Ableconn PEXM2-SSD M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD to PCI Express 3.0 x4 Host Adapter Card Review @ ModSynergy.com
By: Michael Phrakaysone
We have had the opportunity to review a variety of solid-state drives (SSDs) throughout the years. These SSDs have proven to be a significant upgrade over traditional spinning hard disk drives, providing superfast storage for computers. In fact, I consider SSDs to be the most impactful upgrade one can make to breathe new life into aging or current systems.
During our reviews, we have explored SATA-based SSDs with varying data transfer rates, including SATA I (1.5Gbps), SATA II (3Gbps), and SATA III (6Gbps). However, there comes a point where a particular interface reaches its maximum potential, and that is precisely the case with SATA. SSD performance has reached a plateau within the limitations of the SATA interface. As a result, the industry has shifted its focus to the M.2 interface.
The latest M.2 SSDs leverage the PCIe lanes on your motherboard to achieve higher speeds than SATA could ever deliver. Moreover, these M.2 SSDs come in significantly smaller physical sizes compared to their 2.5" SATA counterparts. Common sizes for M.2 SSDs include 22mm x 80mm, 22mm x 60mm, and 22mm x 42mm.
For those who wish to take advantage of the latest and fastest M.2 SSDs in a system without an existing M.2 slot, we have a review that addresses your needs. Today, we will be discussing the Ableconn PEXM2-SSD M.2 adapter, which can be purchased for $19.99 USD. This adapter allows you to utilize a single PCIe slot on your motherboard, transforming your system and enabling the use of M.2 SSDs.
About Ableconn
"Located in California Silicon Valley, Ableconn was founded by electronics experts with decades of extensive product design experience in personal computers and electronics devices.
We strive to provide high quality products with detailed product information, and excellent support.
We hope you enjoy and love our products as we do!"
Ableconn PEXM2-SSD M.2 to PCI Express 3.0 x4 Host Adapter Card Product Description
The Ableconn PEXM2-SSD allows you to install an M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD through a Low Profile PCIe 3.0 x4 card to your PC System. It's the best & easy solution to install an Extremely High Performance Enterprise-Class PCIe-NVMe or PCIe-AHCI M.2 SSD in your Desktop for Enthusiast Gaming and Workstation Markets!
Ableconn PEXM2-SSD M.2 to PCI Express 3.0 x4 Host Adapter Card Product Features
- Convert M.2 NGFF PCIe based SSD to work in main board PCIe x4 bus slot
- PCI Express 3.0 x4 Lane Host adapter. Supports PCIe 2.0 and PCIe 3.0 motherboard
- Supports PCIe Gen3 and PCIe Gen2 M.2 NGFF 80mm, 60mm, 42mm SSD. Movable M.2 NGFF stand-off and multiple plated-holes supports type 2280, 2260 and 2242 SSD
- Note: this adapter is only for 'M' key M.2 PCIe SSD such as Samsung XP941/SM951/950 Pro SSDs. Not compatible with a 'B' key M.2 PCIe x2 SSD or 'B' key M.2 SATA SSD.
- Fully RoHS compliant. Made in Taiwan.
Features
- Connector: 1x M-key (type 2280-D5-M) M.2 socket for M.2 NGFF PCIe based SSD
Software: No driver installation required. Windows 10/8, Windows Server 2012 R2, Linux series, Fedora, SUSE, Ubuntu, Red Hat native drivers support both PCIe-NVMe and PCIe-AHCI
Note: NVMe native driver for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 is available from Microsoft Knowledge Base (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2990941)
Note: Mac Pro 2009, 2010 and 2012 models support PCIe-AHCI SSD only
- System Requirement: An empty PCIe 3.0 or PCIe 2.0 x4, x8, or x16 slot.
- Convert M.2 NGFF PCIe based SSD to work in main board PCIe x4 bus slot PCI Express 3.0 x4 Lane Host adapter Low Profile Form Factor board with both Regular size and Low Profile bracket included
- Movable M.2 NGFF stand-off and multiple plated-holes supports type 2280, 2260 and 2242 M.2. Supports M.2 NGFF 80mm, 60mm, 42mm SSDs.
- Supports dual-sided M.2 SSD module with 1.5mm component height on the top and bottom side
- Pin header on board for drive LED connection
- Supports industrial operating temperature range: -40 - 85 ºC
- M.2 PCIe SSD gets power from motherboard PCIe bus slot 3.3V
- Fully RoHS compliant
- Made in Taiwan
Note: SATA Based M.2 SSD module can NOT work with this PCIe Based Adapter
- Compatibility (Incomplete List): Samsung XP941, SM951 (AHCI or NVMe), 950 Pro Series SSDs, Kingston HyperX Predator M.2, Plextor M6e Series M.2 SSD
Ableconn PEXM2-SSD M.2 to PCI Express 3.0 x4 Host Adapter Card Specifications
- Dimensions 4.3 x 2.0 x 0.2 inches / 105 x 50 x 5 mm
- Weight 1.3 ounces / 36 g
- Capacity PCIe 3.0 x4 Lane
- Compatibility M.2 type 2280, 2260 and 2242 SSD
- Supported System No driver required. Windows 10/8, Windows Server 2012 R2, Linux series, Fedora, SUSE, Ubuntu, Red Hat native drivers support both PCIe-NVMe and PCIe-AHCI
- Certification CE, FCC, RoHS
First Impressions
The packaging of the Ableconn PEXM2-SSD adapter is thoughtfully designed with a cheerful aesthetic and a focus on eco-friendliness. Unlike traditional plastic packaging, this product is packaged using paper, making recycling much easier. In today's world, where plastic waste fills our landfills and not all types of plastic can be efficiently processed by local recycling facilities, opting for paper packaging is a more sustainable choice. Paper, being a single material, is inherently easier to recycle.
The front of the box prominently displays the PEXM2-SSD adapter card, allowing potential customers to have a clear view of the product. Additionally, the box highlights the various supported features of the adapter, providing important information to the users.
When installing the Ableconn PEXM2-SSD adapter in older systems, it is important to consider potential limitations in fully harnessing the PCIe bus. If the existing PCIe lanes are already occupied by other devices or if the motherboard has a restricted number of supported PCIe lanes, the adapter's ability to achieve optimal performance may be constrained. In such scenarios, the M.2 SSD connected through the adapter may operate at a reduced bandwidth, potentially achieving only half of its maximum speed. Nonetheless, even under these circumstances, the M.2 SSD will still surpass the performance of any SATA-based SSD due to the superior capabilities offered by the M.2 interface.
Visual Overview
Performance Testing & Results
The goal here is to simply verify if the PEXM2-SSD adapter card works and nothing more.
In our testing on an older system, the PEXM2-SSD adapter card demonstrated impressive performance, showcasing read speeds of up to 1.57 GB/s and write speeds of up to 1.49 GB/s. These speeds far surpass the capabilities of any previous SATA-based SSDs we have reviewed. Please note that the specific M.2 SSD used in this testing will not be disclosed and its name will be blurred in the accompanying photos. A comprehensive review of this M.2 SSD will be conducted separately in the future.
What Problem You Might Encounter (Running Windows 7)
When installing the Ableconn PEXM2-SSD adapter in a machine running Windows 7, it's important to note that Windows 7 does not have built-in NVMe drivers. As a result, the M.2 SSD may not be recognized by the operating system. To address this issue, you need to download and install two hotfixes before the M.2 SSD can be properly recognized:
1. Hotfix KB2990941: This hotfix adds native support for NVMe devices to Windows 7. You can download it from the Microsoft website or through Windows Update.
2. Hotfix KB3087873: This hotfix updates the storage driver to support NVMe devices in Windows 7. It can also be downloaded from the Microsoft website or obtained through Windows Update.
Once these hotfixes are installed, Windows 7 should recognize the M.2 SSD connected through the Ableconn PEXM2-SSD adapter.
Where Can I Buy One? For How Much?
The Ableconn PEXM2-SSD M.2 to PCI Express 3.0 x4 Host Adapter Card can be purchased on Amazon USA for $19.99. If you prefer to shop on Amazon like I do, then the PEXM2-SSD is going to be Fulfilled by Amazon and not through a third party. This makes the purchase safer in terms of getting what you paid for and this way you can have Amazon's protection.
Why do I like Amazon? They are fast, honest, reliable, and their return policy is great. I actually got money refunded back to my account (twice) after Amazon initially overcharged me on duty costs. Talk about being an honest company. Most others would keep the money and not say anything!
If you're thinking of purchasing the Ableconn PEXM2-SSD M.2 to PCI Express 3.0 x4 Host Adapter Card on Amazon, or anything else for that matter, please use our Amazon links above, it’ll help us out greatly, and go towards supporting this website and any future contests we hold through Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Some Amazon Deals That May Interest You!
Conclusion
The Ableconn PEXM2-SSD M.2 to PCI Express 3.0 x4 Host Adapter Card is truly impressive and offers a lot of value. Its build quality is exceptional, and it comes with both regular and low-profile brackets, making it versatile for various system configurations. It delivers on its promises without any complications or problems, providing reliable performance. Considering its outstanding features and functionality, the price of $19.99 USD is remarkably affordable.
Ableconn has done an excellent job in designing and producing this adapter card, offering customers a high-quality and cost-effective solution.
