256GB M.2 SSD

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SSDs are a form of storage media that saves persistent data on solid-state flash memory. Unlike a hard disk drive (HDD), an SSD has no moving parts to break or spin up or down. The M.2 SSD specification was originally known as the Next-Generation Form Factor, but the “Next-Generation” name was changed in favor of the M.2 — pronounced M-dot-2 — name.

Specifically, M.2 is an interface specification that supports multiple protocols and applications such as Wi-Fi, Universal Serial Bus (USB), PCI Express (PCIe) and SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment). M.2-compatible products are not limited to solid-state drives either. The specification also supports protocols such as USB, Wi-Fi and can be used in graphics cards and AI accelerator cards that use the M.2 specification.

The M.2 form-factor specification was defined by the SATA International Organization as well as the PCI Special Interest Group — a consortium of technology industry vendors.

M.2 SSD form factor

M.2 SSDs are rectangular in shape. Generally, they are 22 millimeters wide and usually 60 mm or 80 mm long, although card lengths can be different. Longer length M.2 drives usually hold more NAND chips for extra capacity than the shorter versions. M.2 drives can be single- or double-sided. The card size is identified by a four- or five-digit number. The first two digits are the width and the remaining numbers are the length. For example, a 2260 card is 22 mm wide and 60 mm long.

The 22 mm width is important to note, as it is the standard for desktop and laptops. An 80 mm or 110 mm length card can hold 8 NAND chips for 2 TB of capacity.

M.2 module keys

Keys, the notches in the edge connectors of M.2 modules, can distinguish the types of M.2 products.

M.2 module keys
A list of M.2 SSD module keys, including key IDs, PIN locations and interfaces.

M.2 SSD modules plug into circuit boards through mating connectors on either side. Unlike mSATA, M.2 SSD cards have two types of connectors, also known as sockets: B key sockets and M key sockets. A single card can also have both key types. The type of key determines the number of PCIe lanes the socket supports. A B key holds one or two PCIe lanes, while an M key holds up to four PCIe lanes. The B key edge connector is six pins wide and the M key edge connector is five pins wide.

For Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless adapters, M.2 cards are keyed for A and E slots in a motherboard. Most M.2 wireless cards support both A and E key slots.

M.2 SSD pros and cons

Size and capacity are two of the M.2 SSD form factor’s greatest benefits. In a laptop, for example, an M.2 SSD takes up far less space and uses much less power than a standard SATA or SAS interface solid-state drive. However, if massive storage capacity is required in a mobile device, other form factors will likely be a better fit.

M.2’s performance is also a key feature. An M.2 SSD based on the non-volatile memory express (NVMe) spec, for example, can read and write at much faster rates than SATA or SAS SSDs.

The M.2 interface is a kind of Swiss army knife of a connector, with the ability to support PCIe, SATA, USB 3.0, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. So, if a laptop with an M.2 interface is purchased, there will be a lot of configuration options for peripheral gear.

The main drawbacks to M.2 SSD storage are price and lack of ubiquity. Prices for 2.5-inch SATA SSDs have plummeted as they have been produced in greater numbers. Currently, a 1 TB SATA SSD will cost about $100 or less; the price of an M.2 SSD with comparable capacity is about two and a half times the cost of the SATA drive.

Another shortcoming of M.2 SSDs is limited capacity. While 1 TB or 2 TB is probably adequate for most mobile applications, higher capacities will be required for M.2 to find its way into more enterprise storage systems.

M.2 SSD purchase considerations

The first consideration when planning to purchase an M.2 device for a computer is whether it has one or two M.2 plugs.

M.2 cards are typically used in newer mobile computing devices. Because the form factor is different from mSATA cards, M.2 SSDs are not compatible with older systems. And because it is designed for mobile devices, M.2 may not be a fit for large enterprise storage systems. However, enterprise storage vendors are beginning to incorporate M.2 SSDs in their hybrid and all-flash storage arrays. Even with limited capacities, the size and density of M.2 SSDs still allow storage vendors to pack a lot of high-performance capacity into a small box.

If a laptop is compatible with the M.2 spec, it will have the physical interface, and the device’s operating system should already include the required Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) drivers to allow installation of the M.2 storage card. It may also be necessary to make an adjustment in the device’s basic input/output system (BIOS) so that it can recognize the M.2 storage.

For desktop computers that are not equipped with M.2 interfaces, adapter cards are available that plug into a PCIe slot and then can accommodate M.2 form factor cards.

It’s becoming more common for flash memory to be used in secondary storage systems to enable speedier recoveries when computing operations have to switch over to backup, or secondary, storage during data center outages. Using solid-state drives in secondary systems helps to ensure that business can proceed at an appropriate pace, even when it’s running off backup systems.

M.2 vendors

The price of a 2 TB M.2 SSD typically ranges from $230 to $400; lower capacities are considerably less expensive (e.g., 256 GB M.2 SSDs are available for around $50). Samsung sells a variety of M.2 SSDs in different capacities. Other M.2 SSD vendors include Toshiba, Kingston, Plextor, Team Group, Adata and Crucial (owned by Micron Technologies). Intel is the largest vendor for M.2 wireless adapters.

M.2 SSD vs. mSATA

M.2 is commonly referred to as an mSATA replacement, but mSATA SSDs still exist and will probably continue for some time in laptop platforms that support that form factor. Because M.2 and mSATA cards are different form factors and have different connectors, they cannot be plugged into the same devices — meaning, they both still have their use cases.

Micron SSD form factorsMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC.

Micron M600 SSD form factors (left to right): mSATA SSD, M.2 SSD (22 mm x 60 mm double-sided), M.2 SSD (22 mm x 80 mm single-sided) and a 2.5-inch SATA SSD.

Comparatively, M.2 SSDs are faster and store more data than most mSATA cards. M.2 SSDs support a variety of interface standards such as PCIe 3.0, SATA 3.0 and USB 3.0 interfaces, compared to mSATA, which only supports SATA interface standards. M.2 SATA SSDs have a similar level of performance to mSATA cards, but M.2 PCIe cards notably faster. In addition, SATA SSDs have a maximum speed of 600 MB per second, while M.2 PCIe cards can hit 4 GB per second.

PCIe support also allows M.2 cards to take advantage of the NVMe protocol. An NVMe drive provides a large performance advantage over drives based on other types of interfaces due to reduced latency, increased input/output operations per second (IOPS) and lower power consumption.

As of early 2020, the largest M.2 SSDs support 2 TB of capacity, which is more than any mSATA drives but considerably less than other types of SSDs, such as 2.5-inch drives.

Additional information

Specification

PCIe 1.3 interface. Read/Write up to 1800/1200MB/s M.2 2280 Form factor, slim size to fit desktop PC and notebook PC Single-sided design to fit ultrabooks RAID engine for enhanced data integrity

Warranty

3 Months Warranty Warranty Can Be Extended

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