ASRock Forums : ASRock Z170 Extreme4 + 3* M.2 PCIE SSD https://forum.asrock.com/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Tue, 12 May 2026 14:11:17 +0000 Tue, 18 Aug 2015 12:18:42 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.04 360 https://forum.asrock.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=666 <![CDATA[ASRock Forums]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums_black.png https://forum.asrock.com/ <![CDATA[ASRock Z170 Extreme4 + 3* M.2 PCIE SSD : asrick wrote: asrick wrote:Can...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=666&PID=3049&title=asrock-z170-extreme4-3-m-2-pcie-ssd#3049 Author: parsec
Subject: 666
Posted: 18 Aug 2015 at 12:18pm

Originally posted by asrick asrick wrote:

Originally posted by asrick asrick wrote:

Can I create a Raid 5 array of M.2 PCIE SSD on asrock z170 Extreme4?
2 of 3 M.2 PCIE SSD by onboard M.2 Slot, other M.2 PCIE SSD by M.2-to-PCIE converter on PCIE slot.

Thanks.

1 of 3 M.2 PCIE SSD by onboard M.2 Slot, other two M.2 PCIE SSDs by M.2-to-PCIE converter on PCIE slot.


That is the correct and only type of configuration of M.2 PCIe SSDs that is possible on the Z170 Extreme4 board.

You'll also need the appropriate IRST RAID driver, that will recognize PCIe SSDs. That would be IRST version 14.5 or 14.6.

Beyond that, I can't tell you if it will work. I don't have the hardware to provide first hand experience.

The detection of the three PCIe SSDs by the IRST Windows program, or the IRST Option ROM utility available during POST, of the IRST utility available in the UEFI when Windows is installed in a UEFI booting configuration, is critical.

A RAID 0 array of M.2 SSDs was demonstrated by ASRock on the Z170 Extreme7+ board. That board has three Ultra M.2 slots, so is not the same as your configuration would be, using the adapter cards for two of the PCIe M.2 drives.

One important thing to understand is, Intel has only been able to have TRIM support working on RAID 0 arrays of SSDs. That does work, as I've tested it. But, RAID 0 is the only RAID type that supports TRIM. When will Intel have TRIM support for other RAID types, if ever? That information is not available at this time.

I have used RAID 0 arrays of SSDs before TRIM support in RAID 0 existed. The RAID 0 volume I used as an OS drive worked fine, but over time showed reduced performance in benchmarks. I kept over 50% free space on the volume at all times, to help with the lack of TRIM. The RAID volume continued to work fine as an OS drive, and never seemed slower in actual use, but I used it for only about 15 months.
]]> Tue, 18 Aug 2015 12:18:42 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=666&PID=3049&title=asrock-z170-extreme4-3-m-2-pcie-ssd#3049 <![CDATA[ASRock Z170 Extreme4 + 3* M.2 PCIE SSD : asrick wrote:Can I create a...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=666&PID=3045&title=asrock-z170-extreme4-3-m-2-pcie-ssd#3045 Author: asrick
Subject: 666
Posted: 18 Aug 2015 at 10:17am

Originally posted by asrick asrick wrote:

Can I create a Raid 5 array of M.2 PCIE SSD on asrock z170 Extreme4?
2 of 3 M.2 PCIE SSD by onboard M.2 Slot, other M.2 PCIE SSD by M.2-to-PCIE converter on PCIE slot.

Thanks.

1 of 3 M.2 PCIE SSD by onboard M.2 Slot, other two M.2 PCIE SSDs by M.2-to-PCIE converter on PCIE slot.
]]> Tue, 18 Aug 2015 10:17:37 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=666&PID=3045&title=asrock-z170-extreme4-3-m-2-pcie-ssd#3045 <![CDATA[ASRock Z170 Extreme4 + 3* M.2 PCIE SSD : Can I create a Raid 5 array of...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=666&PID=3044&title=asrock-z170-extreme4-3-m-2-pcie-ssd#3044 Author: asrick
Subject: 666
Posted: 18 Aug 2015 at 10:06am

Can I create a Raid 5 array of M.2 PCIE SSD on asrock z170 Extreme4?
2 of 3 M.2 PCIE SSD by onboard M.2 Slot, other M.2 PCIE SSD by M.2-to-PCIE converter on PCIE slot.

Thanks.
]]> Tue, 18 Aug 2015 10:06:01 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=666&PID=3044&title=asrock-z170-extreme4-3-m-2-pcie-ssd#3044