Maximus vii hero m.2 compatibility

[EazyRyder]

Will this M.2 ssd work with my maximus ?
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/256gb-samsung-sm951-m2-(22x80)-pcie-30-(x4)-ahci-ssd-mlc-nand-read-21...
Can i stiil use my gtx 780 at the same time, in the top long pci e slot at full x16 speed?
The manual in a little confusing and any help or further info would be great.
🙂

[highlandsCA]

EazyRyder wrote:
Will this M.2 ssd work with my maximus ?
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/256gb-samsung-sm951-m2-(22x80)-pcie-30-(x4)-ahci-ssd-mlc-nand-read-21...
Can i stiil use my gtx 780 at the same time, in the top long pci e slot at full x16 speed?
The manual in a little confusing and any help or further info would be great.
🙂

I recently built the MAXIMUS VII HERO and installed the SAMSUNG EVO 850 500GB m.2 card. The system did not recognize it at all. I contacted ASUS, and after several inquirees, they finally said, flatly, "no it is inconpatable". So I returned the card and installed the 2.5 inch SAMSUNG EVO 500GB ssd and it works great. I am still waiting for a compatable m.2 to arrive someday. I would definetly like to have that rather than the larger 2.5 ssd.

[mark0409mr01]

EazyRyder wrote:
Will this M.2 ssd work with my maximus ?
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/256gb-samsung-sm951-m2-(22x80)-pcie-30-(x4)-ahci-ssd-mlc-nand-read-21...
Can i stiil use my gtx 780 at the same time, in the top long pci e slot at full x16 speed?
The manual in a little confusing and any help or further info would be great.
🙂

Hi,

I work for SCAN UK and can confirm the drive IS compatible with your motherboard. Please note however that the M.2 slot on all Maximus VII motherboards are limited to PCIe 2.0 x2 with the exception of the mITX Maximus Impact VII.

In order to benefit from the full PCIe 3.0 x4 capabilities of the drive you have suggested I would recommend the purchase of the following adaptor: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lycom-dt-120-m2-ngff-ssd-pcie-30-x4-(80mm-60mm-42mm)-to-pcie-x4-host-...

Install this into the second RED PCIe slot on your motherboard and put the Samsung M.2 SSD into the adaptor rather than on the M.2 slot on the motherboard, this will in turn cause your GTX780 to work at PCIe 3.0 x8 instead of x16 however practically this will make zero difference to the performance of the graphics card but in turn will allow the Samsung M.2 SSD to work at full PCIe 3.0 x4

[EazyRyder]

Thankyou that answers my question perfectly.
I suppose the M.2 slot on my board is a total waste of time really for a high speed card, wouldn't want to use an adapter in a PCIE slot, it would look ugly and defeats the purpose of me having the discreet M.2 slot.
Better off sticking with my SATA SSDs for now.
I think intel could have sorted the PCIE bandwidth usage situation earlier on Z97 boards, rather than cashing in on skylake and the new Z170 motherboard.

Sorry for the late response, been on holidays.