Author: netjrb
Subject: Z170 Extreme4, m.2, etc. troubles
Posted: 12 Feb 2016 at 6:55am
Subject: Z170 Extreme4, m.2, etc. troubles
Posted: 12 Feb 2016 at 6:55am
Hi Parsec,
Thanks for the info.
Please see response to questions below.
 parsec wrote:Replying to netjrb: Recently I bought another 950 Pro to try them in RAID 0 as the OS drive. That worked out fine too, I never had the problems you have with the "hang" or system freezing I assume (IRST 14.8, with the 2.10 UEFI version installed, that has, "Update RAID ROM and EFI driver". |
I'm using IRST 14.5.0.1081, downloaded from the ASRock website. Sounds like I should be using a newer version. Do you have a link to the latest?
I upgraded the BIOS via internet update right after motherboard installation. It updated to version 2.50, don't remember what the version was before the update. Recently upgraded to BIOS 2.60, no difference in behavior. Should I not be using the latest version?
| parsec wrote: Replying to netjrb: I always install Windows with CSM Disabled, even with SATA SSDs. I want to use the EFI boot loader and fully use the UEFI firmware our boards have, rather than run it in emulated BIOS/Legacy mode, which happens when CSM is Enabled. Whatever CSM setting(s) you used when you install Windows determine how it operates. I know you had to at least set Launch Storage OpROM policy to UEFI only. What happened when you set CSM to disabled? |
I only change BIOS options before Windows installation, never after. My last installation was with CSM disabled, didn't seem to help with the issues I'm having.
| parsec wrote: Replying to netjrb: I installed the Samsung NVMe driver, which results in an entry under Storage Controllers in Device Manager. That means that the Intel IRST driver is not controlling the 950. The version 14 IRST software can control NVMe PCIe SSDs, but RAID must be enabled, and two or three 950 Pro's are in a RAID array. If you have the IRST Windows driver package installed, with the IRST Windows UI, you won't see the 950 Pro listed as a recognized drive for use in a RAID array, unless two or more are in the PC. When you create a RAID array out of 950 Pros, the Samsung NVMe driver cannot see the SSDs, and won't install. That is trying the driver installation after the Win 10 installation. The Magician software can't handle RAID anyway, and only partially recognized the RAID 0 array of 950s. Pretty much like it does not completely recognize SM951s.b The IRST driver completely controls these SSDs when in a RAID array. I did not try installing the extracted files from the Samsung NVMe driver during the Load Driver phase of a Custom Install. How did you install the Samsung NVMe driver? |
Downloaded from Samsung website and installed after Windows 10 installation. Was able to run Samsung Magician performance test on 950, before hanging caught up with me.
| parsec wrote: Replying to netjrb: The RST PCIe Remapping option should only be enabled if you want to create and use a RAID array of PCIe SSDs. I never see those options appear in RAID mode until I have more than one 950 Pro connected to the board. Are you saying you see the Remapping option with one 950 Pro installed, and using RAID mode? I don't recall that happening. What version of IRST are you using. Please be more specific than just 14. There is 14.0..., 14.5..., 14.6..., 14.7... (never released officially), and 14.8.... |
If I leave the CSM options as "Legacy Only" and disable CSM, the RST PCIe Remapping option does not appear.
If I change CSM options to "UEFI Only" and then disable CSM, the RST PCIe Remapping option appears.
| parsec wrote: Replying to netjrb: Did you check the Windows logs for any clues about your freezing/hang issue? |
No haven't done that yet. Will research how to do that and get back to you.
| parsec wrote: Replying to netjrb: Wow, your 850 Pro works Ok on the ASMedia SATA ports?  I have all kinds of strange stuff happening with an 840 Pro on an ASMedia SATA port. Win 10 manual TRIM will not complete, that semi-hangs the TRIM function, I must kill the process in Task Manager. AS SSD will not run on my 840 Pro when using an ASMedia SATA port, it just fails immediately. I tried running the TRIMcheck program on the 840 Pro, the program never finishes the first step. Two strikes against TRIM with a SSD on the ASMedia ports, does that mean no TRIM support by ASMedia? What driver are you using for the ASMedia chips?Which reminds me, the IRST driver, since version 11.6 I think it is, has had strange compatibility problems with the ASMedia chipset, and/or driver. I don't want to go into details here, but a simple thing to try is putting your 850 Pro on an Intel SATA port, since IMO that might be causing your issues. |
Didn't make note of the ASMedia driver, it's whatever Windows 10 chose to install. Can't say the 850 was actually functional. I was able to format it. Could also see it in Samsung Magician. I don't get a lot of operational time before the system starts to hang. I did install Windows 10 on an old SATA drive. Using that I was able to run AIDA64 Stress Test without issue, but I didn't have the 850 installed at the time. Also was able to run Memtest overnight. So CPU and memory look good.
I was planning on using the ASRock USB 3.1 front panel which leaves me with no available Intel SATA ports after I add my RAID drives. I was counting on using the ASMedia port for my 850. Going to be bummed if that won't work.
| parsec wrote: Replying to netjrb: What is it that makes you think RAID mode and the 950 Pro might cause your issues? |
Really just speculation. Looking for what I might be doing different from everybody else who's had success. I've seen lots of posts with people using M.2's as RAID drives. Hadn't seen anyone before this with RAID mode enabled but only running a single M.2.