Icy Dock Launches Dual NVMe SSD Dock PCIe Card

[TheLostSwede]

Although not a new concept as such, especially as the company has already launched a a similar product for a single NVMe SSD, Icy Dock's new ToughArmor MB842MP-B dual NVMe SSD dock, could be handy for those that need to move large amounts of data on fast storage units. Another alternative would be for video professionals that want easy access to multiple projects, without having to access the projects over a network. The NVMe drive docks are tool-less to make it as easy as possible to add the NVMe drives and drives in the 2230 to the 22110 M.2 form factor are supported.

The dock itself features a PCIe x8 interface and tops out at PCIe 4.0 speed. However, there's no bridge controller on the card, so a system that supports PCIe bifurcation is required, or only one drive slot will be accessible. Each of the docking units feature an activity light and it's even possible to connect the PCIe card to the hard drive activity LED on a regular PC case. The ToughArmor MB842MP-B retails for US$249.99, with additional drive trays costing US$34.99.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[tekraiderz]

I would like them to create a nvme dock for the front 5.25 bay also. Some may ask why, Because the m.2 uses less space than a ssd and you could really load up a ton of storage in one 5.25 bay. This would also be easily remove and/or swap out from the front. And I know it would not be maximizing the speed capabilities of the drives but for backup/storage top speed may not be the most important goal in a particular use case.

 

[Kapone33]

$250 for something you get with certain Motherboards that support what you need to utilize this fully seems foolish.

 

[HBSound]

Clean Design

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

$250 for something you get with certain Motherboards that support what you need to utilize this fully seems foolish.

I don't know of any motherboard with an externally accessible m.2 slot

I would like them to create a nvme dock for the front 5.25 bay also. Some may ask why, Because the m.2 uses less space than a ssd and you could really load up a ton of storage in one 5.25 bay. This would also be easily remove and/or swap out from the front. And I know it would not be maximizing the speed capabilities of the drives but for backup/storage top speed may not be the most important goal in a particular use case.

Icydock has several 5.25" m.2 and U.2 drive bays, though I believe they rely on oculink so it seems more of a server application, though they do have some 3.5" bays that use miniSAS

 

[Kapone33]

I don't know of any motherboard with an externally accessible m.2 slot

Think about how convenient that really is. NVME drives are notorious for not working in Different systems and are very fickle. I expect people that buy this to have issues if they are working with more than one PC using this.

 

[HBSound]

Placing this behind the PC, creates work when trying to remove and etc. I agree with someone above about maybe a nice clean mounting plate to allow the end user a way to incorporate.

 

[bonehead123]

there's no bridge controller on the card, so a system that supports PCIe bifurcation is required

An automatic, massive F.A.I.L/no-buy imho.... wtf is the point of having 2 drives on 1 card if you can't utilize both of them.... so sad, especially at $250

 

[TheLostSwede]

Think about how convenient that really is. NVME drives are notorious for not working in Different systems and are very fickle. I expect people that buy this to have issues if they are working with more than one PC using this.

Really? I haven't had a single problem with an NVMe drive I've installed, apart form the one with a poorly fitted heatsink, but that wasn't a compatibility issue.
I've used WD, Kingston, Plextor, Samsung and Patriot drives, all have been flawless.

 

[Kapone33]

Really? I haven't had a single problem with an NVMe drive I've installed, apart form the one with a poorly fitted heatsink, but that wasn't a compatibility issue.
I've used WD, Kingston, Plextor, Samsung and Patriot drives, all have been flawless.

Ever used them in RAID 0? Like how this is configured? With Windows 11 even RAID 0 in the BIOS. I even have a NV2 that won't register in a M2 slot but will run fine in a USBC dock.

 

[unwind-protect]

I would like them to create a nvme dock for the front 5.25 bay also. Some may ask why, Because the m.2 uses less space than a ssd and you could really load up a ton of storage in one 5.25 bay. This would also be easily remove and/or swap out from the front. And I know it would not be maximizing the speed capabilities of the drives but for backup/storage top speed may not be the most important goal in a particular use case.

They do but they are expensive:

Removeable NVMe SSD Enclosures | M.2 SSD Series | ICY DOCK

global.icydock.com

 

[Icon Charlie]

I would like them to create a nvme dock for the front 5.25 bay also. Some may ask why, Because the m.2 uses less space than a ssd and you could really load up a ton of storage in one 5.25 bay. This would also be easily remove and/or swap out from the front. And I know it would not be maximizing the speed capabilities of the drives but for backup/storage top speed may not be the most important goal in a particular use case.

They already have that.

MB699VP-B_4 Bay 2.5" U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD PCIe 4.0 Mobile Rack Enclosure for External 5.25" Drive Bay (4 x Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643, no Tri-mode support)

global.icydock.com

And I'm already thinking of getting one.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Ever used them in RAID 0? Like how this is configured? With Windows 11 even RAID 0 in the BIOS. I even have a NV2 that won't register in a M2 slot but will run fine in a USBC dock.

This is not for RAID, this is to allow you to easily hot swap drives. And I'm sorry, if your saying NVMe is shit because you're having problem with RAID, then it's hard to take you seriously.

 

[Blitzkuchen]

249$ with PCIe bifurcation, nope

249$ with a controller and its hotswap, yeah maybe