M.2 Ssd, Pcie Ssd, And Nvme Ssd Installation Steps - EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 Installation Manual

EVGA X299 Micro ATX 2 (121-SX-E296)

M.2 SSD, PCIe SSD, and NVMe SSD Installation steps

M.2 is a versatile card module form factor that uses multiple connecter types to connect
many types of devices, such as WiFi or SSDs, in a very small and power efficient package.
The PCIe interface allows for very high speeds for demanding storage applications. M.2
devices can be connected via an M.2 card slot or through PCIe by using an M.2 to PCIe
adapter. There are also PCIe native drives of this nature, such as the Intel
stands for Non-Volatile Memory Express, and is a high-performance standard for
M.2/PCIe SSDs. Most NVMe drives require device drivers during the Operating System
installation to be recognized as a boot drive for M.2 or PCIe varieties.
M.2/PCIe share resources with other components on the motherboard, which may limit
some hardware combinations. PLEASE SEE THE CHARTS ON PAGE 22 FOR A
DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF SHARED RESOURCES.
M.2 Physical Installation
1. Please see Page 30 for M.2 physical installation instructions.
PCIe Physical Installation
1. Install the SSD into any available PCIe slot with at least x4 Lanes available (Gen3
Lanes are preferred for better speed, but Gen2 Lanes will still outperform the top
end of SATA SSDs).
a. Please refer to Page 22 under PCIe Lane Breakdown for lane specifics,
as the PCIe slot must be at least x4 electrically.
2. Attach the SSD's mounting bracket to the back of the case.
3. Native PCIe drives will not normally require a separate power or data cable
attached; all power and data transfers are done through the PCIe slot.
BIOS Setup/Windows Installation for M.2/PCIe NVMe SSDs
1. Remember, NVMe is a new standard and older operating systems do not have
native support. Many NVMe drives require certain steps to make the drive
bootable, even with current operating systems.
PLEASE FULLY READ THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT COME WITH
YOUR M.2 or PCIe NVMe SSD BEFORE INSTALLATION.
2. After reviewing your SSD's instructions and its respective Physical installation
instructions above, power on the PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI by pressing the
F2 key repeatedly.
3. Once in BIOS/UEFI, navigate to the "BOOT" section. Then go down to the
"CSM Configuration" heading and press enter, or click on it with your mouse.
750. NVMe
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