Question 1

I am pretty sure I have come to the right assumption indirectly, as I haven't come across the question phrased exactly.  But...the 256GB version should be plenty big enough for a Win7/10 application.  Even with a few games installed, this would be sufficient, correct?  And I am keeping in mind that I can double the storage for less than half the money, but these higher-end z170 builds are pricey.
My current Win7 OS is about 3 1/2 years old installed on a 256GB SSD, and there I still have over 100GB left.  
Just wanted to make sure that I am not overlooking anything.
thanx

Accepted Answer

Yes you are correct, 256 is plenty of space for the operating system and 2 or 3 large scale games.  If you have 100GB available space on the windows 7 install then the 256GB is plenty for your needs to upgrade to windows 10 and add some games.  If space becomes a problem down the road just add a 2nd drive in the SATA slot. An SATA III SSD with 120GB or 240GB will be plenty. I just went through the same scenario. Since the cost on this new V-NAND technology is high, I opted to install this as the primary drive and got a couple of 120GB SATA III SSD's that are installed in a separate raid configuration. I currently have the OS, Fallout 4, Battlefield 4, and several smaller programs on the 256GB V-NAND SSD and still have 70GB available.  The additional 240GB of space on the paired Raid drives is where I store pics, movies, MS Office, and other programs.  Hope this helps!!

Question 2

I am planning on installing this on a UEFI enabled BIOS with a fresh copy of Windows 10. Can I expect issues similar to a Windows 7 install or is it easier with 10?

Accepted Answer

In general, installing under MS Windows 10 should be easier. Windows 7 does not include an m.2 NVMe driver. Windows 10 includes a default m.2 NVMe driver. I suggest that once Windows 10 is installed that the Samsung provided driver be installed.

My answer assumes that the BIOS is recent or has been updated to a version that supports booting from an NVMe drive. If this is a clean install, Windows 10 installs easier if only the NVMe drive is installed during the installation process. Also take care of how the Windows 10 installation media boots. If the Windows installation media boots under UEFI, then the disk will be a GPT drive. If the installation media boots as a legacy device, then a mbr will be created. Either one will work fine, but Microsoft is pushing a move to GPT drives.

If you are migrating from an existing Windows 10 installation to the 950 Pro. There may be some additional steps depending on your configuration and the tools that you are using.

I have installed four 950's as boot devices. Some were clean and some were migrations. All worked without much hassle, once the BIOS updates caught up with the NVMe devices.

Post another question with more details if I did not cover what you need. I do not work for Newegg.

Question 3

Does this work in any pci express slot?

Accepted Answer

You need an M.2 slot or an adapter.

Question 4

I'm new to M.2 - do you know if this is compatible with ASUS Z170-DELUXE motherboard with Win 7-Pro? The Z170 supports M Key and type 2242/2260/2280/22110.  Thank you for your help.

Accepted Answer

Good evening Robert

This M.2 on-board SSD should work with your ASUS Z170 motherboard / Win7.

If you use 32bit Win7 there could be an issue but I'm not certain since I haven't used a 32bit OS in a very long time.

On my MSI Z170 motherboard installation was a little tricky with Windows 7. I could not ever get Win7 (64) to allow me to install the OS directly onto the m.2 SSD.

I installed the OS / system / drivers / etc on an internal SATA HD.

Samsung provides a disk clone program. Once I had the Win7 64 bit installed with all software and hardware patches I used the provided softare to clone the SATA drive onto the new M.2 SSD.

Reboot and enter BIOS to set your m.2 SSD to primary in your boot-order.

In the MSI BIOS the m.2 SSD is listed as a PCIE device; not specifically as a system disk.

Question 5

I was wondering about how hot this ssd gets. I was thinking about sticking it in a sabertooth x99 board but since the m.2 slot gets covered by the thermal armor will heat be an issue?

Accepted Answer

It gets quite hot, as in near burning your finger through the sticker when you touch the chip hot just sitting idle.  I would not recommend running it under armor without airflow but pretty sure those sabertooth boards have a fan to circulate air under the armor?  I know the old ones did anyways. If that's still the case it should be fine.

I noticed mine was possibly thermal throttling under a benchmark test (would spike way down every few seconds).  My board has some armor on it too (aftermarket stuff via my mono block for water cooling).  I ordered a 3/4" thick chunk of copper and thermal epoxied it to the back of the armor then stuck a thermal pad between the SSD and the copper, keeps it nice and cool and the throttling has stopped.  Hope this helps.

Question 6

Is this compatible with this motherboard? GA-990FX-Gaming (rev. 1.0)

Accepted Answer

I would be concerned that the Samsung 950 Pro is a PCIExpress Generation 3,0 x4 device and your motherboard only supplies a Generation 2.0 x4 interface. It might work, just not at rated speeds. Thus not worth the expense in my opinion. There are other concerns but I believe this is the system breaker, at least it would be for me.

Question 7

Is this compatible with the ASrock Pro4S motherboard? The PCIe SSD platform is new to me, only ever had SSD SATA drives, this looks like it should outperform them by quite a bit. This can be used as a boot drive right? like I said im new to this pcie stuff

Accepted Answer

It appears that it DOES

If you open up the description of the ASROCK Pro 4s Z170 MB
you can see that it supports M.2

It has an M.2 port in between the PCI-E that allow it to lay flat.

M.2
1 x Ultra M.2 Socket, supports M.2 SATA3 6.0 Gb/s module and M.2 PCI Express module up to Gen3 x4 (32 Gb/s)***
***Supports ASRock U.2 Kit

SATA Express
2 x SATA Express 10 Gb/s Connectors**
** If M2_1 is occupied by a SATA-type M.2 device, SATA3_0 and SATA3_1 will be disabled.

Question 8

Does it fit and is it compatible with a Toshiba S55 or does it depend upon more info for that determination to be clear?

Accepted Answer

The Toshiba S55 does not have a M.2 slot so it is not compatible with the Samsung 950 PRO M.2.  You would be better off looking at the Samsung 850 PRO or 850 EVO since both are available in 2.5" drive format with sata interface.

Question 9

Has any one tried to use this drive on the Gigabyte Z170N-Gaming 5 mod? Was it compatible?

Accepted Answer

The specifications for the MB says "PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 Connector with up to 32Gb/s Data Transfer (PCIe NVMe & SATA SSD support)"

And this SSD its form factor is "M.2 (2280)" and the interface is "PCIe 3.0 x4 (up to 32 Gb/s) NVMe 1.1"

You can read it in the manufacturer product spoecifications in their websites. I try to put the links but they (newegg) won´t let me.

I think the SSD its compatible with your MB.

Question 10

I have an Alienware 17 R3 with no SSD, but it has room inside to add one, and Dell offers a product manual on how to install one but does not say what SSD to buy. Will this one fit?

Accepted Answer

This drive could work.  The BIOS on your laptop will have to be updated.  After the latest BIOS is installed there should be a section that shows M.2 as an available slot.  For real world usage, however, there really isn't much of an improvement over a SATA based SSD that support AHCI.  Check to make sure that the slot in your laptop is M.2 and then keep in mind that there are SATA based AHCI drives and SATA based NVMe drives.  The NVMe drives require PCI Express lanes up to x4 (or 4 lanes).  The processor in your computer has to be able to have extra electrical connectivity lanes in order for this drive to work.

Questions & Answers