M2 card Samsung Xp 941

[Graceman]

I have now built my new PC with GA Z97X UD3H mb fitted with the Samsung M2 card and want to install win 7 do I need any specific drivers, I am also trying to run a raid pair for the d:\ drive and it looks like I have to set the raid up first.

I am looking for some guidance as raid & the M2 card is all new to me.

The Puzzle is I am not sure if this MB actually uses the M2 card as a Pcie x 4 as the card states can any comment on this please, have I wasted my money?
The Samsung looked a good option instead of the Ocz revo I currently use. This is superb but costly.

[Graceman]

Does no one have any input about this card or am I the first to use the M2 socket on this MB. There is very little on Samsung site cannot read the Japanese site. UK site does not even list this card.

I just want it to load as c:\ drive and install windows.

[absic]

Hi there,

I don't have your board or a Samsung M2 card but I am, running a Z97 Gigabyte board with a Plextor M2 card in the slot on the motherboard.

If I understand things correctly the M2 slot on your motherboard will only run at PCIx2 speed (the same as mine) but the Samsung card should be backwards compatible and should run OK.

I haven't set up a RAID array on my system but from previous experience I would probably install the M2 card and not attach any other HDD's at this time.

Go into BIOS, under peripherals/SATA Configuration and set the SATA controller as RAID. Disable the PCI M2 SSD RAID mode. Then install the OS onto the M2 drive. Don't worry that the SATA Controller is set to RAID as the OS will install in AHCI Mode.

Setup Windows by installing any hardware drivers that are missing and install available updates from Microsoft.

Once that phase is completed shutdown the PC and attach the drives you will be using in the RAID Array to the SATA ports. Restart the PC, go into BIOS and follow the instructions in the User's Manual for setting up RAID.

[dmdilks]

I run a M2 card with windows 10 on it and running a raid with windows 7 on it. I did what absic say to do. When installing a OS on a drive it is the only one connected. Yes you really don't have to do that.

But windows has a bad habit in put other things on those other drives. Yes you have set it Raid. AHCI & Raid are basic the same. I use F12 to to boot to everything. I don't care how long it takes to boot too.

[Graceman]

I found that selecting ctrl+1 during boot gave me the raid setup which was ideal then just run windows set up to install windows and select the correct device.
Biggest issue was getting the M2 drive to be recognised in Bios Upgraded to latest F9 and loading default values cured this card came with F5 bios.
Now the settings for M" must not be set to raid for it to be recognised as a drive
I now have windows 7 loaded onto the M2 card and a raid voulme for my data the only this is its 32 bit instead of 64 so I have to start again arrrrgh!!!

[Graceman]

Ok now have the complete buld and win 7 64 bit loaded. running quite well quiet and cool 49c max temp after being on all day. Memtest run on memory and the hardware raid 1 set up is fully visible in windows as the D drive.

Must say it all fits the Antec case well very pleased so far.
Now the big question having set up  hardware raid 1 how do you test to see its functioning correctly?
Do I just pull off a cable or is there a software option?
I did set up for hot plugging in  Bios for each disk in the raid 1 set.

Build was Antec NSK400 B Mid Tower Case
Gigabyte Z97X UDH3
Samsung XP941 M2 card WIN 7 & Office
Corsair Vengance ddr3 RUNNING xmp PROFILE 1 1600MGHZ
Intel i7 4790k cpu runs 4k & 4,4k
Coolmaster 212 heat sink for cpu
Antec EDGE 550w psu modular version.
wd 500 Gb HDD x 2 set as Raid 1 data storage