How to install and set up your Samsung 950 Pro M.2 SSD [17" R3]

Thanks for the great write up. I've been thinking of leaving my stock 128GB SSD for Apps/Windows, and my 1TB HDD for Storage, then getting a 256 M.2 850 or 950 for just installing Games on.

 

So attempt number 2. No go. I even went to redownload all the drivers again and made sure to select windows 10 under the OS. Sorted by recommended. First thing they suggest installing is the alienware software which gave me an error and said could not be installed.

Decided to install windows 10 on the included 128 m.2 and then clone it over. Plugged in the usb stick and installed from stick. Ended up with clean copy of windows 10 just like before (was hoping it would be like a factory fresh image with the software already installed). Tried installing alienware software, error again. So I'm stumped as to why these drivers aren't installing.

 

It'd be a great idea. Though with the games these days getting huge in size (60GB+), if you're a game enthusiast, I'd maybe wait for the 1TB m.2 Pro to release. Once that baby becomes available for purchase, I'll be jumping on it right away and RAID'ing two 1TB m.2 Pro's

 

I only play a few games. 256/512 should hold me for a good amount of time.

 

Great stuff....it's already becoming...."Gosh what are spinners?" LOL

 

I'm pretty sure I know what a "spinner" is.

 

No no haha, not you mate....It was a general joke....like how today we say...."what is an 8-track?" .... I'm saying that we've already entered that era where spinners are starting its journey down the hill.....

 

Question, I assume you installed windows 8 on the machine. I only have windows 8 pro (not 8.1 but can upgrade to it, just can't install it from the get go since my key only works with 8) and installed it in AHCI mode. But I can't see the 950 pro unless I switch to raid which then windows 8 no longer wants to boot. Wondering if you have instructions on how you did it.

 

You may have to change the boot order in BIOS. I changed my primary to boot from my 512GB m.2 Pro that has Windows 8.1 Pro installed on it.

Hope that helps. Let us know the progress....

Cheers

 

Did you install 8.1 from the start? I'm guessing that could be it as the 8 installation was only able to see the stock 128.

 

I made a USB recovery of Windows 8.1 directly from MS website. Then made sure to allocate my m.2, rebooted into BIOS, changed it to AHCI, rebooted again into boot options, installed W8.1 Pro, turn off computer, installed the 1TB Pro SSD, fired it back up, again as I did the first time with the m.2 SSD I allocated the eSata Pro SSD and it showed up.

 

Can anyone help me know why my 250GB 950 Pro m.@ only gets 1523/968 in Crystal Disk Mark compared to the people that got 2500/1500?

 

Is it best to RAID two 512GB m.2's or wait until the 1TB m.2 releases? -

I had blindly thought that one 512GB m.2 SSD would be enough for my OS, Apps and Games....after downloading the games that I enjoy playing.....I'm back to the drawing/thinking board....

These games are huge...20, 30GB+ ....makes the 512GB look small I'm already past the half way point and still haven't downloaded the new Tomb Raider, etc...

Thinking out loud: Hmmm should I RAID two 512GB m.2 sticks or just wait until the 1TB m.2 sticks come out?

I'd feel much more comfortable having a 1TB m.2 stick, maybe even two and RAID those....

Then again the whole slot #1 being 4x and slot #2 being 2x....I'm thinking either way it'll be plenty fast enough...

Thoughts?

 

Random speed test...
(no software, just plugged in and played....)

Samsung Pro m.2 512GB

 

M.2 slot 1 or 2, and 2 have all occupied?the first slot M.2 (or even the second if the first is empty, I think) goes to X4, the second (if the first is busy) goes to X2

Ciao

 

It's in the 2nd slot. My boot SSD is in the 1st.

 

If you have already occupied Slot 1, it is "correct" that the 950Pro has these performances, goes to X2.

You should put it as a Boot Disk, so it goes to X4 and Max Performance.

So if you also goes to X2, for the 120GB Lite-On does not change anything.

Ciao

 

AltecX--

If I had your current config I would try switching the m.2 SSDs, so that your fast storage is in slot #1 (x4) and your boot drive is in slot #2 (x2). Unless the boot order requires slot #1?

 

Thanks guys, I thought it was the reverse. I'll swap them when I open it up to replace my HDD with an SSD as well.

 

I do not think that the boot order requires a dedicated slot, it is the boot partition (the hidden one) that makes the bootable disk.

Ciao

 

I did just that, just swapped the ports, and all was well.

 

Where did you find the Samsung 950 pro 1tb ssd? Last I knew the 950 was just m.2 based with 500gb limit, and 2.5" was limited to 850 series?

I know they announced 950 pro coming with 1tb, but I don't see it available anywhere. I do notice that Intels new m.2 1tb is mistakenly selling on amazon. I say mistakenly as its showed and sold as m.2 but its really the 2.5".

 

Amazon/Newegg/Famous Auction site.... there is the esata 1tb EVO and 1tb Pro SSD's. ..

As for the m.2 Pro SSD, there is only the 512gb....for now...

I'm waiting for the 1tb m.2 SSD to release from Samsung.....



Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

I've been checking amazon/newegg/pcpartpicker, but I can't find a 950 pro in anything but m.2 250/500gb models. Just interested where you found a 1tb?

 

I have the 1tb 2.5" sata SSD Pro ....

And the 512GB m.2 Pro SSD....

The 1tb m.2 is not out yet.

Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

the confusion comes from your signature..

 

Ah the typo...thanks for pointing that out.

 

Thanks. I was just trying to see if I missed the release. I know it's coming soon, and keep eye on almost every tech site. Honestly limited (storage wise) with 500gb 950 pro, 128gb stock, and 1tb 850 evo.
I'd probably be better off with 2tb 850 evo, but have no other use for a 2.5", and I'd love to swap the 128gb stock for a 1tb. Evo is only decent with rapid, and I've already used that on 2.5.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

Sounds good. Keep us posted on any new developments on the 1TB 950 Pro m.2 release. I'm waiting for that as well...

 

How to boot from your m.2?

I repasted one of my 17R3's.

It had the original 1TB Spinner along with a 512GB Samsung 950 Pro m.2 SSD.

I've installed Windows 8.1 Pro on the m.2 SSD and everything was working fine.

After the repaste, I've put the m.2 SSD back in that had the Windows 8.1 installed on it, however, I've also replaced the stock 1TB spinner with a 2.5" 1TB Samsung 850 Pro.

When powering on, it's not booting to Windows 8.1 and just prompts with a black screen with white letters to either F1 (try to reboot), F2 (enter BIOS) or F5? (to run a diagnostics.)

I then took out the 2.5" SSD and put it in my external HD enclosure and did a reformat, in hopes that it might do something....

m.2's are still in a mystery phase....just weird....a mind of its own....

Anyone have any ideas? How can I make it book from my m.2 that has the Windows 8.1 installed, while being able to keep the new 1TB Samsung 850 Pro in there to be used as a slave drive?

As of right now, the only way for it to boot into Windows 8.1 is with the original combo: m.2 SSD + Original 1TB spinner that had the stock Windows 10 on it....

* I've played with the boot order settings in BIOS ....nada....

Update [SOLVED]

Okay so here's how you do it:

* Make in BIOS you have it set to ACHI.

1. If you're installing a fresh copy of Windows to your m.2 SSD, make sure only your m.2 is plugged in. This means to unplug your 2.5" HD etc....Again, ONLY your m.2 SSD should be plugged in.

2. Plug in your USB Flash Drive (Recovery).

3. Press Power -> Hit F12 to enter Boot Options -> Select your USB Flash Drive....

4. Once you get to the Installation Screen, press Shift+F10 and this will open up a terminal window. Enter in these prompts to make sure your m.2 SSD is formatted correctly.

Type the following and just go with the flow. It's very simple....

Diskpart
List Disk
Select Disk 0
Clean
Convert GPT
Exit

Note: For the Select Disk # part, Enter in the # of your disk...it may or may not be 0.

5. Once you get to the screen to select your disk -> New -> ....

6. Then proceed with your install.....

 

iunlock
Thanks for the detailed guide.

I saw that you have 32gb of ram, of which vendors are?

I found these:
Samsung 32 GB Dual Channel Kit 2 x 16 GB DDR4 2133 260 pin SO-DIMM (2133 MHz, PC4-17000, CL15)

but I want to be sure it is correct.

Ciao

Edit:

I saw you the 2133MHz G.Skill

I found these:
G.Skill - RAM 32GB 2400MHz DDR4 SO-DIMM Laptop Memory Upgrade Kit (CL16) 1:20 in Ripjaws PC4-19200 2x16GB

but besides being CL16 are 2400MHz, they are supported?

Ciao

 

There's a copper plate under the m.2. ...I'm feeling pretty optimistic about this lol....hmm. ....OK ordering up some thermal pads....

Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

Is there any difference in the performance of ports M.2 The Alienware 17R3?

I have two disks S950Pro system and I drive C system marked 2 ??

SATA slot is designated as 0?

 

Yes.

Slot 1 is: 4x

Slot 2 is: 2x

Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

These slots are somehow marked on the plate?
I can only see them in the system as 1 and 2?

It drives set in RAID 0?

 

up

 

Best to stick with the 2133 sticks. You can OC them, but there's really no need to.



Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

OK thanks

Samsung or g.skill it's the same?

Ciao

 

Either one will be just fine. I would have gotten the Samsung first, but the G.Skill was cheaper at the time. Can't go wrong with either.

Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

ok, thank you very much

Ciao

 

When mounted two drives M.2 950 Pro, the BIOS does not have the possibility to set so that they appear as AHCI? Only Raid ??
When set to AHCI system did not start ...

 

Same issue here. Is there a solution to setup and boot via AHCI? Thanks.

 

You may need to allocate the m.2 ssd and/or if wanting to create a boot drive, see post #80.

Hope that helps.

Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

Should you install the Samsung NVMe Driver (Not Magician) or just plug in and play?

If, you had just plugged in and played you would see this:
Computer Management -> Disk Management -> Storage Controllers -> ...it shows, "Standard NVM Express Controller."

If, you did install the Samsung NVMe Driver, it would show up as: Samsung NVMe Controller.

---

Questions needing to be answered:

1. Would installing the Samsung NVMe Driver solve slow boot up times?

2. Make sure to install the Samsung NVMe Driver in Safe Mode?

3. Is it easy to revert / roll back to the Standard NVM Express Controller?

4. In BIOS should legacy option rom be enabled?







Anything look out of place?

 

1. Maybe, but if boot times are significantly slow then there may be an issue elsewhere.

2. I never have and it has been fine every time

3. I'm pretty sure you can just uninstall from the device manager (check "remove driver from system") and it should default to the standard driver.

4. I don't have that turned on and I'm sure it's meant for older operating systems that use MBR instead of GPT and UEFI.... I would turn that off and see if your system boots quicker without it.

 

Thanks a TON! #4 Solved it! Holy Cow....it was right under my nose the whole time. Every time I would enter BIOS to set CPU OC, I always thought that looked strange being enabled....

This is great...thanks again...

I'll update the OP with this solution.

Cheers @ sirleeofroy & @ zergslayer69

 

No worries, glad to be of assistance!

 

The slow boottimes are caused by the kionix freefall sensor driver. Uninstall it and reinstall it after with the updated drivers from the Dell site. The Bootup times should be loads faster then.

edit: oh I see others gave the solution already.

 

Thanks. I've skipped the installing of the freefall sensor after my fresh windows install on the m.2 ...thanks for the heads up. I'm sure it'll help others.

Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

I found this video/written tutorial online:

http://charlesantoine.ca/install-samsung-950-pro-ssd/


good or bad to follow to install the 950 PRO?