Question 1

How do I install Microsoft Windows 7 on a PCIe NVMe SSD?

Accepted Answer

Both Windows 10  and Windows 8.1 systems provide native support to PCIe NVMe SSDs, with drivers included in the packages to support PCIe NVMe drives.The new Ubuntu and other Linux versions also come with drivers that support PCIe NVMe drives.
 
The addlink PCIe NVMe SSD goes with any standard Windows (8.1 or above), Intel iRST or Linux NVMe drivers. You do not need a special driver to install the OS on the SSD.
 
The native Windows 7, on the other hand, does not recognize or work with PCIe NVMe SSDs. Nor does it come with in-box drivers. If you wish to install the Windows 7 system on a PCIe NVMe SSD, please refer to the link below, or consult Microsoft for information.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2990941/

Question 2

Do addlink NVMe M.2 SSDs work with any M.2 slot?

Accepted Answer

There are different types of M.2 slots. A "B-Key" enables SATA or PCIe NVMe SSDs using up to 2 PCIe lanes, while an “M-Key” enables NVMe SSDs with the use of up to 4 PCIe lanes. 
 
Performance of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSDs leveraging PCIe x4 lanes is roughly twice as high as with PCIe x2 lanes, so the vast majority of mainboards today support "M-Key" slots with 4 lanes. This is the solution supported by addlink NVMe SSDs, and works in the majority of M.2 slots.
 
Please check the type of M.2 (M or B Key) slots available on your mainboard by reading the user manual or contacting your system vendor.

Question 3

X70 lighting control cannot sync with Gaming system issue

Accepted Answer

addlgame X70 has already been test and verified.  It can be compatible with the most of gaming system such as MSI, Asus, ASRock, and Gigabyte. 
However, sometimes, the utility of the gaming system is been updated, and cause addgame x70 module cannot be synced with the system.  
So, if you have the sync problem, please make sure your system utility version is update to the latest version as below links.
https://www.msi.com/Landing/mystic-light-rgb-gaming-pc/download
http://www.asrock.com/support/index.asp?cat=Utilities
https://www.asus.com/supportonly/Armoury%20Crate/HelpDesk_Download/
https://www.gigabyte.com/MicroSite/512/download.html
After updating the utility, if there is still have problem, please contact us.   
https://www.addlink.com.tw/technical-support
https://www.facebook.com/addlinktechnology/
TEL：886-2-8797 3116

Question 4

Do addlink NVMe M.2 SSDs work under Linux?

Accepted Answer

addlink NVMe SSDs are compatible with Linux.

Question 5

How should a NVMe M.2 SSD be installed on a PC?

Accepted Answer

Installation of addlink NVMe M.2 SSDs is essentially plug-and-play. Simply insert the NVMe SSD in an M.2 PCIe slot, tighten the SSD in place with the screw and spacer provided by your mainboard manufacturer, and boot up your system from an external source before proceeding with a fresh install of your operating system. Windows has an in-box driver that ensures your addlink NVMe SSD is operational from the start.

Question 6

Can I move data from an HDD or SATA SSD to a addlink NVMe M.2 SSD?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It is possible to clone a SATA HDD or SATA SSD to an NVMe SSD. addlink, however, recommends performing a "clean install" of the OS and later transferring the desired non-executable files. 
 
Because the registry information needed for NVMe SSDs is different from those of SATA HDDs or SSDs, a clean install helps to avoid unnecessary compatibility and performance issues that may arise from simply cloning a storage device.

Question 7

Can I plug a NVMe M.2 SSD in a traditional PCIe slot?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many add-in-card adapters exist, but for optimal performance and compatibility addlink recommends using an original M.2 slot for your NVMe SSD.

Question 8

My system is a little older and I'm not sure if addlink M.2 PCIe is compatible. Is there a compatibility list?

Accepted Answer

There is no general compatibility list. As a rule of thumb, all systems or motherboards with Intel 99/100 series chipsets should support NVMe out of the box. Systems with Intel's 97 series of chipsets may also have received updates enabling NVMe support. At the time of writing (12/2017), most AMD platforms on the market are a little outdated and don't have M.2/NVMe support out of the box. Some systems or motherboards may have received updates to enable NVMe support for PCIe add-in cards. To use a M.2 PCIe as a non-bootable storage device, NVMe BIOS/UEFI support is not required. As of today, no hardware compatibility issues are known.
 
We highly recommend checking with the system or motherboard manufacturer to verify if NVMe support is present:

Question 9

Will addlink M.2 PCIe work in any M.2 slot?

Accepted Answer

addlink M.2 PCIe will work in any M.2 slot that supports PCIe NVMe. Not compatible are systems that use M.2 with only legacy SATA or PCIe AHCI. mSATA slots, which are easily mistaken for M.2 slots, are incompatible as well. The same is true for M.2 WWAN slots which are usually compatible with wireless WAN modules only.

Question 10

Can I use addlink M.2 PCIe in a MacBook (Pro) with M.2 slot?

Accepted Answer

No, Apple utilizes proprietary slots that will not work with standard M.2 drives.

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