Starting with the Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB

[ORLY]

Hello, so I ordered the MZ-V9P1T0BW model for my PC.
Since it's my first M.2 NVME SSD, I need some help on what to do with it

First of all, what slot to use?

Second - I'm gonna use a fresh installation of the latest Windows 10. Does it have all the drivers needed to run on that SSD, if not - how to make it work?

Third - I checked out some reviews and the SSD works better when in the Full Power Mode. Do I need Samsung Magician to activate it, if yes - what's the minimum version of the software I can use (the latest one I can launch is 7.3.0, the 8.0 one can't launch at all and keeps restarting forever, --disable-gpu-sandbox -no-sandbox options won't fix anything)?
And what are the possible cons of activating the Full Power Mode?

Fourth - recently found out there were major issues with some of Samsung SSDs, including the 990 Pro model: -> LINK <-.
If I'm buying a faulty SSD that needs a firmware update - how to do it from the very beginning so I won't lose anything?
I mean, do I need to update its firmware first and only then proceed with installation of Windows on it?
Is 3B2QJXD7 the latest one that fixes the issue? Has it been fully fixed? How to install it?

Thank you.

 

[P4-630]

First of all, what slot to use?

Preferably a PCIe 5.0 wired NVMe slot.

Second - I'm gonna use a fresh installation of the latest Windows 10. Does it have all the drivers needed to run on that SSD, if not - how to make it work?

No issues, just install the NVMe drive and you're good to go installing windows on it straight away.

Third - I checked out some reviews and the SSD works better when in the Full Power Mode. Do I need Samsung Magician to activate it, if yes - what's the minimum version of the software I can use (the latest one I can launch is 7.3.0, the 8.0 one can't launch at all and keeps restarting forever, --disable-gpu-sandbox -no-sandbox options won't fix anything)?
And what are the possible cons of activating the Full Power Mode?

Don't know about that.

Fourth - recently found out there were major issues with some of Samsung SSDs, including the 990 Pro model: -> LINK <-.
If I'm buying a faulty SSD that needs a firmware update - how to do it from the very beginning so I won't lose anything?
I mean, do I need to update its firmware first and only then proceed with installation of Windows on it?
Is 3B2QJXD7 the latest one that fixes the issue? Has it been fully fixed? How to install it?

Just install samsung magician and you'll see if there's a firmware update or not, if so you can install it then via samsung magician.

 

[SPDIF]

No 3B2QJXD7 is the latest firmware, if it is lower you have to update it BEFORE installing a OS on it. Then you have a change that you will get errors because of bad firmware.
If you did install Windows already, then backup the drive first. Some firmware updates are destructive and may wipe the SSD.

Samsung Magician will do the trick and will tell you if update is necessary. Their are no external drivers needed for this SSD, Windows installs the needed ones.

Full power also shortens the life of the SSD by burning away energy that is not needed, it just makes that the SSD can't go to sleep, so you will have high temperatures and then you must cool it also. You will not even notice if you disable Full Power. With Full Power disabled, you're SSD will stay cool and goes to sleep if you don't use it to safe power. Like i said you will not notice it even, on or off. So better choose for a longer life and disable full power mode.
It also does not, in normal use, show any actual benefit.

I don't think it makes any difference in the vast majority of situations..

If the latest version 8.0.0 does not work, then de-install it first, don't forget to close the program in the taskbar. Then restart computer and then try install the new version again.

Witch slot to use? The fasted is the slot close by the CPU. Most of times used as boot and OS slot. Remember that the 990PRO is PCIE4.0 you gain no speed boost by putting it in an PCIE5.0 slot
But it is compatible, so just use the first NVMe slot available.

 

[Jetster]

You can do the firmware update after the initial OS install with Samsung magician. There no risk in losing anything because its a clean install. I've never encountered any problem updating firmware after installing an OS but in the case of you having sensitive data i would back up first.

 

[SPDIF]

The best manner to update is to connect it to a second NVMe port and update from another boot disk. It's safer because no installed programs like AV can interfere with the update.
If it goes wrong while updating, your SSD is a brick... So i don't take that risk. In this manner you do not even need to install anything on your new SSD.

 

[ORLY]

Preferably a PCIe 5.0 wired NVMe slot.

Remember that the 990PRO is PCIE4.0 you gain no speed boost by putting it in an PCIE5.0 slot
But it is compatible, so just use the first NVMe slot available.

Spoiler: Storage

AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Desktop Processors
M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)
M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)
AMD X670 Chipset
M.2_3 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
M.2_4 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)

Spoiler: Expansion Slots

AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Desktop Processors
1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots (supports x16 mode)
AMD X670 Chipset
1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (supports x4 mode)
1 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slot

Spoiler: PCIe bifurcation

PCIEX16_1
4(X4+X4+X4+X4)

PCIEX16_2
1(X4)

I'm asking which M.2 slot to use because I remember there is (was?) a thing when you use specific M.2 slots - it takes some PCIe lanes away from a GPU or something.
Currently I got a PCIe 3.0 GPU (plugged into PCIEX16_1) but I might get a PCIe 5.0 one and I don't really want to re-plug my M.2 SSD into a different slot.

The best manner to update is to connect it to a second NVMe port and update from another boot disk.

Currently I only have a SATA SSD. Should I plug the NVME one into the M.2_2 (M.2_3, M.2_4) slot anyway? Will Samsung Magician 7.3.0.1100 detect it and be able to update it before I format it?

 

[Ahhzz]

Spoiler: Storage

AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Desktop Processors
M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)
M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)
AMD X670 Chipset
M.2_3 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
M.2_4 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)

Spoiler: Expansion Slots

AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Desktop Processors
1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots (supports x16 mode)
AMD X670 Chipset
1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (supports x4 mode)
1 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slot

Spoiler: PCIe bifurcation

PCIEX16_1
4(X4+X4+X4+X4)

PCIEX16_2
1(X4)

I'm asking which M.2 slot to use because I remember there is (was?) a thing when you use specific M.2 slots - it takes some PCIe lanes away from a GPU or something.
Currently I got a PCIe 3.0 GPU (plugged into PCIEX16_1) but I might get a PCIe 5.0 one and I don't really want to re-plug my M.2 SSD into a different slot.


Currently I only have a SATA SSD. Should I plug the NVME one into the M.2_2 (M.2_3, M.2_4) slot anyway? Will Samsung Magician 7.3.0.1100 detect it and be able to update it before I format it?

that whole "takes lanes away" is dependent upon the board. What are you putting it in?

 

[ORLY]

Shared my specs.

 

[SPDIF]

You can use any slot you want, Samsung will see it and update it if any. You can boot from an SATA SSD no problem at all. Even an older version of Magician will update this.

You can run into problems with this older package because it also have windows drivers for some SSD build in. But they are only installed if you use like for example the RAPID or Full Power solution. It also contains drivers for the HMB solution if you have a Dram-less SSD.

Not that you need this, it just makes the SSD can't go to sleep for power saving. You will need a heat-sink if you choose the Rapid or Full power mode, it uses a lot of Power doing nothing, just burned away in to heat. It also shortens the life of the SSD because of the high temperatures.

 

[ORLY]

If the latest version 8.0.0 does not work, then de-install it first, don't forget to close the program in the taskbar. Then restart computer and then try install the new version again.

Spoiler: Did exactly that, two or three times. It starts and then closes non-stop.

 

[SPDIF]

Yes one can clearly see your system is blocking Magician. Magician tries to install drivers and a task that start at boot. But they stay in your memory because it can't be written to and saved. Some software is actively blocking the install. You should close anything not needed at start but Samsung Magician. Can be an AV or Windows defender memory protection, it can be other programs blocking Magician. But it is clearly blocked by something on your PC!

CMD, Conhost and Powershell all try write drivers and tasks needed, but they stay in your memory and are blocked by something, normally this flashes at your screen at install, in your case it stays locked in memory.

 

[sLowEnd]

I'm asking which M.2 slot to use because I remember there is (was?) a thing when you use specific M.2 slots - it takes some PCIe lanes away from a GPU or something.

That lane splitting is a limitation of Intel 12-14th gen. You have enough lanes to not have that problem. Your board’s 1st and 2nd m.2 slots run at 5.0, so you should use one of those slots.

 

[ORLY]

But they stay in your memory because it can't be written to and saved. Some software is actively blocking the install. You should close anything not needed at start but Samsung Magician. Can be an AV or Windows defender memory protection, it can be other programs blocking Magician. But it is clearly blocked by something on your PC!

CMD, Conhost and Powershell all try write drivers and tasks needed, but they stay in your memory and are blocked by something, normally this flashes at your screen at install, in your case it stays locked in memory.

They don't just stay, they constantly close and open, then close again, then open again, and it keeps happening till I either block either SamsungMagician.exe or the 32-bit version of PowerShell.exe, or just restart Windows.
Tried disabling my AV, tried starting Samsung Magician in Safe Mode, tried running it as SYSTEM and TrustedInstaller - it just can't perform something so it starts and exits over and over again in background.