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Z97 HD3 and NVME SSD

Z97 HD3 and NVME SSD
« on: September 17, 2017, 10:45:03 pm »
Hey guys!

One of my computers have a Samsung 950 Evo. While this is alright for running my OS, for daily jobs.. for when I am working with photo raw files in Lightroom, I want a faster SSD, to get the most out of it!

So I was thinking about an M2 NVME SSD, like the https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M20VBU7/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i1?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B01M20VBU7&pd_rd_r=EG15NDC82FHSQ0JXPGJ0&pd_rd_w=sPQPq&pd_rd_wg=6ZzXO&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=DM6KR17M3JBRX1TH8TZD&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=187bec3b-0822-4044-bbe9-441718232b3f&pf_rd_i=desktop

From what I've read, my motherboard Gigabyte Z97 HD3, doesn't have the port needed, but are there any adapters, that will maintain the fast speed of the NVME SSD, without any speed loss ?

Thanks!

Re: Z97 HD3 and NVME SSD
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2017, 11:38:53 am »
Hello,

As long as you use an X4 PCI-E card it will maintain the speed.

Something like this.
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/akasa-ak-pccm2p-01-m2-pcie-ssd-to-pcie-x4-slot-adapter-card-supports-2230-2242-2260-2280-22110-plus-
My PC is evolving

Re: Z97 HD3 and NVME SSD
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2017, 06:36:19 pm »
Hi there,

Thank you for your reply!
I will try to find a place from where to buy that adapter.
Another thing.. someone told me that the BIOS of my motherboard needs to support NVMe drives.. how can I find that out ?
Also, I've seen these 2 adapters, will they work, what do you think ?

1. https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboard-Accessory/HYPER_M2_X4_MINI_CARD/
2. https://www.angelbird.com/prod/wings-px1-1117/

Thanks!

Re: Z97 HD3 and NVME SSD
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2017, 08:28:57 pm »
The bios must be running in UEFI mode if you want to boot from the drive / install windows 10 to it.

You must make sure you enable this option, plus your board shares the same bios as the other variants of your model. Check bios F7 description, adds nvme ssd support. Are you running the latest bios?

Both adapters will work as it's just a direct connection to the pci-e slot.
My PC is evolving