Internals, Testing Methodology and System Setup
Internals
Being M.2 SSDs (and single-sided ones at that), there is really not much to disassemble here. Both models are able to attain their stated capacity with only two 3D VNAND flash packages, one DRAM package, and one SSD controller. The backs of both capacities contain no chips or other components – only a sticker. The controller is a new UBX part, but in reality this is only a slightly updated version of the controller present in the NVMe SM951 – in this case revised to handle 3D VNAND.
Testing Methodology
Our tests are a mix of synthetic and real-world benchmarks. IOMeter, HDTach, HDTune, Yapt and our custom File Copy test round out the selection to cover just about all bases. If you have any questions about our tests just drop into the Storage Forum and we'll help you out!
Test System Setup
We have several storage testbeds. A newer ASUS P8Z77-V Pro/Thunderbolt and an ASUS Z87-PRO. Variance between both boards has been deemed negligible when testing SATA devices. Future PCIe and SATA device testing, including this review, take place on a new ASUS Sabertooth X99, which comes equipped with USB 3.1, M.2, and can also handle SFF-8639 devices with the proper adapter.
PC Perspective would like to thank Intel, ASUS, Corsair, Kingston, and EVGA for supplying some of the components of our test rigs.
| Hard Drive Test System Setup | |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 5820K @ 4.125 GHz |
| Motherboard | ASUS Sabertooth X99 |
| Memory | 16GB Micron DDR4 @ 3333 |
| Hard Drive | G.Skill 32GB SLC SSD |
| Sound Card | N/A |
| Video Card | EVGA GeForce GTX 750 |
| Video Drivers | GeForce Game Ready Driver 347.88 |
| Power Supply | Corsair CMPSU-650TX |
| DirectX Version | N/A |
| Operating System | Windows 8.1 Pro X64 (update) |
- PCPer File Copy Test
- HDTach
- HDTune
- IOMeter
- YAPT
Got it installed yesterday,
Got it installed yesterday, clean install from a thumb-drive using rufus and GPT with W10 Threshold 2….plus it activated no problem. This is on a Maxuimas VII Z97 MB with the latest bios installed…about 6 minute on the install. Here’s a couple of links of screenshots using Magician 4.9 (just came out a couple of days) and CystalMark…
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz143/fvbounty/cystal%201.jpg
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz143/fvbounty/samsung%204.9%20first%20run.jpg
Here’s a link to a picture of
Here’s a link to a picture of temps running Cystalmarks….
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz143/fvbounty/HD%20Sentinal3.jpg
After a fruitless week I am
After a fruitless week I am not able to load Windows 7 & boot from my Samsung the Pro 950 M.2 NVMe PCIe 256GB SSD when fitted to my Asus Z170 Deluxe Motherboard (latest BIOS v1302). Using both the Samsung Utilities for the Pro 950 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD, I can see this device within the Windows 7 environment & know it works, but I just cannot load my W7 OS onto this card.
I have tried using the Windows 7 Rescue Disc, after cloning my W7 OS system onto the Pro 950 card, but this card just does not appear to exist in the DOS environment!
I am waiting for Asus to reply to my plea for help, but I am not hopeful.
I believe the answer is going to be with new BIOS update from American Megatrends, see link:
http://ami.com/news/press-releases/?PressReleaseID=338&/American%20Megatrends%20Announces%20Support%20for%20NVMe%E2%84%A2%20Host%20Interface%20in%20Aptio%C2%AE%20V%20UEFI%20Firmware/
Since Windows 10 includes a
Since Windows 10 includes a native NVMe driver, and can be installed and run for 30 days (without a product key) for free, why not try with that O.S. and see if the Samsung 950 Pro NVMe SSD can succeed at booting, whereas Win 7 was unable to do so. May require certain UEFI bios settings (such as: disabling CSM), as well as a complete wipe of any existing partitions, letting the Win10 installer create fresh ones.
I take it that you know that
I take it that you know that you have to install windows on this SSD with a UEFI bios setup? Also Samsung have released their own NVME driver. You can find it here:
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/support/downloads.html
Allyn,
Great Review.
Allyn,
Great Review.
I’ve got a question about using the 950 Pro M.2 on my new build. I’ve got an MSi Z97M gaming motherboard, it has an M.2 slot (X2 speed) & also supports NVMe in the UEFI/BIOS. Would I benefit from using the 950 Pro M.2 over the 850 EVO M.2 drive.. or would the 950 Pro M.2 be limited by the X2 M.2 slot? I’m looking at either the 256GB 950 Pro or the 500GB 850 EVO, if the Z97 M.2 slot is going to limit the speed of the 950 Pro to that of the 850 EVO, I’ll probably just go with the latter!? I’m still new to the way M.2 works so, thanks for the assistance.
Again, Thanks. Phil B.
Hi Phil B. This reply is
Hi Phil B. This reply is probably a bit late for you. I have both a 500G 850 EVO and 950 Pro in an i7-6700 build (Asus Z170M MOBO). The 950 is blazingly fast on M.2 NVMe with circa 1,500 MB/s write and 2,400 MB/s reads. For single threaded work on a desktop it’s great. Eg copying 1G files is almost sub second. However if you throw lots of work at it Eg a big W10 update it grinds to 100% busy with latencies over 1,000ms. I even got a peak atency of 10,000ms running Performance Test 8. In these circumstances the 850 is faster overall.
I have a “GA-Z97X-SLI” which
I have a “GA-Z97X-SLI” which has entrance to SSD M.2 10 / Gbs, if I buy a Samsung 950 Pro M.2, it will work 100%? with maximum efficiency?
Sadly, no. I also have the
Sadly, no. I also have the same board, and from what I understand, it only supports the first-gen NVMe M.2 drives at full speed. At best, it’ll work at half-speed.
Mind you, that’s according to what the manual says. I e-mailed Gigabyte about that too, and they were only slightly better than completely unhelpful.
So, again, not having actually tried it, I would say yes, but don’t expect it to perform at full capacity, not with this board.