M 2 new articles. SSD M2 - what is it

Good day.

For several years now, debates about the benefits of using SSD drives - now it is recommended to install it for everyone: not only professional gamers or programmers, but also ordinary users. The advantage in disk performance is colossal: 5-10 times!

However, there are now quite a lot of SSD drives of varying sizes (note: form factor): if with SSD form factor 2.5 inches (classic size, looks just like hard drive) there are not many questions, but with the “newfangled” SSD M2 there is real confusion!

Actually, in this article I wanted to look at the most basic things about SSD M2 drives: which drive is right for me, what interface is used, what kind of 2242, 2260, 2280 they are and the “M”,” “B”, “B&M” keys on the drive labeling. ..

Choosing an M2 SSD drive: clearing up the confusion

In many new laptops and computers, the new M2 connector is increasingly appearing on the motherboard (which is not surprising!). After all, it replaced the interfaces: mSATA, mini PCI Express.

And here I would like to immediately note the advantage of the M2 interface: it allows you to do without power cables, separate cables, etc. (in fact, it allows you to connect devices simply by inserting a card into the slot!). In addition, it is smaller than the same mSATA. All this combined allows the M2 to be used in more mobile and compact devices, making it more convenient and popular.

I’ll add that M2 can also be used for installation Wi-Fi adapter, 3G/4G modems, Bluetooth module, and other devices. (Note: many people simply assume that M2 is used exclusively for SSDs)

By the way!

The M2 interface was at one time called NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor). In some stores and some drive manufacturers you can find M2 SSDs with this marking.

What is the confusion?

1) SATA and PCIe

The M2 format, of course, is undoubtedly promising, but everything about it is not simple. I’ll say right away that it is divided into two large type: SATA and PCIe (and each of these types is divided into several subtypes).

Why was this done? M2, as I said above, was conceived as a universal interface that will replace the outdated mSATA and mini PCIe. But the fact is that the throughput of SATA III is 6 Gbit/s, and the SSD M2 PCIe drive is capable of operating speeds of up to 32 Gbit/s (you must agree, the difference is significant!).

I'll add that M.2 PCIe varies in speed depending on the number of lanes. So, for example, PCI Express 2.0 with two lines (designated PCI-E 2.0 x2) provides speeds of up to 8 Gbit/s, PCI Express 3.0 with four lines (PCI-E 3.0 x4) provides the coveted 32 Gbit/s.

The whole point is that most devices (say, laptops) support only one type of disk, for example, SSD M2 SATA III. Those. when choosing, you need to be very careful about what the device supports (but a few more words about that below).

2) Drive dimensions 2242, 2260 and 2280

Another important point: M2 drives (both SATA and PCIe) - can be of different sizes. There are three of them: 2242, 2260 and 2280.

The first two digits (22) are the width of the drive, the second (42, 62 or 80) are its length (see the screenshot below as an example).

The bottom line is that different motherboards support different drive sizes. And if a disk of shorter length can still be inserted into the slot, then if it is longer, it’s a disaster...

However, I note that now there are universal disks on sale, 80 mm long, which you can independently cut to the desired length (note: all the necessary microcircuits are located at a length of 42 mm).

3) Keys

Keys refer to contacts and their location on the drive. There are three types of keys: "M", "B", and the universal "B&M" (illustrative example below). Before purchasing a disk, you need to know which key is supported by your device.

Drives with different keys, a good example

Keys on SSD M2 drives: interface, mechanical compatibility, diagram

The whole point with these keys is that, for example, mat. a board with a PCIe x2 socket uses the “B” key, but there are M2 SATA SSD drives that also use the “B” key! Of course, if you connect such a drive to a motherboard with a PCIe x2 socket, it will not work!

4) NVMe technology

Old drives use the AHCI protocol, but with the advent of faster drives, it no longer copes with its task (does not allow using the maximum speed characteristics of drives). To solve this problem, a new protocol has been released - NVMe.

It provides higher speed, requires less CPU resources for read/write operations, and has much lower latency. So that your SSD can work with this protocol, pay attention to whether your mat supports. fee for this technology.

Results (what to know before purchasing an SSD M2, so as not to be "fooled"):

1. what interface does your motherboard support (PCI-E 2.0 x4, PCI-E 3.0 x2, PCI-E 3.0 x4, SATA III);
2. dimensions of the SSD M2 drive that can be installed (2280, 2260, 2242);
3. a key that your motherboard supports (usually, SATA drives come with an “M&B” key, and PCIe x4 drives come with an “M” key);
4. Is the mat supported? The board uses NVMe technology (if so, then naturally, and the drive is worth buying with NVMe support).

Only after answering these few questions can you do SSD selection M2 that will work for you.

Update from 01/27/2019. Now laptops (and motherboards) with universal ports, to which you can connect both PCI-E and SATA M2 SSDs.

Is the game worth the candle? Should I switch to SSD...

Many people often ask whether it’s worth switching to an SSD at all, is the difference really that significant...

As an example I will show comparative test several disks installed on my laptops/PCs. The first test is SSD M2 (NVMe), the second is SSD M2 (SATA III), the third is a classic HDD.

Speed ​​test of SSD drives (NVMe, SATA), HDD | Clickable (Crystal DiskMark - test utility)

Note! On the screenshots you see synthetic tests. IN real work(when loading the OS, launching games, working with software): many of ordinary users note the huge difference between HDD and SSD (SATA), but hardly notice between SSD (NVMe) and SSD (SATA).

Pay attention to the first line. Read speed 2591 MB/s versus 73 MB/s - a difference of 30÷35 times! Those. if earlier, before SSD installation(NVMe), Windows booted within 1 minute - now it takes less than 10 seconds!

I'm not even talking about other programs: Word, browsers, players, etc. - they launch instantly, immediately after double-clicking the mouse on the shortcut!

Addition!

How to check disk speed: HDD, SSD. Test to determine the difference in speed between SSD and HDD, is it worth switching to a solid-state drive? -

How do I know which M2 SSD my motherboard supports? fee, what to choose

A very popular question. To begin with, I want to say do not trust any utilities to view PC characteristics. The fact is that they may show the presence of an M2 slot, but in fact it may not be on the board (i.e. there is a place on the board for it, but there is no physical slot)!

And so, closer to the point...

1) Option number 1 - look at the mat itself. board

If on your mat. The board has an M2 connector - in most cases there is a marking next to it, from which you can find out the necessary information (example below). In addition, immediately make sure that this connector is physically present (which is important to do before purchasing a drive).

2) Option No. 2 - look on the manufacturer’s website

Knowing the model of the motherboard (or laptop), you can go to its manufacturer’s website and look at the specifications. By the way, some motherboards are now being made universal, which can support several types of SSD M2 drives (for laptop users in in this case less fortunate, because they most often support one specific type).

Characteristics of the mat. boards on the manufacturer's website

3) Option number 3 - watch the review specific laptop(mat. boards).

Many stores and users (who have already purchased this hardware) often do reviews, from which you can glean the necessary data. However, I recommend that you also support them with the first two options (since to say, see with your own eyes).

Additions are welcome...

In our enlightened age, many have heard about SSD drives, without going into much detail. Unlike traditional hard drives, which have only a couple of form factors – 2.5 “and 3.5”, there is a greater variety of standard sizes.

This is due to the wider range of applications of solid-state drives: the hard drive is used in desktop PCs and laptops, but SSDs can already be installed in a tablet and even a top-end “shovel recorder”.

Today we’ll talk about the difference between ssd and ssd m2: is this difference so fundamental and what? practical benefit the user can extract by giving preference to a certain part.

A little about SATA in relation to SSDs

Serial interface SATA data transfer, developed in 2003, replaced the outdated IDE on hard drives. Having successfully changed three revisions, it still holds a leading position. It is not surprising that with the advent of the first SSD drives, it migrated here as one (but not the only!) of the interfaces.

One of the disadvantages in relation to SSDs is that the phenomenal speed of memory cells, in this case, is limited by the transfer speed of the CATA interface. Yes, solid state drive You can also connect it to an old motherboard that still uses SATA ports of the first revision, but the user will not notice a noticeable increase in performance.
On the other hand, this is convenient for minor computer upgrades: there is no need to purchase additional adapters. As a rule, even a computer with a pair of hard drives and an optical drive still has free SATA slots.

Features mSATA and M.2

mSATA is a relatively new form factor for solid state drives. In addition to their dimensions, they differ in the connection method: such drives are plugged into a mini-PCIe slot. Except physical compatibility, an electrical one is also required, that is, the supply of the necessary voltage. Usually the manufacturer directly indicates this in the documentation for the motherboard.

The same is true for M.2 drives that are connected to the PCI-Express slot. There is one caveat: most motherboards There is only one such connector, and usually it is already occupied by the video card. There is a high probability that a minor upgrade will not work and, on top of everything else, you will have to buy a new “mother”.

However, when building a computer from scratch, M.2 is a good option for connecting an SSD.

What is its advantage? Such drives are theoretically ten times faster than traditional SATA in data transfer speed. In practice, even triple the speed - and your computer “flies” even when running the most fashionable games (of course, if the processor and video card also match).

Delving into the description of an M.2 solid-state drive, you can also see strange sets of numbers - for example, 2242, 2260 or 2280. Everything is simple here: these are its physical dimensions. 22 is the width, that is, 22 mm, which corresponds to the width of the PCIe slot. The remaining two numbers are the length in millimeters.
When choosing such a drive, you should correlate this value with the dimensions of the system unit case: if its form factor does not match the length of the SSD, in order for the drive to fit, you will have to either change the case or “upgrade” the existing one using metal scissors. From an aesthetic point of view, this solution looks disgusting.

If you still doubt whether you need such a device at all or whether it’s better to use a hard drive “the old fashioned way,” I advise you to read the publications “” and “”. I hope I clearly explained what is needed.

And for those whom I have already convinced, and who will soon go to the store for a new disc, the rating will be useful solid state SSD drives that you find.

Personally, I recommend paying attention to the “traditional” Kingston UV500 2.5″ 3D TLC or "unconventional" Western Digital Green SSD 120GB M.2 2280 SATAIII 3D NAND(TLC) (WDS120G2G0B).

Greetings to all, dear readers of the blog site! In 2002, the SATA interface appeared, which is now used to connect the vast majority hard drives and SSD. Over the past 16 years, it has been updated three times, while maintaining backward compatibility. In 2009, a compact version of this interface appeared - mSATA, which is located directly on the motherboard.

Support for Connector m2 on motherboards began in 2013. In terms of its purpose, it is very similar to mSATA, however, it allows you to bypass the bandwidth limitation of the SATA interface. Since the mSATA standard is based on SATA 3, its throughput is only 600 MB/sec, while modern SSDs already operate at speeds of 3000 MB/sec and higher.

This is what an SSD looks like in the M2 form factor

Using the M2 connector, you can install not only an SSD in your computer, but also other ngff devices: Wi-Fi cards, Bluetooth, NFC and GPS expansion cards. With this type of connection, you will get rid of numerous wires running from the drive to the motherboard. Thus, you will save space inside the system unit, improve its cooling and simplify maintenance.

SSD drives, using the m2 connector, look like strips RAM- are just as thin and are inserted directly into the computer motherboard. It is noteworthy that initially the m 2 connector was used in laptops and netbooks, because their cases are thin enough to install full-size devices there. Then, the m2 connector began to be found on regular motherboards - on stationary PCs.

Connector m 2 uses an interface type such as PCI Express to communicate with the motherboard. Just don’t confuse it with the PCI Express connector itself, of which there may be several and which are located below the video card connector and are present even on older motherboards. This is a little different, although there are SSDs that connect via a PCIe port. And here’s what the M2 connector looks like on the motherboard:

Peculiarities

SSD drives designed for the M2 connector are available in different sizes: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. The first two digits indicate the width, and the next two indicate the length (in millimeters). The longer the strip, the more chips you can place on it, and the greater the disk capacity. Despite such a variety of form factors, the most popular is 2280.

The m2 connector on modern motherboards may have different positions. We are talking about some “keys”. Again, we can draw an analogy with RAM strips: DDR3 memory differs from DDR2 in the location of the keys - small cutouts in the strips and the slots themselves, respectively. Same here, small cutouts can be located on the left and right sides of the port.

Connector m2 can have two keys: B and M. It turns out that they are not compatible with each other. However, you can find motherboards with a B + M (combined) connector. In addition to the PCIe interface, the m2 port also supports SATA mode. But the speed is SATA mode will be significantly lower than in PCI Express. The keys usually determine what type of interface will be used.

In ordinary hard drives(HDD) controller communicates with operating system via the AHCI protocol. But, this protocol is not able to use all the capabilities of modern solid-state drives. This prompted the emergence of a new protocol called NVMe. The new protocol is characterized by low latency and allows you to perform more operations per second, while minimizing the load on the processor.

How to choose m2 SSD

When purchasing an SSD drive operating via the m2 interface, be sure to pay attention to the following things:

• Port size m2. Select a disk so that it can be installed in the motherboard, so that nothing rests anywhere.
• Key type - B, M, or combined. Both the motherboard and the SSD drive itself must have compatible keys. SATA m2 SSD drives are usually available with “M+B” keys, and PCIe m2 SSDs are available with “M” key.
• Interface version and number of lines: PCI-E 2.0 x2 has throughput 8 Gbit/s, and PCI-E 3.0 x4 - 3.2 GB/s.
• Which interface is supported - PCI Express or SATA. Of course, PCIe looks preferable because it allows you to work at higher speeds. The possibility of installing an M2 SSD in SATA mode should be indicated in the instructions for the motherboard.
• Support for the NVMe protocol is desirable. If it is not there, then AHCI will do.

An SSD drive that meets all the parameters will be much faster than one connected simply via SATA ports. This solution may be required in games and programs that require the disk to high speed read/write. The best option there will be a drive using the PCIe version 3 interface with four lanes and the NVMe protocol.

Hi all!

M2, SATA, PCI Express - Which is better?

Before answering this question, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the terminology.
Let's start with the simplest and most familiar - What is an SSD?

Solid-State Drive - This is a method of storing data. That is, if we talk about a hard drive, we mean that the data is stored on round magnetic plates, and if we talk about an SSD, then it is assumed that they are contained on memory chips.

Form factor

They are the same size as 2.5 inches hard drives, but since this is an SSD, there are memory chips inside the case on which the data is stored.

The whole thing is connected to the motherboard using a SATA connector.
There are also more exotic options, such as M2 drives.
These are thin, long and essentially bare boards on which those same chips are visible.

This is the same SSD drive, only using a connection type/connector called M2. There are also PCI Express drives, although often these are the same M2 drives that are simply inserted into an adapter to PCI Express and all of this is sold in one set.

Protocol and interface

Everything became clear with the sizes and types of connections. It remains to study such a thing as the protocol. In simple terms This is a technology for communicating between the drive and other computer components and in particular the processor.
The most common 2.5-inch SATA SSDs use the AHCI protocol, which was developed quite a long time ago for the use of hard drives and, as a result, has limitations. Self SATA connection also limited to 550-600 MB/s bandwidth.

It was precisely in order to bypass these speed limitations that PCI Express and M2 were invented, although they still use or emulate AHSI, but due to the new interface they have much higher bandwidth than their predecessors.

Also relatively recently, the NVMe protocol was developed, which can transmit up to 65,000 queues, while AHSI only 32 queues.

It's time to move from words to action and look at a comparison of interfaces:

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

1. Small size. Even fairly small SSDs, compared to HDDs, require separate space in the case personal computer, M2 fits almost tightly to the motherboard, making it suitable even for laptops that do not have space for standard SSDs.
2. Versatility. SSDs with the M2 form factor can be connected via SATA and PCI-E, or into their own M2 connector. With regular hard or solid state drive You can't do that.
3. High performance and low resource consumption. As most tests show, the M2 interface is indeed superior to the usual SATA, and also requires less energy.
4. No additional food. For standard disks needed additional cable from a 15Pin power supply, not for M2.

Flaws:

1. Difficulty in compatibility with computers.
   Before purchasing an M.2 SSD, you must make sure that your motherboard supports this connector. To do this, you need to know whether the connector itself is present on the board, and then the compatibility of a particular drive and board. You also need to know the length of the SSD and check if it suits you.
2. Overheat.
   Long-term recording to disk heats up the chip to very high temperatures. high temperature, because of this, the controller is triggered, which slows down the recording speed in order to cool down. This problem does not arise so often, but manufacturers have already begun to produce drives with external cooling in the form of radiators.
3. Price
   Previously, M.2 SSDs cost an order of magnitude higher than their counterparts on a SATA interface, but in 2018 the situation has leveled off quite quickly and in the middle price segment (8-14 thousand rubles) M.2 drives cost only 2000-3000 thousand more expensive than their predecessors.
4. Guarantee
   If you're thinking of choosing an expensive drive to save for the future, be sure to ensure that your device has a long warranty. IN lately Almost all famous manufacturers - for example: Samsung, Intel, Plextor, Western Digital provide several years of warranty

Conclusion

To summarize, I would like to say that the M2 interface, and in particular NVMe technology, is a new standard to which all manufacturers will switch.

Movement is life. But this very old saying has more than just a biological meaning. It also applies to soulless things. For example, to computer technology: the level of productivity is growing all the time, new interfaces appear that are oriented towards this growth.

The SATA interface recently turned eleven years old. During this time, it was updated twice while maintaining backward compatibility, while the transfer speed increased fourfold. About five years ago, a compact version of the interface appeared: the drive was installed in a special slot on the motherboard.

Let's start with a little background information, followed by the M6e family of drives and a review of the Plextor M6e.

A little history

Although the mSATA interface was positioned as a mobile interface, some manufacturers began to install it on regular motherboards. And Gigabyte was the most active in this direction, which not only placed mSATA connectors, but also installed SSDs themselves in them.

Maternal Gigabyte board The GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD was equipped with an Intel 311 20 GB solid state drive.

Then other manufacturers gradually began to catch up. Now their aspirations have reached the point where motherboards Ah, two mSATA connectors began to appear, as, for example, on the ASRock Z87 Extreme11/ac, a review of which will soon be published in the laboratory. A bit overkill from my point of view, but oh well...

In general, using mSATA is quite convenient: the solutions are compact, no cables are required, and nothing hangs loose in the case. However, due to a number of reasons (primarily the higher cost of models in the mSATA format), this format has not gained popularity in “desktop” systems. But he found it in his mobile phones.

However, for people seeking compactness, this format is a godsend: a mini-ITX motherboard, an IvyBridge or Haswell generation processor with compact system cooling, mSATA drive, corresponding case - you get a completely complete and logical, and also very productive (with the appropriate CPU) working system.

However, as noted above, there is a need to increase speeds, and there is a limit to everything. And there was talk about SATA 6 Gb/s that it was “too slow”. mSATA also came under fire for the company. But now manufacturers have taken into account their past mistakes: new interface data transfer was invented in two versions at once: mobile and desktop. In relation to mobile version the controller in the system logic set was not replaced with another (as was the case, say, with IDE and SATA), but simply thrown away altogether, at the same time saving on development and chip area. In general, we killed two birds with one stone here. And modified SATA controllers remained only in the desktop segment.

The new standard implies a change in size: mSATA comes in two sizes (Full Size, 51 x 30 mm, and Half Size, 26.8 x 30 mm), while M.2 suggests four, the smallest of which is 42 x 22 mm. But at the same time, M.2 is exactly a millimeter thinner, and the especially compact one is even thinner – exactly twice as thin as mSATA.

The company is by no means the first in the field of producing solid-state drives in M.2 format; its range has already been expanded by Super Talent (NGFF DX1 and NGFF ST1), Crucial (M500 NGFF), KingSpec (M.2 NGFF Ultrabook), MyDigitalSSD (Super Cache 2 M .2) and Intel (530 M.2). But Plextor was actually the first to popularize this format among the masses in a “desktop” version: everything that was released earlier was focused exclusively on industrial use - assembling mobile devices.

The M.2 interface was not developed for the “desktop”, its destiny is really compact mobile devices, and for conventional systems SATA Express is offered. In fact, the relationship between them is the same as now between mSATA and SATA: the first is very compact and is installed in a small socket on the board, the second is much larger in size and requires a separate seat in the case and two supply cables (interface and power).

It’s worth noting right away: you don’t need to consider M.2 a connector purely for storage devices. M.2 is pure PCI-E, just in a different form factor. Accordingly, everything your heart desires will be produced under this standard: Wi-Fi, WWAN, GPS and other expansion cards. Manufacturers of these devices will not need to worry about developing new controllers; they will only need to change printed circuit board and the device itself, bringing them to a new format.

Therefore M.2 and SATA Express, although they can be used to install drives, they have some differences. M.2 is universal. SATA Express is focused only on data storage devices. Although it also has some versatility, it’s not for nothing that the interface actually consists of three connectors - one power supply and two interface: two regular SATA devices can also be connected to SATA Express.

ASUS Z97-A motherboard: four SATA and one SATAe - in total you can connect up to six regular SATA drives.

The unpleasant thing is that models with SATA interface Express is simply not on sale yet. It got to the point that ASUS was forced to order the development of a special device called ASUS Hyper Express from Kingston to test motherboards with the new interface. It looks like a regular 2.5” form factor drive, inside of which there is a board with a special controller and two mSATA connectors.

At the time of writing this material this device did not yet officially exist, but by the time of publication, photographs of it should surface online. And M.2 is it. And it already appears on retail motherboards (for example, my colleague Ivan_FCB I recently reviewed the board ASUS Maximus VI Impact with such a connector, and another colleague wildchaser the other day I reviewed the ASUS Z97-DELUXE, based on the Intel Z97), although so far it’s rare.

You don't need to be a visionary to understand the obvious truth: the familiar SATA and mSATA will very soon be written off and disappear from motherboards. And they will be replaced either by M.2 (more precisely, it is already beginning to displace mSATA) and SATA Express (SATAe), or something else will be invented: manufacturers need to continue to increase the numbers on the labels, and traditional SATA has already exhausted its potential in this direction.

New to Plextor: M6e Family of Drives

Plextor has been teasing its fans and simply interested potential buyers for a long time: back in early September last year, at the IFA2013 exhibition in Berlin, it demonstrated engineering samples of its new generation drives. Then they periodically appeared at various presentations, attracting the attention of lovers of all sorts of new products.

And so, on January 9 of this year, at CES 2014, Plextor made an official announcement. But the M6e did not go on sale then. Sales began a little less than a month ago - in early April. Finally, those who want to have the opportunity to purchase a new product. But “opportunity” does not mean “go and buy it.” In relation to Russian retail, even in Moscow you can only purchase a 256 GB modification, and even then not everywhere.

And the 128 and 512 GB versions have not yet reached retail. That's right: the Plextor M6e family of drives consists of only three models.

Specifications

It should be noted that already now the retail cost of the 256 GB modification is much lower than the recommended one - price tags start at about 10 thousand rubles (or $280). However, even this price is too high for this volume: for this amount you can purchase a 512 GB solid-state drive in both the usual 2.5” form factor and mSATA. Novelty comes at a price.

Packaging, equipment, external inspection

The Plextor M6e model is offered in a rather large box in a rich red color that attracts attention.

The back of the packaging describes general characteristics models and provides speed parameters for the entire M6e family.

Yes, as has long been the case, the box is universal for the entire line and the individual features (in this case, the indication of the device’s volume on the front side of the package) are just an additional sticker. Separately, in more than two dozen languages ​​(including Russian), it is emphasized that the drive is fully compatible with motherboards with both UEFI and the old AMI/AWARD BIOS. But this will be checked separately, since I have a stock of various motherboards (even Socket 7, if any of the readers still remember that).

The scope of delivery is very modest, although the Plextor product is packaged well.

The entire free volume of the box is occupied by foamed polyethylene. There is a booklet on top warranty service and installation instructions, and under the separator is the Plextor M6e itself, packaged in an antistatic bag.

That's all, actually. There is nothing else in the box. It would be nice, of course, if the manufacturer included a bar for installing the drive in low-profile system units. Yes, powerful gaming systems, for which the M6e is positioned, as a rule, are located in full-fledged cases, but not everyone who needs a high-speed SSD is a gamer with a couple of video cards in their PC.

Autopsy, hardware component

The Plextor M6e drive comes immediately assembled, and what’s more, the company protected itself from using the adapter separately by installing a warranty seal.

That's right. What we have in front of us is not a single complete device, but two separate and completely independent ones, but united together by the company’s forces. And they can be used separately if you don’t mind breaking the seal and voiding the warranty on the drive.

But in this case there are no warranty obligations, so the sticker will not become a hindrance.

You can even delete everything altogether. By the way, you can glean a lot of interesting information about it from the sticker on the device itself.

Are given serial number, model name and volume, a sea of ​​logos of various certificates and notifications. The supply voltage and maximum current are indicated. Also found is a mention of LiteON, printed small print, is a real device manufacturer that fulfills Plextor orders. And Shinano Kenshi is the real owner of the company and the trademark Plextor.

With the labels removed, the device will appear before us in all its glory. And thanks to a simple Phillips screwdriver, it can be disassembled.

Actually, the drive itself is a narrow, elongated board.

Once installed in the seat, it is turned with its back side towards the user. As a result, only half of the installed NAND memory chips and the controller’s buffer memory are visible. The controller itself, like the other half of the chips, is located on invisible side fees.

This is Marvell 88SS9183-BNP2 with hardware support PCI-E versions 1.1 and 2.0 (will work in 3.0 slots, but in 2.0 mode). Uses two PCI-E 2.0 lanes. That's right: although the adapter is designed as a PCI-E x4 device, the sample in question uses only two lines of this interface.

It should be noted that Marvell 88SS9183, firstly, is an AHCI controller (it does not require installation of additional drivers for its operation), and secondly, this controller is also compatible with the SATA interface, so it will probably be included in conventional drives form factor 2.5".

The controller uses a DDR3 chip labeled NT5CC256M16CP-D1 manufactured by Nanya with a capacity of 512 MB as a buffer memory, and eight chips labeled TH58TEG8DDJBA8C as storage devices. Each of them contains four MLC NAND crystals operating in Toggle Mode, with a capacity of 64 Gbit and manufactured by Toshiba using a 19 nm process technology.

Unfortunately, I was unable to find any meaningful information on this controller, so we can only assume that it is not too different from the popular Marvell 88SS9187, and, most likely, we are again looking at a dual-core ARM with eight-channel memory access.

The PCI-E-M.2 adapter is very simple and unpretentious.

That's all element base, which is present on it. The PCI-E interface is not converted or changed in any way. All those elements that can be seen are the accompanying power harness. For example, a chip labeled PS54326 is a Texas Instruments TPS54326 controller, which is responsible for powering the drive. As you know, there is no +5 V voltage in the PCI-E connector, there is only +12 V and +3.3 V. TPS54326 is responsible for converting the +12 V voltage into the +5 V voltage necessary for the device to operate.

The reverse side of the adapter board is empty:

Now let’s move from theory to practice, put our disassembled experimental subject back together and install it in test bench. Fortunately, there are quite a lot of questions about its possible operation.