M.2 device doesn't apper in Boot Order list on BIOS

[VansFannel]

I have installed a 970 EVO Plus NVMe M.2 SDD drive with 500GB on my GA-Z97X-Gaming 7 (rev. 1.0) motherboard.

This unit doesn't appear on the BIOS and either on the boot order list, but I can find it with Linux using the command: "lsblk -o KNAME,TYPE,SIZE,MODEL". And I have also installed Windows 10 on it. I have checked after Windows 10 installation that this units appears as a drive on Linux.

But when I try to select this drive as the first drive to boot, it doesn't appear.

How can I select this M.2 drive to boot from it?

BIOS version is F6.

BIOS date: 05/30/2014

BIOS identifier: 8A06AG0I

SSD: V-NAND SSD 970 EVO Plus MVME M.2. Model: MZ-V7S500. Model Code: MZ-V7S500BW.

[teknology9]

Hi,
 
Is your motherboard compatible with this component? I have added a link for you to see, it may not appear there.

https://download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Document/mb_m.2_support.pdf

It may be worth contacting Gigabyte Support and raise the issue with them. I had a similar issue with my current motherboard but the component is listed on the compatibility list. The issue was resolved through a BIOS update having raised the issue with Gigabyte and they found a solution.

Hope this helps

teknology9

[shadowsports]

Greetings,
I think teknology9 is correct.  Backwards compatibility is not guaranteed.  The drives "keying" and x4 transfer is supported by the boards socket but that's about it.

The 970 is PCie 3, where as the board was designed when only 2.0 was available. It also uses a more modern controller and communication architecture.

Seeing it in Linux means nothing, and if the board doesn't see the drive natively installing windows to it by whatever means is also not going to help.

Things you might try:

Clearing the CMOS and retesting.  If you don't have a correct setting, controller operate mode, etc, it might keep the drive from being correctly detected.  If you are running a 4th gen devils canyon processor, I would not upgrade to F8.

 Do contact support and see what they say, you might get lucky.  4th gen CPU's do not always do well with 5th gen Broadwell capable BIOS'.  Stick with F6 unless told to upgrade by support.   

 

[shadowsports]

Greetings,
I think teknology9 is correct.  Backwards compatibility is not guaranteed.  The drives "keying" and x4 transfer is supported by the boards socket but that's about it.

The 970 is PCie 3, where as the board was designed when only 2.0 was available. It also uses a more modern controller and communication architecture.

Seeing it in Linux means nothing, and if the board doesn't see the drive natively installing windows to it by whatever means is also not going to help.

Things you might try:

Clearing the CMOS and retesting.  If you don't have a correct setting, controller operate mode, etc, it might keep the drive from being correctly detected.  (if its even possible).  If you are running a 4th gen devils canyon processor, I would not upgrade to F8.

Do contact support and see what they say, you might get lucky.  4th gen CPU's do not always do well with 5th gen Broadwell capable BIOS'.  Stick with F6 unless told to upgrade by support.   

 

[VansFannel]

Hi,
 
Is your motherboard compatible with this component? I have added a link for you to see, it may not appear there.

https://download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Document/mb_m.2_support.pdf

It may be worth contacting Gigabyte Support and raise the issue with them. I had a similar issue with my current motherboard but the component is listed on the compatibility list. The issue was resolved through a BIOS update having raised the issue with Gigabyte and they found a solution.

Hope this helps

teknology9

Thanks for your answer.

I asked about this M.2 drive more than one year ago about if it is compatible. This is the question and the Gigabyte support's answer:

Question:    Dear Sirs,I want to add a new SSD to my computer and I want to buy the Samsung 970 EVO Plus model MZ-V7S500 (500 GB) (or even the model MZ-V7S1T0 (1 TB)).Is this SSD drive compatible with my motherboard?Kind regards,Oscar Alarcón    1/10/2020 9:57 AM
Answer:    

Dear customer,

Thank you for emailing GIGABYTE.
We would like to help you with your technical inquiry.


There are not incompatibilty record in our data base, but please notice the hareware limitation of this MB. The M.2 delivering up to 10 Gb/s data transfer speeds,

Regards

GIGABYTE Team

[teknology9]

Hi, looking at what Gigabyte Support have told you the next step to take would be to contact them.  teknology9

Thanks for your answer.

I asked about this M.2 drive more than one year ago about if it is compatible. This is the question and the Gigabyte support's answer:

Question:    Dear Sirs,I want to add a new SSD to my computer and I want to buy the Samsung 970 EVO Plus model MZ-V7S500 (500 GB) (or even the model MZ-V7S1T0 (1 TB)).Is this SSD drive compatible with my motherboard?Kind regards,Oscar Alarcón    1/10/2020 9:57 AM
Answer:    

Dear customer,

Thank you for emailing GIGABYTE.
We would like to help you with your technical inquiry.


There are not incompatibilty record in our data base, but please notice the hareware limitation of this MB. The M.2 delivering up to 10 Gb/s data transfer speeds,

Regards

GIGABYTE Team

[VansFannel]

Hi, looking at what Gigabyte Support have told you the next step to take would be to contact them.  teknology9

Thanks for your answer.

I asked about this M.2 drive more than one year ago about if it is compatible. This is the question and the Gigabyte support's answer:

Question:    Dear Sirs,I want to add a new SSD to my computer and I want to buy the Samsung 970 EVO Plus model MZ-V7S500 (500 GB) (or even the model MZ-V7S1T0 (1 TB)).Is this SSD drive compatible with my motherboard?Kind regards,Oscar Alarcón    1/10/2020 9:57 AM
Answer:    

Dear customer,

Thank you for emailing GIGABYTE.
We would like to help you with your technical inquiry.


There are not incompatibilty record in our data base, but please notice the hareware limitation of this MB. The M.2 delivering up to 10 Gb/s data transfer speeds,

Regards

GIGABYTE Team

OK. I will share their answer with you. Thanks!

[VansFannel]

This is Gigabyte custormer service answer:

Dear customer,

Thank you for emailing GIGABYTE.
We would like to help you with your technical inquiry.

are you using the samsung 970 EVO Plus NVMe M.2 SDD

This SSD have its intergrated driver, so that it not showed in the BIOS.

But it would be able to showed by the boot menu when you press F12.

For AMI UEFI BIOS could not set any driver as first  boot driver.

But pressing F12 doesn't show that device. I'm going to return the M.2 SSD.

[teknology9]

Hi,
Have you informed that the NVMe drive still does not show? It may be worth asking if they can provide you with a BIOS update that will show the drive. I updated my BIOS on my current motherboard and the NVMe drive showed up, but on an earlier BIOS version  the NVMe drive did not. I think the issue was passed from their 1st line support to the department that creates the BIOS.

It might be worth asking and just informing them what has happened.

Hope this helps.
teknology9

[shadowsports]

The gaming 7 was was of the few Z97 based boards with m.2 support.  Support for m.2 didn't become mainstream until the Z170.

A good SSD will provide excellent performance with the Z97 and won't require any BIOS, which I doubt Gigabyte would deliver.  The chipset is done (released Q2 2014).  I still have a Z97 based system that works well, but investing any time or $$$ into trying to make it "better" isn't worth it.

Its possible a non-NVMe m.2 would work, but again, unless you have one laying around, buying one is not practical.  Of course this is up to you if you want to pursue.

[sacentre]

Hi
I'm very late coming into this thread. You may have fixed you problem now but just thought I'd add my experience with Samsung 950 Pro M.2. Not sure if this happens with other makes of mobo though.

If for any reason I remove my M.2, the BIOS won't list Windows Boot Manager it on next reboot. I have to boot the PC once WITHOUT the M.2, power off, install the M.2 and on boot up, the Windows Boot Manager will appear in the BIOS.
Trevor