[gentoo-user] mini-PCIe SSD

[gentoo-user] mini-PCIe SSD

[Grant]

I'm trying to use one of these mini-PCIe storage devices:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KWEA88

in a Gigabyte Brix mini-computer but there isn't a /dev/sd* entry for
it and it isn't in lspci.  Any ideas?

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] mini-PCIe SSD

[Daniel Frey]

On 09/07/2014 11:55 AM, Grant wrote:
> I'm trying to use one of these mini-PCIe storage devices:
> 
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KWEA88
> 
> in a Gigabyte Brix mini-computer but there isn't a /dev/sd* entry for
> it and it isn't in lspci.  Any ideas?
> 

This may be a silly question - if you have an early revision of one of
these, does the BIOS even support an SSD in the mini-PCIe slot? Maybe
there's a BIOS update? I see that the new revisions do in fact support
mini-PCIe SSDs, but that doesn't mean earlier revisions do.

I've read online that some manufacturers are using the mini-PCIe slot in
some devices but they don't adhere to the mini-PCIe specs, which means
if you plug something other than the card provided (like your SSD) it
won't work...

Dan

Re: [gentoo-user] mini-PCIe SSD

[Grant]

>> I'm trying to use one of these mini-PCIe storage devices:
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KWEA88
>>
>> in a Gigabyte Brix mini-computer but there isn't a /dev/sd* entry for
>> it and it isn't in lspci.  Any ideas?
>>
>
> This may be a silly question - if you have an early revision of one of
> these, does the BIOS even support an SSD in the mini-PCIe slot? Maybe
> there's a BIOS update? I see that the new revisions do in fact support
> mini-PCIe SSDs, but that doesn't mean earlier revisions do.


I just checked and I'm using BIOS version F2 which is the latest
available.  My hardware revision is v1.1.  It sounds like I may be out
of luck.  The device does have a SATA3 port but I was hoping not to
cram an entire 2.5" SSD in there to cut down on heat since it's
fanless.  Do I have any other options?

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] mini-PCIe SSD

[Daniel Frey]

On 09/07/2014 12:28 PM, Grant wrote:
> 
> I just checked and I'm using BIOS version F2 which is the latest
> available.  My hardware revision is v1.1.  It sounds like I may be out
> of luck.  The device does have a SATA3 port but I was hoping not to
> cram an entire 2.5" SSD in there to cut down on heat since it's
> fanless.  Do I have any other options?
> 
> - Grant
> 

Is it possible that the device is DOA? Can you check it on another
laptop (or another device with the mini-PCIe slot?

Alternatively maybe an adapter can be acquired to test it on a regular
PC. Maybe a USB -> PCIe mSata bridge adapter exists?

I have had DOA RAM and such before, although not on a SSD.

Dan

Re: [gentoo-user] mini-PCIe SSD

[Grant]

>> I just checked and I'm using BIOS version F2 which is the latest
>> available.  My hardware revision is v1.1.  It sounds like I may be out
>> of luck.  The device does have a SATA3 port but I was hoping not to
>> cram an entire 2.5" SSD in there to cut down on heat since it's
>> fanless.  Do I have any other options?
>>
>> - Grant
>>
>
> Is it possible that the device is DOA? Can you check it on another
> laptop (or another device with the mini-PCIe slot?
>
> Alternatively maybe an adapter can be acquired to test it on a regular
> PC. Maybe a USB -> PCIe mSata bridge adapter exists?
>
> I have had DOA RAM and such before, although not on a SSD.


I've been researching this a lot today and I think there is an
incompatibility between the Gigabyte 2807 and any mini-PCIe SSD.  Most
of those little SSDs are mSATA (although mine is PATA) and mSATA ports
are physically compatible with mini-PCIe but not electrically
compatible.  I could get a SATA to mSATA adapter and connect via my
SATA port, but even if the mSATA drive is then recognized, it is
unlikely that I would be able to boot from it.  I think this leaves me
with a full SATA SSD as the only option which is fine.  The Gigabyte
2807 is designed to work with them and even includes a bracket and
cable.  Surprisingly, my research has lead me to believe that an mSATA
SSD may actually generate more heat than a SATA SSD.

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] mini-PCIe SSD

[Grant]

>>> I just checked and I'm using BIOS version F2 which is the latest
>>> available.  My hardware revision is v1.1.  It sounds like I may be out
>>> of luck.  The device does have a SATA3 port but I was hoping not to
>>> cram an entire 2.5" SSD in there to cut down on heat since it's
>>> fanless.  Do I have any other options?
>>>
>>> - Grant
>>>
>>
>> Is it possible that the device is DOA? Can you check it on another
>> laptop (or another device with the mini-PCIe slot?
>>
>> Alternatively maybe an adapter can be acquired to test it on a regular
>> PC. Maybe a USB -> PCIe mSata bridge adapter exists?
>>
>> I have had DOA RAM and such before, although not on a SSD.
>
>
> I've been researching this a lot today and I think there is an
> incompatibility between the Gigabyte 2807 and any mini-PCIe SSD.  Most
> of those little SSDs are mSATA (although mine is PATA) and mSATA ports
> are physically compatible with mini-PCIe but not electrically
> compatible.  I could get a SATA to mSATA adapter and connect via my
> SATA port, but even if the mSATA drive is then recognized, it is
> unlikely that I would be able to boot from it.  I think this leaves me
> with a full SATA SSD as the only option which is fine.  The Gigabyte
> 2807 is designed to work with them and even includes a bracket and
> cable.  Surprisingly, my research has lead me to believe that an mSATA
> SSD may actually generate more heat than a SATA SSD.
>
> - Grant


For completeness, it might be possible to make use of an mSATA card on
this system by using one which has an onboard SATA controller (as the
Samsung ones are said to have) and booting over the network or to USB
as booting to miniPCI-E is unlikely to work.

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] mini-PCIe SSD

[microcai]

在 2014年9月7日 星期日 11:55:45，Grant 写道：
> I'm trying to use one of these mini-PCIe storage devices:
> 
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KWEA88
> 
> in a Gigabyte Brix mini-computer but there isn't a /dev/sd* entry for
> it and it isn't in lspci.  Any ideas?
> 
> - Grant


You need to have a ATA driver for that SSD if it is not based on AHCI.