Question 1

What type of drives is this enclosure compatible with?

Accepted Answer

This enclosure is compatible with M.2 SATA SSDs that have B-Key or B+M Key connectors and support drive sizes of 2242, 2260, and 2280.

Question 2

What is the maximum data transfer rate this enclosure can handle?

Accepted Answer

The maximum data transfer rate this enclosure can handle is 6 Gbps.

Question 3

Is there any specific operating system required for this enclosure to work?

Accepted Answer

The enclosure is OS independent and does not require any specific operating system.

Question 4

How does the enclosure get its power?

Accepted Answer

The enclosure is USB-powered.

Question 5

Does the enclosure come with necessary tools for assembly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the enclosure comes with necessary tools for assembly.

Question 6

I understand that this device is for SATA M.2 SSDs, but just wondering if there is any advantage in getting an NVMe M.2 SSD drive & enclosure instead?  
That is, in consideration of the speed limitations of USB technology, is an NVMe SSD via USB is any faster than an SATA M.2 via USB?

Accepted Answer

The device is not compatible with M.2 NVMe or AHCI PCI-Express SSDs. Given that USB 3.1 Gen 2 has a maximum data transfer rate of 10 Gbit/s, an NVMe SSD would not be able to fully utilize its higher speed capabilities with this USB interface. Therefore, in the context of this device, there would be no speed advantage in using an NVMe M.2 SSD over a SATA M.2 SSD.

Brand	StarTech.com
Model	SM21BMU31CI3

Color	Black
Size	M.2
Type	Enclosure
AC Adapter	No
Material	Aluminum
Internal Interface	M.2 NGFF B-Key
External Interface	USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
Number of Bay	1
Power	USB-Powered
Specifications	Chipset ID: JMicron - JMS580 Drive Size: 22mm - M.2 SATA Supported Drive Height(s): 2242 / 2260 / 2280 Compatible Drive Types: M.2 (SATA, B-Key, NGFF) / M.2 SATA (NGFF, B+M-Key) Maximum Data Transfer Rate: 6 Gbps MTBF: 50,000 hours TRIM Support:Yes Type and Rate: USB 3.1 Gen 2 - 10 Gbit/s, SATA III (6 Gbps) UASP Support: Yes Drive Connectors: 1 - M.2 (SATA, B-Key, NGFF) Receptacle Host Connectors: 1 - USB Type-C (24 pin) USB 3.1 (10Gbps) Male Note: Not compatible with M.2 NVMe or AHCI PCI-Express SSDs Windows 7 and earlier Windows versions do not support TRIM with USB to SATA devices.

Dimensions	0.60" x 4.30" x 2.00"
Weight	3.4 oz.

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