04-19-2017 01:43 AM - last edited on 03-06-2024 08:36 PM by ROGBot
04-19-2017 05:09 AM
S.D. Plissken wrote:
Dear Forum,
I just got done building my first PC in a long while and things have changed considerably since the 1990s. I am running a Samsung 960 Evo NVMe M.2 on a ASUS Maximus IX Code. I am a bit confused as to what SATA Mode I should use to run for best performance, in fact I have no clue.
My Mobo offers two options with regards to SATA controllers:
1) AHCI
2) Intel Rapid Storage w/ Optane support (RAID)
I do not intend to the NVMe as part of a RAID array, however I do want the best performance. Not knowing any better, I chose Intel Rapid Storage w/ Optane support (RAID). It has the word "rapid" in its name after all…
I succesfully managed to install Windows 10 and so far things are running fine. Is there any reason I should bin my installation and set the SATA controllers to AHCI instead? Are there any drawbacks to choosing Intel RST over AHCI?
Bonus question: Should I disable CSM (compatibility support mode) in the UEFI Boot options?
Your input is most appreciated!
04-19-2017 05:20 AM
CODE MAXIMUS wrote:
That is a PCIe Gen3X4 storage device. You are going to get maximum performance from running the device through PCIe @ 4X bandwidth. If that is the only device you plan on using for storage configure it under ONBOARD DEVICES CONFIGURATION in BIOS for M.2_1 Configuration: Set to PCIE Mode and for M.2_2 PCIe Bandwidth Configuration set to X4. IRST is for setting up Raid arrays, AHCI is for SATA only drives. PCIe is for NVMe devices like what you have.
Page 3-18 in your book (I have the Maximus IX Code mainboard also) with Toshiba RD400 NVMe storage device, same as you just Toshiba not Samsung.
With my system since I have no SATA devices connected to it I have the SATA controller disabled in the BIOS under PCH Storage Configuration (page 3-17 in book)
04-19-2017 05:40 AM
S.D. Plissken wrote:
Thank you very much for your comprehensive reply!
A couple of follow up questions though:
1) For now that is indeed the only drive I plan on using. I might want to add a slower SATA SSD for storage / games in the future. Will changing the settings similar to yours hamper my ability to do so? I assume that I can always reactivate the SATA controller in the UEFI.
2) Will I need to reinstall Windows after changing the settings?
Thanks a lot in advance.
04-20-2017 02:52 AM
CODE MAXIMUS wrote:
No they won't as you've already installed windows on that device, yes you can always enable the SATA controller but it will only be used as a stand alone storage device like a USB flash drive since the SSD you plan to add down the road wasn't configured with the windows installation you've already done.
As far as will you need to reinstall windows if you change these settings I gave you above for your current configuration the answer is no. Leave your SATA device enabled, once you change to PCIE for M.2 and change the bandwidth to X4 that will put the drive in PCIe where it should be. You don't have to disable the SATA controller, I just do it because I'm not using anything connected to the SATA ports.
Your welcome, np.
04-20-2017 03:01 PM
S.D. Plissken wrote:
Thanks again for your advice. I set it up exaclty like you did, deactivating the SATA controllers for now. It works perfectly well.
04-20-2017 03:09 PM
04-20-2017 11:28 PM
CODE MAXIMUS wrote:
Yes it is executable, eezy peezy, just click the program and let it do it's magic.
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/downloads/software/Samsung_NVMeDri...
04-22-2017 02:30 AM
S.D. Plissken wrote:
Yes, I installed the driver from Samsung without trouble. No issues so far!
But I just realized something else: the PCIE Speed setting (M.2_2) has reverted to x2 mode in the UEFI. And every time I set it to x4 it seems to do so automatically. I change the setting then choose safe and restart. The system will then restart itself (screen stays black for a couple of seconds). The next time I enter the UEFI, the setting is back to x2.
Apart from my Graphics card and the drive, I have no other device installed. Any idea what could be the issue there?
PS. Actually, nevermind. I am operating my drive in the M.2_1 slot (the one under the cover). So I assume that according to the manual (page 3-18), the option M.2_2 (auto/x2/4) only relates to the M.2_2 slot. As I my drive sits in slot 1, it probably autodetects PCIE speed.
I just benchmarked the drive in Samsung magician and I get the following results:
Sequencial Speed read: 2,682 MB/s
Sequencial Speed write: 1,771 MB/s
Random (IOPS) read: 401,667
Random (IOPS) write: 349,515
Also, Magician reports PCIE Gen. 3 x 4 as Interface on the start Page.
I think these results look alright!
04-22-2017 09:06 AM