This Startech M.2 SSD RAID controller card lets you install two M.2 NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor) drives in your desktop computer. The card also features two SATA III (6Gbps) ports and supports hardware RAID. Now, you can merge the speed and compact size of M.2 solid state drives (SSD) with the storage capacity of traditional hard disk drives (HDD).
Leverage the size and speed of M.2 drives
This M.2 controller card lets you take advantage of the size and performance benefits of NGFF SSDs. M.2 drives are smaller than typical platter drives or mSATA-based SSDs, so you can install them in small form-factor PCs and servers, or in tighter areas within your computer case.
When you couple the card with an M.2 drive, you can give your computer's performance a noticeable speed boost. By installing your operating system on the M.2 drive, you'll have faster access to the files you commonly use, and you can continue to use your higher-capacity platter HDD for bulk storage.
Build a high-performance RAID array
If you need a scalable, internal storage solution that you can count on, then this card can help. It supports a range of RAID configurations (RAID 0, 1, and 10), giving you multiple ways to expand your storage, improve your computer's performance, or to create data redundancy backups.
Connect even more drives with port multiplication
Because the M.2 card supports port multiplication, you can connect up to four drives to one of the card's SATA ports. With a built-in port multiplier, you can install up to seven drives (two M.2 SSDs, five SATA drives) in your computer through this single drive controller.
Supports a wide range of drives
You can rest assured that your M.2 SATA drives are compatible with the card. It supports the most common drive sizes, including 22110, 2280, 2260, 2242 and 2230. For more versatility, the card also supports hybrid drives.
Note
The maximum throughput of this card is limited by the bus interface. If used with PCI Express Gen 1.0 enabled computers, the max throughput is 2.5Gbps per lane. If used with PCI Express Gen 2.0 enabled computers, the max throughput is 5Gbps per lane.
The card's two SATA ports support port multiplier, up to seven drives total (including two M.2 drives). Only one SATA port can use port multiplier at a time, with up to four drives total connected through PM (in a non-RAID configuration)