Introduction:
Originally this thread had been started by our Forum member felix, who was not able to get his Samsung SM951 AHCI SSD bootable with his AMD Chipset mainboard Crosshair 5 Formula-Z (you can find his post within the Annex part of this post).
Since we meanwhile know how to solve this problem, I decided to hijack his start post and to offer here some informations, which may be useful for users with a similar problem.

The problem:
Generally it is possible to use a PCIe or M.2 connected SSD with older PC systems with an UEFI BIOS, but as soon as the user tries to boot off such SSDs to get benefit from their performance potential, the frustration begins: The SSD is not available as bootable drive disk, because the required BIOS modules are missing within the original BIOS versions and the mainboard manufacturers usually are not willing to add them.

The solution
The simple solution is, that the user adds the missing BIOS module himself.
After having searched a long time for a universally usable Samsung EFI module, which is compatible with the big majority of UEFI BIOS systems, it was our Forum member xelanaiznac, who found a module named SAMSUNG_M2_DXE within a BIOS, which had been modded by the ASRock Support, and tested it successfully with his ASUS Rampage IV Extreme. You can find his report >here<.
According to several reports given by other users and according to my own test results (look >here<), the simple insertion of this special Samsung M.2 BIOS module into the UEFI BIOS of the user's mainboard will solve all the boot problems.

Download Link
You can download the already on various systems successfully tested Samsung M.2 EFI module from here:

• >Samsung M.2 AHCI EFI BIOS Modul named SAMSUNG_M2_DXE.ffs< (>MIRROR<)

Zitat

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I received an Sm951 AHCI version for testing from a friend. I also received the HyperX Predator adapter to use with (M.2-to-PCIE)
I am now trying to make it boot in my Crosshair 5 Formula-Z, with latest bios. I've tried Win7 x64 and Win8.1 x64 from a UEFI USB.
Both OS's failed, whichever setting i change in BIOS. The disk isn't even recognised in BIOS, but should be shown as "Windows Boot Manager" entry in Bootable Media List after successful UEFI installation.
I have also tried to mod the latest v2201 bios, with the Samsung_M2_DXE module from ASRock 990FX Fatality Killer and ASRock Z97 Extreme6 to no success. When i open the BIOS in EZ Flash, i get a "Security Scan Failed".
Any thoughts ?

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And this was my reply:
@ felix:
Thanks for your interesting report.

Zitat

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I have also tried to mod the latest v2201 bios, with the Samsung_M2_DXE module from ASRock 990FX Fatality Killer and ASRock Z97 Extreme6 to no success. When i open the BIOS in EZ Flash, i get a "Security Scan Failed".

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Questions:
1. How and at which place did you insert the BIOS modules?
2. What did you do to avoid the MSI mainboard BIOS security scan failure?

@ Tasate:
Welcome at Win-RAID Forum!

Zitat von Tasate im Beitrag #23

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Trying this on Asus Maximus Hero VI and updated BIOs using EZFash2.

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Zitat

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Driver placed in wrong section?

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Where did you insert it?

Regards
Dieter (alias Fernando)

Zitat von MacGyverSG1 im Beitrag #128

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I'm looking to modify my MAXIMUS V EXTREME Z77 BIOS to allow booting Windows using a Samsung SM951 (AHCI or NVMe version) installed in PCI-E adapter. Do you have any recommendations which Z97 board would best match the MVE?

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Zitat

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Some people have said the AHCI version of SM951 should work without any modification, but that is not the case. The SM951 does not have a boot loader built in.

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The latest BIOS of my ASRock Z97 Extreme6 contains an EFI module named "Samsung_M2_DXE", which I have attached to this post. Maybe it will help you to get the Samsung SM951 bootable.

Zitat von MacGyverSG1 im Beitrag #130

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Do you think I would only need to add that Samsung_M2_DXE module or are there others that also need to be updated/added?

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Zitat

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I'm pretty new to BIOS modding, so I might need a little guidance.

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The insertion of an originally not present UEFI module into a BIOS is very easy. You can find a short guide within the start post of >this< thread.

@ MacGyverSG1:
Since your recent discussion about the Samsung SM951 using the AHCI protocol matches better this thread than >this< one, I have moved the related posts.

Zitat von lordkag im Beitrag #33

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This is NVMe support thread and I see one, two, three links with AHCI SM951. The first one seems like the appropriate place to talk about AHCI and SM951.

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Zitat

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I may have some ideas, but it requires a tester equipped with bravery and a backup method, like programmer or spare BIOS chip. Given the fact that from all the users who asked for NVMe, it was the one who needed the least that actually tested the proposed modding - Fernando, I won't go into further details until a brave user assumes the position of tester, with all the risks and unwanted consequences.

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I would be able to do some tests with my Samsung XP941 M.2 card and my still existing Z68 system. The only thing I would need is an M.2>PCIe adapter. On the other hand it may be even better, if an owner of a Samsung SM951 and an Intel 6-Series Chipset mainboard would do the tests.
What is your opinion?