Proper Drivers for NVME SSD - Storage Controller

mccnavy · Oct 15, 2022

I just upgraded from a Samsung M.2 SATA to WD SN770 on an older computer. After failure to boot...new drive after cloning likely didn't have proper driver, Windows Repair added the "Standard NVME Express Driver" in addition to the previous Intel Chipset SATA/PCIE RST Premium Controller. I assume the Intel controller is required for the 2.5" SATA drive I still have installed for storage. Anyways, is there a better driver than the Standard NVME? I know Samsung made one specifically for their drives, but WD doesn't seem to have one...at least not listed on their support page(s). What are optimum and required drivers for these two drives...or is the existing configuration (Intel, Standard NVME, and Microsoft Storage Spaces) correct? Thanks.

Drive 1: WD SN770
Drive 2: Crucial MX200 SATA

cereberus · Oct 15, 2022

mccnavy said:
I just upgraded from a Samsung M.2 SATA to WD SN770 on an older computer. After failure to boot...new drive after cloning likely didn't have proper driver, Windows Repair added the "Standard NVME Express Driver" in addition to the previous Intel Chipset SATA/PCIE RST Premium Controller. I assume the Intel controller is required for the 2.5" SATA drive I still have installed for storage. Anyways, is there a better driver than the Standard NVME? I know Samsung made one specifically for their drives, but WD doesn't seem to have one...at least not listed on their support page(s). What are optimum and required drivers for these two drives...or is the existing configuration (Intel, Standard NVME, and Microsoft Storage Spaces) correct? Thanks.

Drive 1: WD SN770
Drive 2: Crucial MX200 SATA

I use the Intel IRST drivers for my two nvmes.
One is an Intel Optane drive, and other is a WD drive.
I am not aware you need the IRST drivers for SATA drives.

In the end, if pc works now, then "if it ain't broke. don't fix it".

mccnavy · Oct 15, 2022

If I already had the IRST driver (and it says PCIE in title) then I'm curious why it didn't boot the first time until I ran Windows Repair and that is when the Standard NVME Express showed up.

cereberus · Oct 15, 2022

mccnavy said:
If I already had the IRST driver (and it says PCIE in title) then I'm curious why it didn't boot the first time until I ran Windows Repair and that is when the Standard NVME Express showed up.

No idea. There are a lot of combinations out there.

Only think you can do is try each driver in turn and keep with one that works.

Berton · Oct 15, 2022

Don't know if this is any help but from my year-old Dell Vostro 3400 Notebook:

PerpetualCycle · Oct 15, 2022

mccnavy said:
If I already had the IRST driver (and it says PCIE in title) then I'm curious why it didn't boot the first time until I ran Windows Repair and that is when the Standard NVME Express showed up.

On my board you have to enable IRST for an nvme drive in the SATA section of the BIOS, otherwise it will use the Microsoft standard NVME driver.

If you are switching between IRST and Microsoft or Samsung drivers on the boot drive, on the first boot you may need to go into safe mode. Once that is done you can boot normally from safe. This avoids the repair.

BTW, the RST drivers work great on nvme drives.

SIW2 · Oct 15, 2022

I just upgraded from a Samsung M.2 SATA to WD SN770 on an older computer. After failure to boot...new drive after cloning likely didn't have proper driver

phison driver seems to work with all nvme disks. Not sure if it will be any better than the standard windows 11 supplied driver. From win raid forum

I haven't tried installing them after the os has been installed. I always integrate them into the wim image.

65.8 KB file on MEGA

mega.nz

or you could try the WD nvme drivers

1.31 MB file on MEGA

mega.nz

476.3 KB file on MEGA

mega.nz

mccnavy · Oct 15, 2022

I went to Intel RST web site and downloaded the RST drivers...the f6flpy file that many folks use to enable Installing Windows on Intel boards when Windows fails to find SATA/NVME drivers. I was able to get that driver (Intel NVME) to replace the Standard one. I looked at the above WD drivers but they didn't have the SN770 listed. FWIW, I ran CrystalDiskMark again...identical performance numbers between both the Intel and the Standard drivers. While drive is PCIE 4, my Asus z270 board is PCIE 3. I think it is performing well for PCIE standards...Sequential read and write scores of 3563 MB/s and 3373 MB/s respectively....except...the Intel Drivers seem to prevent WD Dashboard from identifying the drive.

bobkn · Oct 15, 2022

I'm curious about the drivers posted by "SIW2".

My boot drive is a WD SN850 NVME. I have the WD "Dashboard" software installed. (I don't let it load at startup.) The drive uses the standard Microsoft NVME drivers. No others are offered.

I haven't tried running the installer to see what would happen.

johnlgalt · Oct 15, 2022

My 980 Pros are also using the Microsoft driver, but my rig is AM4 based, not Intel.

mccnavy · Oct 15, 2022

johnlgalt said:
My 980 Pros are also using the Microsoft driver, but my rig is AM4 based, not Intel.

Thanks...that helps...to see that the Microsoft "Standard NVM Express Controller" isn't uncommon.

Winuser · Oct 15, 2022

My old desktop has a Samsung SSD 970 EVO NVMe drive and uses the Standard NVM Express controller, and I haven't had any problems. When I first bought it the NVMe slot had an Intel Optane Memory module that never got used.

bobkn · Oct 15, 2022

mccnavy said:
Thanks...that helps...to see that the Microsoft "Standard NVM Express Controller" isn't uncommon.

Based on what's available for download from Samsung, the 970 Pro uses a custom driver. The 980 Pro, standard MS driver.

glasskuter · Oct 16, 2022

Same scenario here with a Hynix Nvme boot drive using Micrsoft driver plus Intel IRST.

ArchangelRenzo · Feb 1, 2023

The lamest part about seeing Microsoft's default Standard NVM express controller is that the driver date is 2006. The driver version is 10.0.22621.755

I didn't even know they had SSD's back then.

Wolfzz · Feb 1, 2023

With all my computers (Samsung NVMe 980 Pro) I just use the default Microsoft generic drivers and never had a issue.
Ive also read somewhere that the generic drivers seem to be more stable and its one less thing to worry about when it comes to drivers.

BrianInEngland · Feb 1, 2023

Wolfzz said:
With all my computers (Samsung NVMe 980 Pro) I just use the default Microsoft generic drivers and never had a issue.
Ive also read somewhere that the generic drivers seem to be more stable and its one less thing to worry about when it comes to drivers.

DirectStorage will only work with the standard MS NVMe driver, something else to bear in mind when the feature is available

pparks1 · Feb 1, 2023

I'm running WD SN 750's in my son's box and my wife's box, and an SN850 if my box, all are using the Microsoft driver and are working great. Benchmarks right where it is supposed to. No sense in messing with it if it's not broke.

MoKiChU · Feb 1, 2023

Hi everyone,

@ DIY/Motherboards users (all, not only ASUS) :

I see that a lot of people make the mistake of enabling Intel Rapid Storage Technology in their BIOS when they don't need RAID, I think a little reminder is in order :

Before or since Intel 6xx series chipsets : Intel Rapid Storage Technology enabled in your BIOS = RAID mode (whatether a RAID is actually needed/created or not). So if you don't plan to do a RAID, do not enable Intel Rapid Storage Technology in your BIOS.

Since Intel 6xx series chipsets : SATA Controller and/or PCIe SSDs mapped under VMD in your BIOS = Intel Rapid Storage Technology automatically enabled in your BIOS = RAID mode (whatether a RAID is actually needed/created or not). So if you don't plan to do a RAID, do not map SATA Controller and/or PCIe SSDs under VMD in your BIOS.

Also, I repost this from my thread which will allow you to see more clearly as to the drivers used depending on the case :

MoKiChU said:
Hi everyone,

As reminder, there are certain things to know since Intel 6xx series chipsets.

Before Intel 6xx series chipsets :

- SATA HDDs/SSDs in AHCI mode use Intel SATA AHCI Driver ("Intel(R) xxx Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller" in your Device Manager) or Microsoft built-in driver ("Standard SATA AHCI Controller" in your Device Manager).

- PCIe SSDs in NVMe mode use Microsoft built-in driver ("Standard NVM Express Controller" in your Device Manager, recommended for DirectStorage/RTX IO) or vendor specific NVMe Controller Driver (if there is one for your SSD).

- SATA HDDs/SSDs (& PCIe Intel Optane SSDs) in RAID mode (Intel Rapid Storage Technology enabled in your BIOS) use Intel SATA RAID Driver ("Intel(R) Chipset SATA/PCIe RST Premium Controller" in your Device Manager).

Since Intel 6xx series chipsets :

VMD disabled in your BIOS :

- SATA HDDs/SSDs in AHCI mode use Microsoft built-in driver ("Standard SATA AHCI Controller" in your Device Manager).

- PCIe SSDs in NVMe mode use Microsoft built-in driver ("Standard NVM Express Controller" in your Device Manager, recommended for DirectStorage/RTX IO) or vendor specific NVMe Controller Driver (if there is one for your SSD).

VMD enabled in your BIOS (Default) :

- SATA HDDs/SSDs in AHCI mode use Microsoft built-in driver ("Standard SATA AHCI Controller" in your Device Manager) + Intel VMD Driver for Intel VMD Controller device ("Intel RST VMD Controller xxxx" in your Device Manager).

- PCIe SSDs in NVMe mode use Microsoft built-in driver ("Standard NVM Express Controller" in your Device Manager, recommended for DirectStorage/RTX IO) or vendor specific NVMe Controller Driver (if there is one for your SSD) + Intel VMD Driver for Intel VMD Controller device ("Intel RST VMD Controller xxxx" in your Device Manager).

- SATA/PCIe HDDs/SSDs in RAID mode (Intel Rapid Storage Technology enabled in your BIOS) use Intel VMD Driver for Intel VMD Managed Controller & Intel VMD Controller devices (Respectively "Intel RST VMD Managed Controller xxxx" & "Intel RST VMD Controller xxxx" in your Device Manager).

/!\ SATA Controller and/or PCIe SSDs need to be mapped under VMD to use RAID mode with SATA/PCIe HDDs/SSDs /!\
(this will automatically enable Intel Rapid Storage Technology / RAID mode if it wasn't already)

You might wonder why ASUS has enabled VMD by default, and what is the point of enabling VMD if not using RAID ?

Because VMD provides certain features usable even without using RAID, like error isolation from the Host OS, hot-plug and surprise removal support, standardized LED Management ... (hence the fact that Intel advises OEMs to enable VMD by default when VMD is present).

glasskuter · Feb 1, 2023

MoKiChU said:
So if you don't plan to do a RAID, do not enable Intel Rapid Storage Technology in your BIOS.

It is my understanding that beginning with Intel 11th generation and forward CPUs, IRST has to be enabled whether one uses raid or not. It is a requirement of the CPU. I know for a fact that when doing a clean install of windows the drives will not be detected during install until the user inserts the pre-installation IRST driver(formerly called F6 driver) into as part of the install process.
See readme file here Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Installation Software with Intel® Optane™ Memory (11th up to 13th Gen Platforms)

see Dell instructions here Intel 11th and 12th Generation Processors, No Drives Can Be Found During Windows 10 and Windows 11 Installation | Dell Antigua and Barbuda

confirmed by HP instructions here HP PCs - No drives can be found during Windows 11 or Windows 10 installation (Intel 11th Generation processors) | HP® Customer Support
All other manufacturers have similar articles in their knowledge base.

As a side note, some OEM computers with even earlier CPUs require the IRST driver as well during install before any drives will be recognized. As an example my 10th gen i9 Optiplex does.