A Short Discussion on NGFF M.2 NVMe: Difference between revisions

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There is so much confusion over M.2 SSDs.
There is so much confusion over M.2 SSDs. Articles that are quite well written and informative never seem to explicitly state what the real world implications of a B-Key, M-Key, and B and M Keying are.
 
Articles that are quite well written and informative never seem to explicitly state what the real world implications of a B-Key, M-Key, and B and M Keying is.
 
The first thing to remember that all the Keying has different implications for Sockets than it does for Devices (an SSD)


===Important Items to Know===
===Important Items to Know===


*The first thing to remember that all the Keying has different implications for Sockets than it does for Devices (an SSD)
*SSDs that fit into NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor, the old term) / M.2 (the new term) Sockets come in two "flavors": NVMe (Non Volatile Memory eXPRESS, which is newer) and non-NVMe (sometimes referred to as NGFF SSDs)
*SSDs that fit into NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor, the old term) / M.2 (the new term) Sockets come in two "flavors": NVMe (Non Volatile Memory eXPRESS, which is newer) and non-NVMe (sometimes referred to as NGFF SSDs)
*Both NVMe and NGFF SSDs ''can'' support USB, SATA / AHCI, and PCI-E (2 Lanes for NGFF and 4 Lanes for NVMe)*
*Both NVMe and NGFF SSDs ''can'' support USB, SATA / AHCI, and PCI-E (2 Lanes for NGFF and 4 Lanes for NVMe)*
*Sockets that are M Keyed ''require'' an NVMe SSD
*Sockets that are M Keyed ''require'' an NVMe SSD


<br />* Notice that the word ''can'' is in italics.  This means a socket or device ''can'' support those protocols, it doesn't mean that they do.
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Notice that the word ''can'' is in italics.  This means a socket or device ''can'' support those protocols, it doesn't mean that they do.
 
== Real World Implementation ==


===Sockets (and what the keying indicates)===
===Sockets (and what the keying indicates)===
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*B and M Key: There doesn't seem to be a socket that is keyed B and M
*B and M Key: There doesn't seem to be a socket that is keyed B and M


=== Devices (SSDs) ===
===Devices (SSDs)===
 
*B-Key: SATA / AHCI, PCI-E 2 Lane, and USB*
*M-Key: SATA / AHCI, PCI-E 2 Lane and 4 Lane, and USB, ...but, may only implement PCI-E 4 Lane*
*B and M Key: SATA / AHCI, PCI-E 2 Lane and 4 Lane, and USB*
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Can / Has the potential to support all of these items, if implemented by the manufacturer, but not required to be implemented.
 
Be sure to read the details of what the manufacturer specifics.  Realize that many manufacturers don't have a full grip on what they've made (IE, engineers aren't on speaking terms with the advertising personnel or people that document the product) and websites selling the product often times do a poor job of including all of the information on what the product supports.


* B-Key: ''Can'' / ''Has the potential'' (If implemented by the manufacturer, but not required to be implemented) for SATA / AHCI, PCI-E 2 Lane, and USB
<br />
* <br />

Revision as of 01:39, 21 December 2020

There is so much confusion over M.2 SSDs. Articles that are quite well written and informative never seem to explicitly state what the real world implications of a B-Key, M-Key, and B and M Keying are.

Important Items to Know

  • The first thing to remember that all the Keying has different implications for Sockets than it does for Devices (an SSD)
  • SSDs that fit into NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor, the old term) / M.2 (the new term) Sockets come in two "flavors": NVMe (Non Volatile Memory eXPRESS, which is newer) and non-NVMe (sometimes referred to as NGFF SSDs)
  • Both NVMe and NGFF SSDs can support USB, SATA / AHCI, and PCI-E (2 Lanes for NGFF and 4 Lanes for NVMe)*
  • Sockets that are M Keyed require an NVMe SSD

* Notice that the word can is in italics. This means a socket or device can support those protocols, it doesn't mean that they do.

Real World Implementation

Sockets (and what the keying indicates)

  • B-Key: Only supports SATA / AHCI (not PCI-E 2 Lane or 4 Lane) and USB
  • M-Key: Supports PCI-E, SATA / AHCI, and USB
  • B and M Key: There doesn't seem to be a socket that is keyed B and M

Devices (SSDs)

  • B-Key: SATA / AHCI, PCI-E 2 Lane, and USB*
  • M-Key: SATA / AHCI, PCI-E 2 Lane and 4 Lane, and USB, ...but, may only implement PCI-E 4 Lane*
  • B and M Key: SATA / AHCI, PCI-E 2 Lane and 4 Lane, and USB*

* Can / Has the potential to support all of these items, if implemented by the manufacturer, but not required to be implemented.

Be sure to read the details of what the manufacturer specifics. Realize that many manufacturers don't have a full grip on what they've made (IE, engineers aren't on speaking terms with the advertising personnel or people that document the product) and websites selling the product often times do a poor job of including all of the information on what the product supports.


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