Only one NVMe SSD is functioning in a particular port.
Only one NVMe SSD is functioning in a particular port.
Details: Motherboard model MSI Mag x670e Tomahawk wifi with newest BIOS (5/12/2024). SSD options include WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X NVMe 2TB with heatsink, SSD, CPU, and AMD Ryzen 7800x3d. Power supply is EVGA SuperNOVA 850G+ Modular 80+Gold 120-GP-0850-X1. I recently assembled a new PC but encountered an odd problem. Initially, two SSDs were connected—one in the main M.2 slot and another in the secondary slot. After booting, the older SSD worked perfectly, while the new WD SSD failed to appear in the BIOS or Windows Disk Manager. I assumed the first M.2 slot was faulty, so I swapped the Intel into the first slot and the WD into the second. Both were detected afterward. I attempted to format the WD SSD in Windows and reinstall it in the first slot, but nothing changed. The issue remains unresolved; the LED doesn’t light up in the first slot, only in the second.
It looks like the M.2 slot connected to the CPU might actually be PCIe 3.0, not 5.0. However, some boards handle PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives in the CPU-mounted slot as well. The earlier mention of up to 5.0 might be an error, and it seems support for PCIe 4.0 is more common depending on your CPU model.
They likely refer to December 5th, 2024, but it ensures you have the most recent updates. Edited on January 26, 2025 by leclod
In America, dates are shown as month day year, not day month year.
I suspect a power delivery problem because the SSD won’t power on in that slot, though the older model does. The refurbished board has some bent or broken pins, but I went with the seller’s word. Could the damaged motherboard parts affect only the Gen 4 SSD and not the Gen 3 one?
This is really frustrating. I tried everything I could—adjusted all BIOS settings, tested every M.2 slot, restarted multiple times, even used my old computer to check compatibility. I even pulled out my old machine just to confirm this new SSD wouldn’t cause problems with direct CPU connections. I was worried it might be a big hidden issue affecting performance for years.
Turns out MSI has a long-standing problem with this exact board and this exact SSD pair, which hasn’t been fixed in over a year. It was wild to realize I’d never searched for both parts together before. I thought I’d save time, but it actually took me hours.
After downgrading my BIOS to version 7E12v14 (as suggested by a Reddit thread), the problem disappeared instantly—no changes needed. This bug has remained unresolved across multiple BIOS updates and nearly a year and a half since the last patch.
I’m considering skipping future motherboard refurbishments, returning this unit for a refund, or buying a new board. I don’t want to risk performance issues down the line. I hope finding a compatible SSD now will be easier.
Thanks for all the help!