MAXIMUS VII RANGER NVMe Compatibility

[omgitsdefault]

Hello forum 

 

 

I need some help clarifying what kind of M.2 drives are compatible with my board, from what I can tell there are different types of M.2 PCI//SATA

I'm not worried about getting the full speed but its just a step towards eliminating cables from my case. 

I was considering getting a Samsung 960/70  Evo?

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-V-NAND-Express-Solid-State/dp/B07CGGNX7S/ref=pd_sbs_147_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07CGGNX7S&pd_rd_r=0c3ac01e-1acf-11e9-9f91-fdda01699348&pd_rd_w=ra2CD&pd_rd_wg=tY0e2&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=FNDFFGCKKWBGB0Y2XMTC&psc=1&refRID=FNDFFGCKKWBGB0Y2XMTC

 

Also using Bios Ver 2012 if thats an important factor.

 

Can anyone shed some light? TIA.

[ch3w2oy]

Yes, that 970 EVO will fit. It looks like it accepts 2260/2280 (60mm and 80mm) m.2 NVMe drives.

[omgitsdefault]

I know it will "fit" I just wanted to clarify if I can boot from it. Linus says Z97 natively supports booting from NVMe, although I think I'm restricted upto 700Mbs/s

 

 

[ch3w2oy]

You shouldn't get the 970 EVO anyway as your boards m.2 is limited to 10Gb/s. Get a SATA M.2 SSD or get a PCIe adapter for using NVMe M.2.

[ch3w2oy]

You can get twice the size for the same price and using that board, you will not see a noticeable difference. The only way I would spend the money on a faster NVMe is if I got the adapter to take advantage of it's speed.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-WDS500G2B0B-Blue-Internal/dp/B073SBX6TY/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1547783716&sr=1-1&keywords=500gb+sata+m2

 

 

Adapter if you want full speeds  on NVMe:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EZDIY-FAB-PCIe-Adapter-support-expansion/dp/B078WT2V85/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1547783818&sr=1-19-spons&keywords=pcie%2Bnvme%2Badapter&th=1

[Dravinian]

On 1/18/2019 at 3:58 AM, ch3w2oy said:

You can get twice the size for the same price and using that board, you will not see a noticeable difference. The only way I would spend the money on a faster NVMe is if I got the adapter to take advantage of it's speed.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-WDS500G2B0B-Blue-Internal/dp/B073SBX6TY/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1547783716&sr=1-1&keywords=500gb+sata+m2

 

 

Adapter if you want full speeds  on NVMe:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EZDIY-FAB-PCIe-Adapter-support-expansion/dp/B078WT2V85/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1547783818&sr=1-19-spons&keywords=pcie%2Bnvme%2Badapter&th=1

Just for anyone else that comes across this thread as I did....

 

The first linked product is not compatible with the ASUS Ranger VII motherboard the motherboard does not in fact run SATA M.2 and requires PCIE M.2.

[omgitsdefault]

I also had to do a BIOS update to Rev 3003 to fully support the M.2 but all worked out okay in the end. I remember watching a video recently where linus actually said X79 doesn't actually support M.2 when it does. ooooopsie. 

[bulletproof.rs]

Sorry for reviving an old thread but now I'm in the same pickle.
If i purchase an adapter , something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Interface-Suppor-Express-2230-2280/dp/B07FFS22DV
can i install it in PCI-Express GEN2 X16 slot (Black at the very bottom) and still expect to perform the same or do i really need to install it in PCIe 3.0 X16 second slot?
And if i need to install it in PCIe 3.0 X16 slot on this same mobo (Maximus VII Ranger) will it lower my first slot to X8 and therefor suffer gpu performance ? It does says that if GPU is installed in second slot it will work on x8-x8, but does that apply for GPU only or not?

[omgitsdefault]

9 hours ago, bulletproof.rs said:

Sorry for reviving an old thread but now I'm in the same pickle.
If i purchase an adapter , something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Interface-Suppor-Express-2230-2280/dp/B07FFS22DV
can i install it in PCI-Express GEN2 X16 slot (Black at the very bottom) and still expect to perform the same or do i really need to install it in PCIe 3.0 X16 second slot?
And if i need to install it in PCIe 3.0 X16 slot on this same mobo (Maximus VII Ranger) will it lower my first slot to X8 and therefor suffer gpu performance ? It does says that if GPU is installed in second slot it will work on x8-x8, but does that apply for GPU only or not?

You should be fine with that buddy, just make sure you have a recent BIOS for full compatibility. I cant remember what each slot is wired too but you're probably not going to see much of a noticeable difference with PCI 3.0 (The sata is limited to about 800mb/s theoretical anyway. other members may be able to help you on here, make a new post. and good luck.

[TheGingerOne]

On 8/6/2020 at 8:04 PM, omgitsdefault said:

You should be fine with that buddy, just make sure you have a recent BIOS for full compatibility. I cant remember what each slot is wired too but you're probably not going to see much of a noticeable difference with PCI 3.0 (The sata is limited to about 800mb/s theoretical anyway. other members may be able to help you on here, make a new post. and good luck.

Just in case anyone comes looking for more info. As the lockdown has caused a bit of a shortage...and price hike, I've stuck with my Asus Ranger VII and just purchased a new NVME card (PCIE Gen 4 1TB Corsair). With an adapter to installed it in the second Gen3 PCI slot (so as mentioned above both the GPU and NVME are now x8 Gen3) the performance is good. 2743MB Write and 2620MB Read. It's completely transformed it. Running BigSur and a Windows10 in VMWare Fusion. The VM boots in about 4sec's. Well worth it considering the current supply issues and I can alway keep it when I upgrade...