Will Optane SSD 905P 380GB work with Windows 7 64bit (OS TRIM / SSD Toolbox)?

[GChri13]

I see there is a driver for windows 7 and Firmware Update Tool also supports this drive, but in SSD Toolbox only 905P 480GB & 960GB are listed as valid products. Will SSD Toolbox also work for 905P 380GB? Will Windows 7 TRIM work with this drive? Will 905P 380GB work with motherboard ASUS WS-C422PRO_SE? Thank you.

[JosafathB_Intel]

Hello GChri13,

Thank you for contacting Intel® Memory & Storage Support.

The Optimizer feature is intended for NAND flash SSDs, so this is not needed for Optane SSDs. You can refer to the first paragraph in the User Guide for Intel MAS (https://downloadmirror.intel.com/29337/eng/Intel_Memory_And_Storage_Tool_User%20Guide-Public-342245-001US.pdf) for further information.

·      Please keep in mind that in the case of Optane™ products (like your 905P), the Optimizer is not needed since this feature is oriented toward NAND based storage solutions, and your drive uses 3D XPoint™. 

Windows 7*, Windows 8*, Windows 8.1*, Windows Server 2008*, and Windows Server 2012* have the TRIM command enabled by default.

If you're using Windows XP* or Vista*, the Intel® SSD Optimizer identifies deleted files, and communicates that information to the SSD. Intel SSD Optimizer is part of the Intel® SSD Toolbox.

·      For TRIM to function, both the SSD and operating system must support TRIM, and be enabled in the operating system. 

Note:  Only SSDs with drive lithography of 34 nm (G2) or newer support the TRIM command. 50-nm SSDs aren't supported.

For further information, please visit the Learn about the Advantages of TRIM and How to Use It with Your Intel® SSD article (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000006462/memory-and-storage/data-center-ssds.html)

Regarding your questions, about compatibility:

·      The Intel® toolbox should be able to detect and work with all the Intel® Optane™ SSD 905P Series models, no matter the capacity. 

·      Concerning compatibility between the Intel® Optane™ SSD 905P Series and your motherboard ASUS* WS-C422PRO_SE, we can not assure compatibility, and we advise you to contact the motherboard manufacturer support, to get further information about compatible and tested SSDs for your board. 

We hope you find this information helpful, and please let us know the outcome of the compatibility consultation with your motherboard OEM (original equipment manufacturer).

Josh B.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

A Contingent Worker at Intel®  

[JosafathB_Intel]

Hello GChri13,

We were reviewing your community thread, which is related to the Intel® Optane™ SSD 905P Series, and we would like to know if you were able to check our recommendations about Trim.

Have a nice day.

Best regards.

Josh B.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

A Contingent Worker at Intel®

[GChri13]

Hello Josh,

Yes, with Trim is everything clear, thank you.

I have also contacted ASUS about the compatibility and the answer was, that WS-C422PRO_SE has not been officially tested by Asus with the Intel® Optane™ SSD 905P Series  and there is not any further official information referring to the compatibility and performance.

What is your opinion, how possible is it that Intel® Optane™ SSD 905P 380GB will not work with this (or any like this) motherboard?

Best regards.

[JosafathB_Intel]

Hello GChri13,

Thank you for your reply.

I will base my opinion on the specifications of both products.

In the case of the Intel® Optane™ SSD 905P Series based on https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/148607/intel-optane-ssd-905p-series-380gb-m-2-110mm-pcie-x4-20nm-3d-xpoint.html. The Interface necessary for this drive to perform in optimal conditions will be a PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4.

Based on the OEM website, the WS C422 PRO/SE motherboard (https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/WS-C422-PRO-SE/specifications/) has the following M.2 ports:

1 x M.2 x4 Socket 3*2, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)

1 x M.2 x4 Socket 3*3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode)

*2 Bandwidth is shared between M.2_2 and U.2.

*3 SATA Bandwidth is shared between M.2_1 and SATA6G_1

I do not see any reason why this port may not receive the Intel® Optane™ SSD 905P Series, regarding behavior or performance we can not assure full compatibility, because not even your OEM have tested this configuration, and at this point, the testing process needs to be run by yourself.

If you decide to test this configuration, we advise you to work with your OEM and to check your motherboard manual (https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/WS-C422-PRO-SE/HelpDesk_Manual/) to be sure that the M.2 port you want to connect your SSD is not sharing bandwidth with any other drive, since this may cause unknown detections and performance issues, please let us know the results and findings, because it may help other community members in the future.

We will be looking forward to your reply.

Best regards.

Josh B.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

A Contingent Worker at Intel®

[JosafathB_Intel]

Hello GChri13,

We were reviewing your community thread, which is related to the Intel® Optane™ SSD 905P Series, and we would like to know if you were able to review our previous post.

Have a nice day.

Best regards.

Josh B.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

A Contingent Worker at Intel®

[JosafathB_Intel]

Hello GChri13,

We have not heard from you since your last post 7 days ago, please, let us know if you need further assistance related to your Intel® Optane™ SSD 905P Series, and if you were able to check the compatibility with your OEM.

We will be looking forward to your reply.

Best regards,

Josh B.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

A Contingent Worker at Intel®

[GChri13]

Hello Josh,

sorry for the delayed answer. I have asked ASUS, if they have tested any Intel® Optane™ SSD with any similar motherboard, but they could not tell, without to know the motherboard (I should look in QVL's of some motherboards separately). In my question, what could go wrong, since specifications are OK, they answered, that BIOS incompatibilities may be possible.

Do you maybe have any list with compatible/tested ASUS motherboards?

Best regards.