Optiplex 7000 SFF - U.2 NVMe Issue

Question

Hi all

Whilst I'm aware that this is not a supported configuration, I'm trying to understand why it does not work.

Issue: Installing a StarTech x4 PCI-Express to SFF-8643 Adaptor for NVMe U.2 SSD Drives (PEX4SFF8643), the correct cabling and a Samsung PM9A3 Gen 4 7.68TB NVMe SSD, the machine fails to boot, in fact it appears to fail at POST, the system reboots and is stuck in this loop. After the first reboot, the power light LED remains white but pulses like it's in hibernation.

What I've Tried:

Flashing the BIOS to the current version 1.25.0, and also down-flashed to 1.24.0 but can't go any further back as its not allowed.

BIOS has been edited turning off C-States, setting graphics card to onboard.

Masking pins 5 and 6 of the StarTech card (SMBios fix)

None of this works.

What did Work:

Using an older Samsung PM1725a 3.2TB Gen 3 NVMe SSD worked, however, I'd rather not use this SSD as it gets extremely hot whereas the PM9A3 does not.

Installed the StarTech card, cable and individually tested the PM1725a and PM9A3 in my Precision Workstation 5820, computer POST'ed and disks presented fine in the OS.

I did consider that it may be a power issue, however, I no longer think this is the case as the PM1725a states 12v 2.5 amps, whilst the PM9A3 states 12v 1.7amps.

Conclusion:

There is clearly something specific with the Optiplex 7000 SFF that does not like this particular model of U.2 SSD.

As a stated before, I know this is an unsupported configuration and there is no need to lecture me on this, but I'm trying to understand if there is a known reason why it does not work or any potential work-arounds to get this PM9A3 to function in the Optiplex 7000 SFF. In my opinion there is no reason why this should not work in light of the other SSD working and both SSD's working in the Precision 5820.

Any input with this would be welcome!

Kind Regards

Colin

c.o.l.i.n.r · Answer

I should add thar I've tried the StarTech card in both PCIe slots and nothing is recorded in the system event log.

aphra6 · Answer

I'm having a similar problem.
Also using the Startech U2 (SFF-8643) to M2 PCIe x4 Host Adapter card (M2E4SFF8643) with a U2 cable to a removable hard drive caddy containg a SK Hynix PC801 1TB in Optiplex 7000's.
It all worked fine for about a year or so then there was a BIOS update (I think it was 26 or 26.1) and it would no longer see the hard drive. Rolling back the BIOS didn't work, restoring the BIOS settings didn't work. We've tried various BIOS setting combinations, all to no avail. Checked firmware etc.
The Optiplex 7000's that haven't doen the BIOS update are all fine so we've checked BIOS settings side by side with a working one and set them both the same, no joy. The working ones have done driver and firmware updates with no issues.
The NVMe does work if you install it directly on the motherboard so the drive itself is fine (unfortunately they can't be used out in the wild like thoat though).
We did try swapping the hard drive out for another Gen 4 and that didn't work either BUT a Gen 3 Samsung PM981a 256GB does work.
The StarTech adapter does say it's Gen 4 compatible so not sure what the problem is.
We have spent hours trying to figure out what changed to cause it not to see the hard drive anymore and have not come up with any solution except to downgrade to the smaller Gen 3 NVMes , which sucks.
I'd love to know whats going on.

c.o.l.i.n.r · Answer

@aphra6​ I still have not solved this. I'm watching a Gen4 PCI -> U.2 NVMe card on eBay, just not got around to buying it yet. I'm wondering if it's a compatibility issue with the StarTech card not liking a Gen4 U.2? Do you get the same issue as me where it turns on then gets stuck in a perpetual boot loop?

aphra6 · Answer

Yep, sounds like the exact same problem with the perpetual boot loop.
We've resorted to replacing the NVMe with gen 3 and having to rebuild several machines. Extremely frustrating seeing as they worked fine initially and now we've had to downgrade.
If you purchase the new card let me know how you get on. If I have any break throughs I'll let you know!

Optiplex Desktops

Optiplex 7000 SFF - U.2 NVMe Issue

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