NVMe PCIe SSD boot support in Z820

[scarr500]

Regarding the post on the BIOS seeing the drive, the SM951 NVME version does not have the OPROMS needed to be seen by the BIOS (that I am currently aware of). The AHCI version of that same card is bootable but is not NVME (not confusing I know). The only NVME drives I am aware of with the OPROMS are in my post - Samsung 950 and Intel 750. Many people had to put the drivers onto the Windows USB and load them during the process for the install to work correctly. I apologize if there was confusion.   

[modusdesign]

Is it possible to boot from toshiba ocz 512 rd400  for z820?

[Foinix]

If anyone know somethink about HP planns to add support for NVMe in Z820?

[MtothaJ]

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@Foinix wrote:

If anyone know somethink about HP planns to add support for NVMe in Z820?

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Some NVMe drives are already supported e.g. Samsung 950 Pro NVMe with a m2 -> PCIe adapter works fine (tested in Z420), I am assuming its successor, the 960 Pro would also work.  

[Foinix]

I have a Samsung SM951 NVMe 256GB with PCI-E adapter and it working fine but only as data storage. BIOS doesn't see it so... I can not boot Windows from this...

[soccer_dan]

there are no plans we know of to go back and add Z Turbo Drive G2 (NVME controller-based) boot support to Zx20 series workstations. That capability was included with the current generation Zx40 series

[Foinix]

Why not? Is it so complicated? 

[MtothaJ]

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@soccer_dan wrote:

there are no plans we know of to go back and add Z Turbo Drive G2 (NVME controller-based) boot support to Zx20 series workstations. That capability was included with the current generation Zx40 series

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Samsung 950 Pro shows up in the Z420 in HP Performance Advisor as a Z Turbo Drive G2 (NVMe) - no need to go back and add a functionality which is already present.

[Foinix]

But how to boot a Windows from a NVMe disk if BIOS can not see this ?

[MtothaJ]

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@Foinix wrote:

But how to boot a Windows from a NVMe disk if BIOS can not see this ?

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Mine boots to Windows just fine. The main thing is that when you install Win 10 Pro from USB in UEFI mode that the drive shows in the Windows installer and allows Windows to be instaleld to the drive. At this point it is useful to install the Samsung NVMe drivers. The Windows  NVMe drivers will also work, but performance is much better on the Samsung ones.

I can't speak for other drives, but if you want one that works I suggest looking at the Samsung 950 Pro (have this one in the Z420 as I am writing this and can 100% confirm it works as a boot drive). 960 Pro is probably also fine.