Recent X299 models are restricting the use of bootable NVMe RAID 0 configurations.
Recent X299 models are restricting the use of bootable NVMe RAID 0 configurations.
I've owned an x99 with four M.2 drives for more than two years. Despite trying everything—from a standard installation to adding the new IRST—I still can't get a RAID 0 bootable drive to work. I've managed to set it up, but Windows won't boot or recognize it on the x99 platform. If you have a reliable method without purchasing a RAID card, please let me know.
I found this discussion while trying to fix issues with RAID 0 M.2 drives (EVO 960s) on an MSI x299 board. Once configured, the BIOS reports it's bootable, yet Windows 10 doesn<|pad|> to recognize it. After checking online for about 20 minutes, I haven't located a fix—just a handful of people seeming to have solutions.
Install the driver at the Windows installation stage. Download f6flpy-x64.zip to a USB drive. Follow the provided link for details.
VROC is expected to back more than just Intel SSDs. They'll need to work with a broader range, including QVL drives and products from Samsung and others. This is due to VROC relying on Intel's NVME driver, which limits their willingness to fully validate other brands' hardware.
It's noteworthy that the PC-World review highlighted Intel-only support. I’m confident you’re correct; Samsung and other NVMe devices can operate nearly fully with Windows drivers. Until VROC is released and we confirm compatibility with non-Intel drives, I’ll pause on investing in x299 boards. The other updates I’ve picked up suggest Intel now lets you set up a bootable RAID 0 via the BIOS using IRST, and Windows can be loaded onto it. However, it seems Windows struggles to recognize the drive after setup and installation. So far, no reviews confirm successful booting of non-Intel NVMe drives with VROC or the chipset. I suspect Intel’s rapid rollout left MB manufacturers unprepared for VROC, contributing to these issues. Many boards include a dongle socket that doesn’t match any real dongle. I’m also eager for the Asus Apex, which should support both VROC RAID and standard RAID on its DIMM slots—acting like RAM modules.