Main SSD Cloning for 950 PRO Upgrade

LunaStrike
LunaStrike Member Posts: 1 New User

i need help with upgrading my main OS lite on ssd to 950 pro nvme ssd?

how to clone because the nvme can only be installed on the first slot?

Answers

  • beststevie
    beststevie ACE Posts: 506 Pioneer

    https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/download/tools.html

     

    there is a mirgration tool from samsung, as well as the samusung nvme driver. The driver should be installed at first, to make the samsung bootable. 

     

    I personally did a backup (Paragon) of the running system and restored it to the sammsung, but don't forget this driver thing before.

  • AJ-KW
    AJ-KW Member Posts: 68 New User

    I still need information about the second slot, if i swap my SSD from main slot to second one, can i still boot it? because if this trick works, i'll be able to clone it back to main SSD, thank you!

  • ChevyCam94
    ChevyCam94 Member Posts: 178 Skilled Fixer WiFi Icon
    You can't just take the LiteOn SSD from the bottom slot and move it to the top slot. Its a different "key" style (m = top, b = bottom). So no, you can't move it. But if you get an SSD that is a "b+m key", it can go in either.

    But don't have both in at the same time, if they are cloned. As far as I know, the BIOS doesn't allow you to select which slot to boot from.
  • simonpatterson
    simonpatterson Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter

     

    You can't just take the LiteOn SSD from the bottom slot and move it to the top slot. Its a different "key" style (m = top, b = bottom). So no, you can't move it. But if you get an SSD that is a "b+m key", it can go in either.

     

    Yes you most certainly can. I have done it. I am typing this on a G9-791 with a 512Gb Samsung 950 Pro in the bottom slot and the original 128Gb LiteOn in the top slot.

     

    The only 2 issues you will have are keeping the LiteOn drive held down due to it being an 80mm drive and the 'slot' being 110mm long. I used a peice of card and some adhesive tape to hold it in place.

     

    The other issue is getting it to show up in the BIOS. It won't, but it will show up in an OS installer and will still boot.

     

     

  • ChevyCam94
    ChevyCam94 Member Posts: 178 Skilled Fixer WiFi Icon

    I stand corrected.  That is a "b+m" key afterall.  I must have not seen that part.

  • simonpatterson
    simonpatterson Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter

    The 80mm slot is 'M' keyed, the 110mm slot is 'B' keyed.

     

    The difference between the keys is what interfaces the SSD supports.

    'B' key means the SSD supports SATA3 or PCIe x2.

    'M' key means the SSD supports SATA3 or PCIe x4, which is the magic that makes NVMe so fast.

     

    A B+M keyed card will fit in either slot. The LiteOn is B+M keyed. It will fit in either slot because it can use SATA3 through either the 'B' or 'M' configuration but can't use PCIe x4 because it has the 'B' part of the connector missing.

     

    The 950Pro is 'M' keyed so will only fit in the bottom 80mm slot. It is 'M' keyed because it only works through PCIe x4 using the 'M' configuration.

     

    It is confusing, read up on it here wikipedia entry for M.2

  • ChevyCam94
    ChevyCam94 Member Posts: 178 Skilled Fixer WiFi Icon

    LunaStrike, how did the upgrade go for you?  If you have it working, would you mind doing a couple benchmarks for me?  Id like the same SSD, but want to know what actual performance it will have.