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ToughArmor MB601VK-1B

2.5" U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD PCIe 4.0 Mobile Rack Enclosure for External 3.5" Drive Bay (1 x U.2 SFF-8639, 168.7mm Depth)ta601vk
Product Details
  • Note: To utilize an M.2, U.2, or U.3 NVMe SSD in a PCIe 16x or 8x slot, the motherboard or add-on card must support PCIe Bifurcation. This mode divides PCIe lanes into specific configurations like x4, x4, x4, x4 for a 16x slot or x4, x4 for an 8x slot, ensuring the SSD can be read by the system. For compatible hardware, please refer to the FAQ section. If your hardware is not listed there, please contact us for assistance.
  • The ToughArmor MB601VK-1B is our next-generation rugged 2.5” U.2 hot-plug mobile rack, supporting ultra-high-speed 64Gbps data transfer with all U.2 NVMe SSDs, including those from Seagate, Samsung, Intel, HGST, Micron, and all other brands.
  • World’s First U.2 Removable Design
    Supports removable function for any 2.5” U.2 NVMe SSD, allowing for easy installation and removal, and reducing technician costs.

    Note: the host has to support NVMe hot-plug function in order for the OS to detect the swapped drive while the system is powered on. If you are having trouble detecting your M.2 NVMe SSD, please refer to FAQ.
  • Superior Performance
    Built to utilize the next generation U.2 (SFF-8639) interface to support the full NVMe bandwidth specification of 64Gbps, the ToughArmor MB601VK-1B is over 10 times faster than the previous SATA standard, making it ideal for data intensive applications such as in enterprise servers, data centers, and photography for media professionals.
  • Safe and Secure
    ToughArmor is renowned in the enterprise and industrial data storage industry for its ruggedized full-metal enclosure and superior protection, and this trend continues with the MB601VK-1B. Its 100% steel enclosure provides enhanced protection against wear, bumps, and shock damage, and meets flammability standards.
  • For optimal cooling, the heat is further dispersed through the intelligently placed ventilation holes on all sides, which works together with your computers cooling system to protect your drives from overheating damage, even under load.
  • Packed with Features
    An LED status light built into the tray and lets you know when your drive is powered up and in use. To save power, the LED shuts off when no drive is installed.
  • For an additional physical layer of security, the included key-lock can be used to protect against unwanted access and secure drives in particularly rough environments, such as military applications and in-vehicle PCs.
  • When not in use, the integrated dust cover protects the open bay from dust, which would otherwise clog the internal connectors and cause additional wear.
  • Exceptional Product Compatibility
    The MB601VK-1B is compatible with motherboards, RAID/HBA cards, and M.2 adapters from major brands including Adaptec, Areca, Broadcom, HighPoint, Supermicro, and more. This compatibility gives you the freedom to choose from a wide range of hardware options, moving beyond the constraints of single-brand system configurations. For more information on product compatibility, click here.
  • As downward disconnection is one of the common issue that lead to damaging or even snapping the rear connector, the ToughArmor MB601VK-1B comes with rear metal support brackets. The benefits to having the support brackets is to reduce the chances accidental damage to the rear connector when disconnecting improperly and prevent it from shifting around. This also serves as a guide when inserting or removing the SFF-8639 male-connector, making it extremely useful when dealing with limited space.
  • Compatible with MB601M2K-1B
    Compatible with U.2 and M.2 drives when combined with the ToughArmor MB601M2K-1B. Because these models use the same outer tray housing, their trays are inter-compatible and can be swapped between them.
  • Which MB601VK is right for you?
    If you are using a small/ medium-sized computer chassis with limited internal space, MB601VK-B is the perfect drive enclosure to accommodate a up to 15mm NVMe U.2 drive into any mini-tower, small form factor or home theater PCs (HTPC). On the other hand, MB601VK-1B is designed with a longer overall length in order to become interchangeable with MB601TP-1B drive tray, which can fit up to 110mm NVMe M.2 SSDs.
  • (Optional) M.2 NVMe SSD to U.2 NVMe SSD Adapter
    Converting your M.2 NVMe SSD into U.2 NVMe SSD with the EZConvert MB705M2P-B adapter offers tool-less SSD installation and comes with a large heatsink designed explicitly for high-speed M.2 NVMe SSDs. The MB705M2P-B uses a bridge connector to link the M.2 NVMe SSD, ensuring that the gold fingers of the M.2 NVMe SSD are protected from damage during insertion and removal. This makes it an ideal solution for users who frequently swap M.2 NVMe SSDs.
  • (Optional) 3.5" to 5.25" Drive Bay Bracket
    Converting your 5.25" device bay into a 3.5" device bay with Flex-Fit MB343SP drive bay bracket, it features a solid one-piece design with additional dual 2.5" drive slots for extra drive storage.
Customizable ICY DOCK Drive Enclosures: Tailored to Meet TAA & UL Certification Standards and More!
At ICY DOCK, we understand the paramount importance of adhering to various industry and safety standards. While our standard products are already crafted with the highest quality in mind, we also provide our customers with the option to customize ICY DOCK drive enclosures and mobile racks to meet their specific certification requirements. This includes standards such as TAA and UL to wide temperature tests.

Our dedicated team is fully prepared to adjust product materials and designs to ensure complete compliance. Furthermore, we offer comprehensive guidance to our clients throughout the certification process. Our goal is to not only meet precise specifications but also ensure that our products successfully pass stringent tests. Below, you'll find a detailed table listing all the optional certifications that can be tested with our customizable solutions.
Optional Certifications Available for ToughArmor MB601VK-1B
TAA Trade Agreements Act Compliance
UL Safety Standard Certification
UL94 Flammability of Plastic Materials
FCC Federal Communications Commission Compliance
Wide Temperature MIL-STD-810H - Method 501.7 & 502.7
*IEC 60529 (IPX5) Protection against water jets
*Vibration Test MIL-STD-810H, Method 514.8, Procedure I (Resistance to vibrations)
*Functional Shock MIL-STD-810H, Method 516.8- Procedure I (Protection against shocks)

*The drive mobile rack enclosure needs to have a customized front water-resistant panel added to pass the IEC 60529 (IPX5) certification. Water resistance refers to preventing water from entering the enclosure through the front panel when the product is installed in the chassis, rather than making the entire enclosure water-resistant.
*The drive mobile rack enclosure requires customization of the drive caddy (tray) and housing to include a thumb screw locking mechanism, in order to pass vibration test and functional shock certification. Please refer to the thumb screw design schematic above.

Customizing ICY DOCK products for specific certifications involves fees for the creation of the certificates, including necessary testing. Please note that some certificates may require recurring fees to remain valid. For more details and inquiries, please contact us at tech@icydock.com

Main Features
Fits 1x 2.5” U.2 NVMe SSD or 2.5" SAS / SATA SSD 
(NVMe U.2 host is required to accept NVMe SSD, SAS or SATA SSD)
   
Installs into any standard external 3.5” device bay or floppy bay
   
Uses an U.2 port (SFF-8639) to connect, requires NVMe host
   
Supports the full NVMe bandwidth specification of 64Gbps
   
Ruggedized full-metal enclosure meeting flammability requirements
   
2-segment key lock for additional physical security
   
Eagle-hook tray latch securely holds the tray inside the enclosure
   
EMI Grounding – protects SSDs from electrical damage
   
Anti-Vibration Technology (AVT) reduces noise and protects against environmental damage
   
Active Power Technology (APT) saves power by shutting the device down when no drive is installed.
   
Industry-leading 5 years limited warranty against all defects
   
Complimentary support from professionally trained US-based technical support agents

Specification
Model Number: MB601VK-1B
Color: Black
Support Drive Size: 1 x 2.5" U.2 NVMe SSD (up to 15mm height)
Compatible Drive Type: U.2 NVMe
Number of Drives: 1
Drive Bay: 1 x external 3.5" drive bay
Host Interface: 1 x U.2 SFF-8639, pin-out defined by SFF-9402 Rev 1.1
(Tri-mode HBA/RAID card compatible)
Power Input: Via U.2 (SFF-8639)
Transfer Rate: PCIe 3.0 up to 32Gbps / PCIe 4.0 up to 64Gbps
Support HDD Capacity: No limitation
Drive Cooling: Metal heat dispersion with passive cooling
Structure / Material: Full metal
Support Hot-Swap: Yes
Drive Security: 2 segment key lock
Product Dimension (L x W x H): 168.7 x 101.2 x 25.4mm
Product Net Weight: 441g
Package Gross Weight: 506.4g
Drive Activity LED Indication: Drive power: solid green; HDD access: flashing green
Package Contents: 1 - device, 1 - user manual, 10 - screw, 2 - key
U.2 Connector Insertion Rate: 10,000
Humidity: 5%~65% RH
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 60°C (32°F to 140°F)
Storage Temperature: -35°C to 70°C (-31°F to 158°F)
Compliance: CE, RoHS, REACH
Warranty: 5 years limited warranty

Compatible Drive Tray (Caddy):

  • MB601TP-B tray icon
  • MB601TP-1B tray icon

Related Products:

Related Products Series:

  • NVMe Enclosures
  • SAS/SATA Enclosures

ToughArmor Lineup:


FAQ

Q: Can you recommend an add-on card that is compatible with MB601VK-1B?

A: To ensure compatibility with MB601VK-1B, please make sure that your add-on card or motherboard’s BIOS/UEFI supports PCIe Bifurcation when using a PCIe 16x or 8x slot. Additionally, set up the PCIe splitter in the BIOS/UEFI with the configuration of x4, x4, x4, x4 for a PCIe 16x slot or x4, x4 for a PCIe 8x slot.

Please click the icon below to view the compatibility of your motherboards or add-on cards that support PCIe Bifurcation mode. For the best compatibility, we highly recommend using the cables recommended or manufactured by the motherboard or add-on card manufacturer.

 



We are currently in the process of certifying our NVMe enclosure with major add-on card and motherboard manufacturers. We will keep updating the list to include compatible accessories.

To report a compatible add-on card, cable, or motherboard, or to check the compatibility of add-on card(s) or motherboards that are not listed, please click here.


Q: I've completed the installation of the hard drive and device as per the instructions in the product manual, but the system still can't detect the drive. How can I troubleshoot this issue?

A: Please first confirm the compatibility of your hardware, and make sure that the drive, drive enclosure, cable, and host interfaces are compatible. Try connecting the drive directly to the host to see if the system can detect the drive. If it still doesn't detect it, this can rule out issues with the drive enclosure. You can also try connecting the drive enclosure with different drives, cables, or systems to see if the issue can be resolved. If the system still can't detect it, here are some possible issues:

Insufficient PCIe lanes in the system: Whether you're connecting the drive enclosure to the motherboard or add-on card, It is important to note that the number of available PCIe lanes is limited. This includes understanding the number of lanes provided by the CPU and chipset, as well as their allocation method. Failure to do so may result slower transfer speeds, unstable connections, or even the inability to detect the drive.
Incompatible interface protocols: It is crucial to verify whether the Mini-SAS HD, OCuLink, or SlimSAS interface on the motherboard or add-on card is capable of supporting NVMe.
Incompatible interface pinout standard: Prior to connecting the drive enclosure to the Mini-SAS HD, OCuLink, or SlimSAS port on the motherboard or add-on card, please verify that the port utilizes the same pinout standard as the port on our drive enclosure. To check the pinout standard of our drive enclosure, you can refer to the specification table on our product page, where it specifies whether the pinout standard is Legacy or SFF-9402 1.1.
Excessive length of the connecting cable: To ensure optimal performance, it is advised to use a connecting cable that is no longer than 50cm. Using longer cables can lead to excessive signal loss, resulting in slower transfer speeds, unstable connections, or even the inability to detect the drive. Additionally, we recommend using the same interface connector for both the device and the host to prevent any potential compatibility issues.

Q: I'm using Intel/Broadcom Tri-Mode HBA and RAID cards with the MB601VK-1B, but the drives do not show up in my system?

A: The issue is caused by RAID card manufacturers using a different pinout for Tri-Mode cards than is typically used for U.2 connections. When using these cards with U.2 NVMe drives and cables, a U.2 enabler cable must be used for compatibility, which reverts the pinout back to standard U.2 specifications. For more information, please click here.


Q: My NVMe drive did not detect after inserting it back into the device while powered on?

A: For systems that support hot-plug function, while your system is powered on, each drive insertion and removal cycle will require a manual refresh from the operating system in order for the system to recognize the drive.

 

If you are unable to detect the drive after performing the manual refresh, your system might not support hot-plug functions. We suggest you check with the motherboard/add-on card manufacturer to see if it supports the NVMe hot-plug function.

 

Windows 11 / Windows 10 / Windows 8 – In the search box on the taskbar, type Device Manager, then select from the menu, right-click on the disk drive and then select scan for hardware changes.

 

Windows 7 – Right-click on computer icon on desktop and select properties, click Device Manager, right-click on the disk drive and then select scan for hardware changes.


Image result for disk drive scan for hardware changes

 


Q: Is the ICY DOCK NVMe enclosure supporting the PCIe 4.0 standard?

A: Yes, all ICY DOCK NVMe enclosures support the PCIe 4.0x4 standard, with up to 64Gbps transfer rates.


Q: I feel that the drive tray's upper and lower metal spring is stuck when inserting the drive tray. What should I do?

A: Remove the drive tray from the enclosure and reinsert the tray without putting excessive pressure on the metal mesh sheet in front of the tray. Excessive force on the front metal mesh sheet may bend the top and bottom metal spring, causing difficulties when inserting the drive tray. Therefore, please do not forcingly insert the drive tray when this happens as it may cause damage to the metal spring.

 

metal spring
Please DO NOT put excessive pressure on the metal mesh sheet as shown

Reviews

By TechPowerUp

Thinking of getting a 3.5” bay mobile rack for U.2 SSD? Read what TechPowerUp thinks about our ToughArmor MB601VK-1B first!

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