How to check NVME driver for HBM capability?

Buddywh · Jan 23, 2023

Many of the new budget DRAM-less NVME drives use HBM - Host Buffer Memory - to set up a cache in host memory DRAM in a bid to approach performance of the more costly DRAM NVME drives. I'm right now awaiting one such drive to be delivered but I'm not sure exactly how this works.

A few questions:
Does the Standard NVM Express Controller driver installed with Win11 already support this or do I need to install something special?
If I need another driver will Windows Update download it, or do I need to install a special driver provided by the drive mfr? The mfr (Crucial) has one but they say it's really only needed to enable updating the drive firmware and there are no updates at this time.

Is there a setting I need to change in Device Manager for the drive, such as the setting for enabling Write Caching?

How can I verify it's operating? I've read that it can be a good idea to not use it if your system prone to crashes, or if power is unreliable to use an UPS, because any data in the buffer will be lost on unexpected shutdown. But I don't know how to turn it off, or if it's even possible.

Thanks for information or links to comprehensive FAQ's that are helpful.

PerpetualCycle · Jan 24, 2023

Yes the standard Microsoft nvme driver (StorNVMe) supports it. I am using it with my Samsung 980 with no issues.

NVMe Feature and Extended Capability Support - Windows drivers

Describes NVMe features supported by StorNVMe

learn.microsoft.com

Also, the later Intel Rapid Storage Technology raid/ahci storage drivers support it. I have also used those with my 980. I expect the AMD counterpart of this does as well.

Buddywh · Jan 24, 2023

geneo said:
Yes the standard Microsoft nvme driver (StorNVMe) supports it. I am using it with my Samsung 980 with no issues.

NVMe Feature and Extended Capability Support - Windows drivers

Describes NVMe features supported by StorNVMe

learn.microsoft.com

Also, the later Intel Rapid Storage Technology raid/ahci storage drivers support it. I have also used those with my 980. I expect the AMD counterpart of this does as well.

Yah...well...that suggests it's included in NVM Express v1.4...we're at v1.3 right now, at least on my motherboard and current NVME drives. But I did go looking for the v1.3 spec and found it! I does indeed include it in that version.

Even so, nothing I saw on that Microsoft Web page or the v1.3 spec tells me it's necessarily implemented in the Standard NVM Express Controller driver loaded by Windows and used by AMD's AM4 chipsets though... or at least nothing I can make any sense of does. I do not use Raid so do not load AMD's Raid drivers.

It does make me curious what the v1.4 spec change implements that's significant. Maybe it includes PCIe gen 5 support...which my board doesn't support.

PerpetualCycle · Jan 24, 2023

From the link I posted:

The column with "Yes" is the "StorNVMe Supported" column. As I said, StorNVMe is the name of the standard Mictrosoft nvme driver. It is implemented.

We are not "at nvme 1.3" now.:

nvme is the transfer protocol. I do not think the PCI-E version of a drive is tied to it.

If you are worried about HBM on an nvme 1.3 drive (are there?), it should be backwards compatible with 1.4.

Buddywh · Jan 24, 2023

geneo said:
The column with "Yes" is the "StorNVMe Supported" column. As I said, StorNVMe is the name of the standard Mictrosoft nvme driver. It is implemented.

We are not "at nvme 1.3" now.:
...
nvme is the transfer protocol. I do not think the PCI-E version of a drive is tied to it.

If you are worried about HBM on an nvme 1.3 drive (are there?), it should be backwards compatible with 1.4.

I did not know it was named stornvme since it's called "Standard NVM Express Controller" in Device Manager's storage controllers entry. I only now peered into the driver details tab to see the INF is indeed named "stornvme.inf".

Be we...I mean mine and my son's computers. I have a 980 Pro system drive and CrystalDiskMark tells me it's NVM Express 1.3, his 970 EVO is too. Why would that be? I note one of yours is a 980, the other is a PCIe gen3 drive on a gen4 bus (maybe the other way around) and they're both NVME 1.4 standard compliant. Is there a later version of the "StorNVMe" driver I need to somehow get? Why does Windows Update not take care of me if so? Might you possibly be on a Windows Insider build and that's why?

Buddywh · Jan 24, 2023

geneo said:
...

We are not "at nvme 1.3" now.:
...
If you are worried about HBM on an nvme 1.3 drive (are there?), it should be backwards compatible with 1.4.

OK...kinda freaky.

Samsung's published specs for a 980 Pro drive states it's NVME 1.3c. Their published specs for a 980 drive state it's NVME 1.4. I must say, I'm a bit surprised. So I guess I answered my question.

Thanks for your assistance, BTW. It may seem I'm confused but my question is a bit more basic now that there's some confidence HMB support is implemented in the driver (assuming I have the latest for Win11Pro), and the drive certainly will be capable according to it's published specs, how do I know it's ENABLED for the drive? One way would be to benchmark it both enabled and disabled and compare results.

jesseinsf · Jan 27, 2023

Buddywh said:
OK...kinda freaky.

Samsung's published specs for a 980 Pro drive states it's NVME 1.3c. Their published specs for a 980 drive state it's NVME 1.4. I must say, I'm a bit surprised. So I guess I answered my question.

Thanks for your assistance, BTW. It may seem I'm confused but my question is a bit more basic now that there's some confidence HMB support is implemented in the driver (assuming I have the latest for Win11Pro), and the drive certainly will be capable according to it's published specs, how do I know it's ENABLED for the drive? One way would be to benchmark it both enabled and disabled and compare results.

Here is Crystaldiskinfo for the 980 Pro

https://imgur.com/XbGg4og

Buddywh · Jan 27, 2023

jesseinsf said:
Here is Crystaldiskinfo for the 980 Pro
..

That's pretty much what I see for my 980PRO...except it's installed in a Gen 4 capable slot. I just assumed that since the 980 PRO is a Gen 4 drive it would be the latest (990 series aside) and compliant to the latest NVME spec as well as the Gen 3 980.

BTW, I have received and installed my Crucial drive (P3 Plus). I also installed the Crucial Executive software for managing the drive and found that it does indicate HMB status...which showed the drive was not using it. I had to also install a Micron NVME storage controller driver and then SE indicated it was present and enabled. The Micron driver was also required to set up over-provisioning.

jesseinsf · Jan 27, 2023

Buddywh said:
That's pretty much what I see for my 980PRO...except it's installed in a Gen 4 capable slot. I just assumed that since the 980 PRO is a Gen 4 drive it would be the latest (990 series aside) and compliant to the latest NVME spec as well as the Gen 3 980.

BTW, I have received and installed my Crucial drive (P3 Plus). I also installed the Crucial Executive software for managing the drive and found that it does indicate HMB status...which showed the drive was not using it. I had to also install a Micron NVME storage controller driver and then SE indicated it was present and enabled. The Micron driver was also required to set up over-provisioning.

It is a PCIe GEN 4 drive, but I use an Intel 9900k board which is only PCIe 3.0.

Sdodeezy · Mar 24, 2023

geneo said:
From the link I posted:

View attachment 50860

The column with "Yes" is the "StorNVMe Supported" column. As I said, StorNVMe is the name of the standard Mictrosoft nvme driver. It is implemented.

We are not "at nvme 1.3" now.:

View attachment 50861

View attachment 50862

nvme is the transfer protocol. I do not think the PCI-E version of a drive is tied to it.

If you are worried about HBM on an nvme 1.3 drive (are there?), it should be backwards compatible with 1.4.

Hi...how did you generate the top pic for Host Memory Buffer? Thanks

PerpetualCycle · Mar 24, 2023

Sdodeezy said:
Hi...how did you generate the top pic for Host Memory Buffer? Thanks

Using the windows snipping tool I captured the appropriate row of the table on the page I linked to.

Sdodeezy · Mar 24, 2023

geneo said:
Using the windows snipping tool I captured the appropriate row of the table on the page I linked to.

Thanks. Here is a screenshot of the info from my drive

My drive is using the Intel RST Controller 17.11.0.1000, as it won't boot with the Microsoft NVMe driver installed. Since the screenshot says I am using the Express 1.4 and I am on Windows 11, can I assume Host Memory Buffer is being utilized? Is there anyway to check it?

SIW2 · Mar 24, 2023

can I assume Host Memory Buffer is being utilized? Is there anyway to check it?

does samsung magician tell you ?

@Bree you might be able to advise a poster here Cloning a removed laptop HDD and restoring it on different laptop - Windows 7 Help Forums

PerpetualCycle · Mar 24, 2023

If you have the RST controller then you should have the Intel Storage management app. See at bottom right: HMB Supported = Yes

SIW2 · Mar 24, 2023

That is not very clear. Supported might not necessarily mean enabled/running.

PerpetualCycle · Mar 24, 2023

You should be able to boot it with the microsoft driver. What you can do is the following:

1. Set the computer to boot in safe mode.
2. reboot the computer and enter the BIOS.
3. Disable RST for the 980 in the BIOS

reboot into safe mode. That then should load the microsoft driver so after logging into safe mode, reboot normally.

PerpetualCycle · Mar 24, 2023

SIW2 said:
That is not very clear. Supported might not necessarily mean enabled/running.

It does.

PerpetualCycle · Mar 24, 2023

Also. HWInfo64 and Device manager:

Sdodeezy · Mar 24, 2023

geneo said:
If you have the RST controller then you should have the Intel Storage management app. See at bottom right: HMB Supported = Yes

View attachment 56253

Thanks...it is enabled. Device manager also shows Write caching enabled!

Sdodeezy · Mar 24, 2023

geneo said:
You should be able to boot it with the microsoft driver. What you can do is the following:

1. Set the computer to boot in safe mode.
2. reboot the computer and enter the BIOS.
3. Disable RST for the 980 in the BIOS

reboot into safe mode. That then should load the microsoft driver so after logging into safe mode, reboot normally.

Hi...I followed your advice. I set computer to boot into safe mode. I went into BIOS...did not see a way to disable RST, so I exited without making changes. The PC booted into safe mode. I went into MSCONFIG and selected Normal startup. Then I got this screen and I don't know what to do. HELP!!!!!!

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