by 5 reviews.
SABRENT M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe x16 Tool-Free Add-in Card (AIC) Review: A Must-Have for Storage Enthusiasts
If you're looking to supercharge your system's storage capabilities, the SABRENT M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe x16 Tool-Free Add-in Card (AIC) is a game-changer. Designed to support the latest PCIe 5.0 SSDs while remaining backward compatible with older generations, this adapter card is a versatile and efficient solution for gamers, content creators, and power users alike. With features like tool-free installation, a built-in aluminum heatsink, and support for multiple M.2 form factors, this card is a standout in its category.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Ease of Installation and Usability
One of the most praised aspects of the SABRENT adapter is its tool-free installation. Customers love how straightforward it is to set up. One reviewer shared, "I had a 2TB MSI Nvram installed into the adapter in about 10 minutes, plugged it into the PCIe slot, and it was recognized immediately." The simplicity of the process makes it accessible even for those who aren’t tech-savvy.
However, some users noted a minor hiccup: the missing retaining screw for the M.2 SSD. One reviewer mentioned, "The instructions say 'screw in the retainer screw,' but there was no screw included." While this is a small oversight, it’s something to keep in mind if you don’t have spare screws on hand.
Performance and Speed
When it comes to performance, the SABRENT adapter delivers. It supports PCIe 5.0 speeds, ensuring blazing-fast transfer rates. One user reported, "I tested a different PCIe Gen4 drive in the Sabrent card and saw 6.9GB/s write speed and 6.4GB/s read speed."
That said, some users experienced slightly lower read speeds compared to their motherboard’s native M.2 slots. A reviewer noted, "The read speed on the drive is performing inferior to the M.2 slots on my actual motherboard." While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s worth considering if you’re aiming for absolute peak performance.
Cooling and Durability
The built-in aluminum heatsink is a standout feature, keeping SSDs cool even under heavy workloads. One customer shared, "I hit it hard, writing 1.5TB of data continuously for hours, and the Nvram's temp never rose above 35°C." The thermal padding and heatsink design ensure optimal performance without throttling.
However, some users found the thermal pad selection process a bit confusing. A reviewer explained, "They include three different thermal pads but never tell you how to select the proper one. I found the thickest works best for the Samsung 990 Pro." While this isn’t a major issue, clearer instructions would be appreciated.
Build Quality and Design
The SABRENT adapter boasts a solid build quality, with a sleek black design and a sturdy x16 PCIe connector. One user praised, "The card feels solid, it's simple to use, and works beyond my expectations." The inclusion of blue LEDs that flash during drive access adds a nice touch of flair.
On the flip side, some users expressed concerns about the longevity of the screws. A reviewer noted, "The screws are very small with very small threads, so they may not last long with repeated install/removal." While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s something to be mindful of if you plan to frequently swap drives.
Conclusion: Is the SABRENT M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe x16 Adapter Worth It?
The SABRENT M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe x16 Tool-Free Add-in Card (AIC) is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to upgrade their storage setup. Its ease of installation, excellent cooling performance, and future-ready design make it a standout product. While there are minor drawbacks like the missing retaining screw and slightly lower read speeds in some cases, these are outweighed by the card’s overall performance and value.
If you’re in the market for a reliable, high-performance M.2 adapter, the SABRENT card is a highly recommended option. Whether you’re upgrading an older system or maximizing the potential of a new build, this adapter delivers on its promises and then some.
Specification SABRENT M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe x16 Tool-Free Add-in Card (AIC) with Aluminum Heatsink, M.2 PCIe Adapter for Gen5 SSDs PCIe 5.0, Backwards Compatible with Previous PCIe Generations (EC-TFPE):
Comments from Amazon:
Every once in a while, you buy an inexpensive device that works exactly as described and saves a ton of time and effort. This is one of those. Watched the Sabrent installation video on the product page, had a 2TB MSI Nvram installed into the adapter in about 10 minutes, plugged it into the 4x PCIe slot in the oldest machine I have (and I mean THE OLDEST - an Abit_IP35-Pro motherboard whose last BIOS update was almost 8 years ago) running Windows 10. Fired it up, device and Nvram were recognized immediately and a quick test showed about 950K R/W performance which was good enough for what I was doing - moving about 1.5TB of data from a hard drive on that machine to another machine. I hit it hard, writing that 1.5TB of data continuously for hours until it was done, and the Nvram's temp never rose above 35C. That heatsink arrangement is fabulous. I see some reviews saying the thing isn't locked down with no backplane support. Unless you plan on strapping the machine to the back of a motorcycle which you're then going ride cross country through the mountains, it's plenty stable enough. A little extra bonus is that the heatsink has four small blue LEDs at the top that flash when you access the device. Highly recommended as way of putting an (extra) Nvram stick in your machine.
This adapter works excellently, It's quick to install, and is no hassle. It slots right into the PCIEx16 slot and accepts any m.2 drive. I use it for my server to add an additional M.2 slot for storage and it works great!
I am updating this review to 4-Stars because I did figure out that the limitations the drive tested was experiencing in my screenshot were partly Samsung Magician 'weird'. I tested a different PCIe Gen4 drive in the Sabrent card with CrystalDisk & saw 6.9GB/s Write speed & 6.4GB/s read speed... here's my original review: So I want to start this review with what I don't like/what isn't good. The packaging is basic, which can be expected from something in this price range, the reason that I gave it 3 stars instead of 5 is 2 simple things: 1: THERE WAS NO RETAINING/MOUNTING SCREW IN THE PACKAGE. The instructions LITERALLY say "screw in retainer screw to hold your SSD in place" and there's no screw to do so with. Also, I tried an M.2 screw from a motherboard's M.2 drive screw set, and the threads are not compatible so I couldn't even use that. I ended up just installing the drive with the included thermal pad with no mounting screw or brace in place (I later replaced this Thermal Pad with a better one & the drive runs even cooler now). 2: *(This comment is now inaccurate because of newer testing I've done on the product, but I'm leaving in this part so others that experience it know it's not just them - Do not use Samsung Magician to benchmark your drive speeds, use CrystalDisk if you must get numbers - just remember any benchmark is putting the drive under unnecessary strain and you shouldn't run it regularly). The read speed on the drive is performing inferior to the M.2 slots that are on my actual motherboard. I have 5 M.2 drives total, 3 (including this one) are 990 Pro models, the 2 990 Pros that are installed in the motherboard hit 6400-7400MB/s read speed on the same test in the picture I included with this review, this card's drive is stuck in the sub 5000MB/s category. It's not a huge deal, but it is something that detracts from the value imo. Couple of things to point out because I asked the question myself & got no answer: The card does run at full x4 4.0 speed & the interface with the M.2 is x4 4.0 according to Samsung Magician, so it is running at full speed as advertised, which I know some other off-brand cards have issues with (I've returned one that did before, Sabrent does not have this problem) The positives: 1: Installation, other than the retaining screw being missing, was quite simple & straight forward, you unscrew the backplate, it comes apart, you use the right size thermal pad (I recommend the thicker one to ensure good interface with the heatsink), put your M.2 drive in, put the thermal pad on it, and screw it back together, then pop it in your PCIe slot. 2: Temperatures are excellent - one thing to point out, I do have active airflow over the area with a fan which is also providing airflow over my GPU's intakes, so it is in a pretty optimal cooling scenario, but, I did a full test on the drive (which is what's shown in the picture) and it topped out at 42C on the main drive temp, with 52C on the "Drive 3" (which I assume is Controller temp), according to HWInfo 64. Pretty great temperatures, so the cooling is definitely good. 3: Quality of build/material is pretty good, I would question the longevity of the screws used to put it together because they are very small with VERY small threads, so they may not last long with repeated install/removal, but the heatsink/card itself feels very quality. So I knocked it 1 star (updated) overall for the missing screw & the read speed being a bit low. If they had just included that screw or a better mounting-holding thing for the drive installation, I would've given it 5 stars.
Another ASM 2812 based card with a decent design and price, good for using the frequently ignored 4 lanes from a chipset. No bifurcation needed, even motherboards with support almost never include non-cpu lanes. It is only pcie 3.0 but still plenty of bandwidth for fast bulk storage and random I/O, the flashy bulk sequential graphs that every marketing team loves to hype for SSDs is barely used at all in the real world. No problems with drives being visible natively to UEFI and OS, all the vendor related tools work with no difference compared to a regular m.2. I had four P31s with a storage space configured from another system, it was picked up and mounted automatically. The heatsink attachment is a little bit fiddly since it uses corner screws with springs on posts that insert through the card, but this gives a snug fit that ensures the thermal pad is applying even pressure to everything. Don't use drives with bundled heatsinks, naked drives only. The PCB and heatsink are well finished & clean. No fan (no thanks to little card fans) but the heatsink is substantial enough, as long as your case has any airflow heat should not be a problem. Drive temp sensors were well under limits even after a total clone of the array. 2280 or shorter only, 22110 is fairly uncommon now but you still see some server pull models on fleabay that use the extra length to add PLP.
This little gem, let me install another 2tb of drive in less than 5 min. The card feels solid, it's simple to use, and works beyond my expectations.
Recomendo!
I have purchased this twice and happy with the product. One slight issue. They include 3 different thermal pads and never tell you how to select the proper one. I have found the thickest works best for the Samsung 990 Pro. I suggest to dry fit the pads and use the one that fits the snuggest as you need good contact, remembering that screwing the backplate on will further compress the pad. It needs a tight fit to disperse the heat. The screws are small so make sure you have don't lose them.