd - wonder if my issue is bios or windows related? cant see installing via a flash drive makes any odds?

[buzzw4]

Success.  I have managed a full UEFI install after using Rufus rather than Microsoft configured flash drive.

I installed using a dvd - wonder if my issue is bios or windows related? cant see installing via a flash drive makes any odds?

Oh!!!! So I re-installed using UEFI USB disk (created by Microsoft Media Creation Tool)... and boom. Boots in about 2secs.....

Windows was previously running in "legacy" Bios Mode, now its in "UEFI" mode.

So was a windows thing and not a motherboard thing before.

Thanks for the tip!

[Wattsee]

Got a message back from Gigabyte tech support that the m.2 slots are 'Gen 2' and I would need to buy a PCI card for Gen 3.  Don't these people read their own product literature?  Unless this is right and the board spec's are 'lies'?  Who know?

[larry609]

Got a message back from Gigabyte tech support that the m.2 slots are 'Gen 2' and I would need to buy a PCI card for Gen 3.  Don't these people read their own product literature?  Unless this is right and the board spec's are 'lies'?  Who know?

I notice that no-one from Gigabyte wanted to risk their neck at the company by confirming that the specs are garbage.
Or, maybe they're not.  It seems that we will never know.