The Sonnet M.2 2×4 Low-Profile PCIe Card is a PCI Express 3.0 adapter card that features NVMe SSD Slots.
The M.2 2×4 Low-Profile PCIe Card, is the latest offering in Sonnet’s family of high-performance storage adapter cards that enable the installation of multiple SSDs into a computer’s or Thunderbolt expansion system’s PCIe card slot. The low-profile, half-length PCIe 3.0 card features two M-keyed NVMe M.2 SSD slots that support the installation of M.2 form factor NVMe PCIe SSDs.
What does it do?
The Sonnet M.2 2×4 Low-Profile PCIe Card enables users to mount two M.2 NVMe 2280 PCIe SSDs (these are sold separately) into almost any expansion card space with an available x8 or x16 PCIe card slot. This means that up to 16TB of storage capacity can be installed. RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD configurations are supported, providing users with flexibility in configuring the SSDs for best performance or data safety, or both.
Why would you need this?
This was designed specifically for users who want to add internal storage to their computer and require ultra-high-speed data transfer speeds such as video editors working with 6K and greater resolution footage. Many computers do not include slots to support installing M.2 SSDs directly but do include PCIe expansion card slots. With Sonnet’s M.2 2×4 Low-Profile PCIe Card installed, a user can mount two SSDs in a single PCIe slot and no cables, adapters, or mounting trays are required. For users whose computers include Thunderbolt ports, but lack PCIe card slots, such as notebooks, mini, and all-in-one desktops you can install the Sonnet card into one of Sonnet’s multi-slot Echo Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion systems that connect the M.2 2×4 card’s dual SSD slots through a single cable.
It is compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems. The Sonnet M.2 2×4 Low-Profile PCIe Card requires only a low-profile card space and includes both full-height and low-profile PCIe brackets. This allows you to put it into most desktop towers, mini workstations or server computers, or even Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion system with an available x8 or x16 PCIe slot. Because the Sonnet card employs a high-performance 16-lane PCIe 3.0 bridge chip, it doesn’t require specific SSDs or a particular motherboard to operate, nor PCIe bifurcation to support RAID features.
Performance
Installed in a computer’s PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 card slot, the Sonnet card with a single SSD installed on the card can deliver data transfer speeds of up to 3,400 MB/s. With two SSDs installed and configured as a RAID 0 set, sustained transfers up to 6,600 MB/s are supported. To support their sustained high performance, the card’s integrated heatsink silently cools SSDs to eliminate the need for them to thermal throttle, an SSD protection feature that prevents overheating by choking performance until they cool down.
Price & Availability
The Sonnet M.2 2×4 Low-Profile PCIe Card will be available the last week of June from Sonnet and soon after from channel partners worldwide for a retail price of $199.99 USD.
