The installation was easy and flawless! The CrystalDiskMark test results and app performance....priceless (see pictures below)!!
This is a real worth while upgrade!
Caveats:
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-- Made No Changes to DELL BIOS settings!
-- Ran CrystalDriveMark benchmarks on full up system (116 background processes and 83GB of drive C: populated with OS and Apps) but with anti-virus and firewall switched: OFF
-- Installed Samsung Magician 4.9.5 (it uses 10% unallocated space). The jury is out on this since Rapid disk is not supported for this device.
-- Drive C: is UEFI by Acronis partition restore noted below.
Instructions and/or recommendations:
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1. Run CrystalDriveMark (free download: http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskMark/index-e.html) and benchmark the existing drive C:. save the results!!
2. Download the Samsung NVMe Driver first from Samsung site: [...]
3. Make an image backup of current Boot drive (in my case the LITEON M.2 OEM SSD). I used Acronis TI 2016 (all partitions),
4. Shutdown system, unplug and open case (one screw), if you have a non-Boot HDD plugged into SATA-0, move it to another free SATA port (this is just insurance),
5. Assemble NVRe SSD onto the Lycom PCIe 3.0 adapter. Secure with included screw (it fits just fine),
6. Install the PCIe Storage assembly into one of the free PCIe 3.0x4 slot (I used the unused 16-bit slot but you can use the free short slot too),
7. Plug in system and power-up,
8. Press F2 to get into DELL BIOS setup. check the MOBOard slots and make sure Mass Storage device is populating a slot (should be OK)
9. Restart the system. You should get a system notice to GPT initialize the new NVRe SSD, initialize it.
10. Now is a good time to install the Samsung 950 Pro NVRe driver you downloaded previously,
11.Check Disks in the device manager. You should see the new Samsung NVRe device and it should be working,
12. I created the needed partitions on the Samsung NVRe SSD using "Minitool Partition Wizard FREE", they are as follows:
Partition #1: FAT32, Size 500MB, No Label (this is the EFI system partition)
Partition# 2: NTFS, Size 462GB, Label "OS"
Partition# 3: NTFS, Size 450MB, Label "WINRETOOLS"
partition# 4: NTFS, Size 12.7GB, Label "Image"
!!!! DON'T USE DRIVE LETTERS !!!! Select none for new partition drive letters
13. From within Windows 10 (pro), startup Acronis TI 2016 and perform a full restore from OEM LITEON SSD to Samsung 950 Pro NVRe. I did this from OEM SSD because it had the new Samsung NVRe driver installed after Image backup was performed.
14. When restore is completed, shut down system, unplug system power, ground yourself, open case (if not opened), remove Nvidia Card and power connector,
15: Remove the OEM LITEON SSD by removing m.2 small screw to MOBOard, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT BOOT FROM OEM SSD!
16. Reinstall Nvidia card and power connector and bracket,
17. Plug system power back in and power up. The 1st boot will take a little while,
18. If all goes well...you'll be at the Windows 10 logon prompt.
19. Re-install the case cover.
Attached images:
--My system overview (using speccy)
--Before CrystalDiskMark benchmark result
--After CrystalDiskInfo result
--After CrystalDiskMark Result
| Brand | Lycom |
|---|---|
| Series | XP941 |
| Item model number | DT-120 |
| Hardware Platform | Mac |
| Item Weight | 3.98 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 4.13 x 1.97 x 0.71 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 4.13 x 1.97 x 0.71 inches |
| Manufacturer | Lycom |
| ASIN | B00MYCQP38 |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | August 22, 2014 |
