New Windows 10 NVMe driver 1.4.7.16 released for Samsung SSD 950 PRO M.2

Posted by Paul Braren on Jan 26 2016 (updated on Jan 27 2016) in
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    • REVISION_HISTORY
    From the Samsung NVMe Driver Version 1.1 Installation Guide.
    B01639694M
    Available now on Amazon in 256GB and 512GB sizes, 1TB not expected until early 2016.

    Just in case you've got yourself a Samsung 950 PRO PCIe NVMe M.2 internal SSD, there's a new Windows 10 device driver for you, and a new Samsung Magician.

    What's changed? All we know is "Driver version update for USB compatibility", presumably to allow the use of a USB enclosures that can house such 2280 M.2 drives.

    Here's the usual download site for all Samsung consumer SSDs:

    Be sure to grab both:

    Samsung Magician Software for PC

    Samsung_Magician_Setup_v495.zip

    Samsung NVMe Driver Installer (12/11/2015)

    Samsung_NVMExpress_Driver_rev11.zip Samsung states "Notice: The driver operates in Windows 7/8.1/10 x86/x64."

    I only tested with Windows 10, using my Supermicro SuperServer Bundle 1, based on the SYS-5028D-TN4T. Booted directly to Windows 10 build 10586.63.

    NVMe Driver 1.4.7.16 and 1.4.7.17 compared

    Lycom
    Lycom DT-120 M.2 to PCIe adapter.

    Screenshots below. I haven't noticed any difference in speeds, so maybe they really only did change USB support. Also notice that in the 2nd screenshot, I have the 950 PRO booting Windows 10 from the PCIe slot, using the $20 adapter pictured at right. Works just the same as when it's installed in the M.2 slot, at the same speeds. So the answer to the often asked question:

    can I boot from the Lycom DT-120 M.2 to PCIe card?

    is a resounding yes! At least when used in this SSD and Xeon D-1540 motherboard combination, using my recommended BIOS 1.0b settings, or my benchmark optimized settings, or the slightly altered settings.

    1.4.7.16
    Samsung NVME Driver 1.4.7.16 with Samsung Magician 4.9.
    1.4.7.17
    Samsung NVME Driver 1.4.7.17 with Samsung Magician 4.9.5, which now always shows PCI-to-PCI Bridge, whether the M.2 is in the M.2 slot on the X10SDV-TLN4F motherboard, or in a Lycom PCIe M.2 to PCIe card.
    NVMe-driver-date-Dec-11-2015
    Notice the date of the NVMe driver, 12/11/2015. By the way, I can't understand why Samsung still doesn't let OS Optimization run under Windows 8.1 or 10.

    See also at TinkerTry

    TinkerTry - PCs, EVs, home tech, efficiency and more, including virtualization. My opinions here, not my employer's.

    Paul Braren, MCSE in 1998, VCP #2681 in 2005, vExpert 2014 to 2024, Veeam Vanguard Emeritus, 2015 to 2019.

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    After 6 successful years testing then shipping well over 1,000 Xeon D Bundles, Wiredzone had to stop selling them in mid-2021 due to cost, supply, and logistics challenges. So far, Xeon D-1700/2700 (Ice Lake D) was a minor refresh for 2023, with Xeon D-1800/2800 (Granite Rapids D) refresh looking a little better for 2024. More cores, but still just PCIe Gen4 and DDR4. Looking ahead, I'm glad it's Pat Gelsinger at Intel's helm. I'm also grateful to have had the honor of working at VMware when Pat was the CIO there. I'll leave it at that, given the whole Broadcom thing.

    Easily update VMware ESXi at TinkerTry.com/easy-update-to-latest-esxi