A88M-G3.1 M.2 Compatibility

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   I recently purchased an A88M-G3.  I have been combing the internet to find an M.2 PCIE2 x 4 SSD.  I am having significant difficulty finding any.  I can't seem to find a recent compatibility list from ASRock.  Does anyone have a compatibility list?  Will it work with PCIE3 x 4 SSDs?  Anyone have a decent recommendation for a 120GB or larger drive.
I'm using, or rather, planning to use this as a NAS with 8 drives already so the m.2 slot is ideal for the boot drive.

Thanks in advance.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
binary010 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28 Jun 2017 Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote binary010 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: A88M-G3.1 M.2 Compatibility Posted: 28 Jun 2017 at 10:18pm
	I recently purchased an A88M-G3. I have been combing the internet to find an M.2 PCIE2 x 4 SSD. I am having significant difficulty finding any. I can't seem to find a recent compatibility list from ASRock. Does anyone have a compatibility list? Will it work with PCIE3 x 4 SSDs? Anyone have a decent recommendation for a 120GB or larger drive. I'm using, or rather, planning to use this as a NAS with 8 drives already so the m.2 slot is ideal for the boot drive. Thanks in advance.

AlexDShields Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Location: Carmel Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote AlexDShields Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2017 at 2:47am
	I tried a WDS500G1B0B and it is not seen in BIOS.

AlexDShields Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Location: Carmel Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote AlexDShields Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2017 at 4:50am
	I have created a support ticket to see if there is an answer here. I also found this table in the manaul: http://asrock.pc.cdn.bitgravity.com/Manual/A88M-G3.1.pdf M.2_SSD (NGFF) Module Support List Please note that the M.2 Socket on this motherboard supports M.2 PCI Express module up to Gen2 x4 (20Gb/s). For the latest updates of M.2_SSD (NFGG) module support list, please visit our website for details: http://www.asrock.com Vendor Size Interface Length P/N Kingston 480GB PCIe2 x4 2280 SH2280S3/480G Plextor 256GB PCIe 2280 PX-G256M6e Plextor 512GB PCIe 2280 PX-G512M6e Samsung 256GB PCIe3 x4 2280 SM951 (MZHPV256HDGL) Samsung 512GB PCIe3 x4* 2280 SM951 (MZHPV512HDGL) Samsung 512GB PCIe x4 2280 XP941-512G (MZHPU512HCGL) SanDisk 128GB PCIe 2260 SD6PP4M-128G SanDisk 256GB PCIe 2260 SD6PP4M-256G

wardog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 15 Jul 2015 Status: Offline Points: 6447	Post Options Post Reply Quote wardog Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2017 at 5:35am
	As far as we know there is no compatibility issues with any PCIe/M.2 SSD. There is though a Sticky describing How-To: http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1236&title=how-to-install-windows-on-a-pcie-ssd

AlexDShields Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Location: Carmel Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote AlexDShields Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2017 at 6:56am
	Thank you for the link. I am not sure how I missed it during my searches before posting. I will try again as per the link and post the results here.

AlexDShields Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Location: Carmel Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote AlexDShields Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2017 at 7:25am
	I am giving up. I have gone over and over the guide. I have gone though just about every setting there. I have attempted the windows 10 install a few dozen times and every time with the same result. The drive is just not seen. I have ordered a more standard SATA SSD for this system and I will be building another M.2 based system next week so I will test the SSD there.

wardog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 15 Jul 2015 Status: Offline Points: 6447	Post Options Post Reply Quote wardog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2017 at 8:46am
	Following parsecs words there it doesn't show up until making a change after the OS installation. Not seen, but is it booting to the OS?

AlexDShields Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Location: Carmel Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote AlexDShields Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2017 at 9:10am
	I was not able to install Windows at all. I got a response from support that sums it all up. Your M.2 is SATA 6GB interface, it is not compatible it. Please use NVME PCIE interface M.2 (Samsung 960 Pro/Evo, 950 Pro, Corsair MP500, OCZ RD400, Intel 600P. So that's bit folks NVME works SATA does not.

Jm62383 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03 Apr 2017 Location: White Cloud, MI Status: Offline Points: 87	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jm62383 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2017 at 9:11am
	WDS500G1B0B is a SATA M.2....your a88m has only a pci-e m.2 slot...they are not compatible. You need to buy a Pci-e drive.

Jm62383 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03 Apr 2017 Location: White Cloud, MI Status: Offline Points: 87	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jm62383 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2017 at 9:12am
	Lol beat me to it.