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ToughArmor MB601V5K-B

2.5" U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD PCIe 5.0 Mobile Rack Enclosure for External 3.5" Drive Bay (1 x MCIO 4i SFF-TA-1016)
Product Details
  • Note: To utilize multiple M.2, U.2, or U.3 NVMe SSDs 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 Next Generation NVMe Mobile Rack
    The ToughArmor MB601V5K-B is a next-generation PCIe 5.0 mobile rack designed for high-speed U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs. Equipped with the latest MCIO 4i (SFF-TA-1016) interface, this mobile rack enclosure supports up to 128Gb/s transfer speeds, making it the ideal solution for data-intensive applications. Designed to fit into a standard 3.5” external drive bay, the MB601V5K-B allows for quick SSD swaps without opening the computer case, providing both speed and convenience for professional workstations, enterprise servers, and AI computing applications.
  • Unlock the Power of PCIe 5.0 with MCIO 4i
    The MB842M5P-B is engineered with the MCIO 4i (SFF-TA-1016) interface, aligning with the latest industry standards for high-speed NVMe SSD expansion. This advanced NVMe solution ensures maximum flexibility across enterprise workstations, high-performance computing, AI training, and data-intensive applications. By utilizing direct connectivity, it eliminates bottlenecks, reduces cable clutter, and delivers ultra-low latency storage performance for next-generation workloads.
  • Ultra-High-Speed Data Transfer
    The MB601V5K-B is engineered to fully utilize PCIe 5.0, 4.0, and 3.0 x8 and x16 slots, ensuring broad compatibility across various enterprise and high-performance computing platforms. With ultra-fast 128Gbps data transfer speeds, this cutting-edge storage solution is built for demanding applications such as 4K/8K video processing, where seamless handling of uncompressed video footage is essential. It also excels in AI and machine learning workloads, providing the necessary high-speed data throughput for deep learning models and real-time inference processing. In the world of finance, it is ideal for high-frequency trading (HFT), achieving ultra-low latency for real-time financial transactions. Additionally, the MB840M5P-B enhances high-performance cloud computing, allowing for rapid virtual machine storage scaling and maximizing data center efficiency. For research professionals and data analysts, this PCIe 5.0-enabled solution accelerates scientific computing and data mining operations, ensuring faster simulations and efficient handling of massive datasets.
  • Removable NVMe SSD for Maximum Flexibility
    Unlike traditional U.2/U.3 SSD installations, which require opening the system chassis, the MB601V5K-B features a removable EZ Slide Mini tray, allowing users to quickly swap SSDs without system disassembly. This design streamlines SSD maintenance and reduces system downtime, making it an ideal solution for environments requiring frequent drive replacements. Additionally, the MB601V5K-B supports U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs ranging from 7mm to 15mm in height, ensuring broad compatibility with various enterprise and industrial storage solutions.

    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 U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD, please refer to FAQ.
  • Advanced Cooling for Heavy Workloads

    To maintain optimal SSD performance, the MB601V5K-B is equipped with:

      A high-performance 25mm cooling fan, ensuring active heat dissipation.
      Strategically placed air ventilation holes, allowing natural airflow.
      Precision-cut PCB ventilation channels, optimizing thermal efficiency.


    Even under intense workloads, these features keep your SSD cool and data safe.

  • Industrial-Grade Full Metal Protection

    Constructed from durable full-metal materials, the MB601V5K-B is built to withstand the harshest environments, making it suitable for:

    Military and aerospace applications
    Industrial automation and embedded systems
    Medical imaging and healthcare data processing


    The all-metal construction ensures compliance with flammability safety standards, enhancing protection for sensitive storage environments.

  • Built-in Power & Activity Indicators
    The front of the MB601V5K-B includes a status LED when the drive is powered on, off and accessed. Active Power Technology (APT) allows the status LED to be on only when a SSD is inserted into the enclosure.
  • Secure Locking Mechanism for Data Protection
    For enterprise security, the MB601V5K-B incorporates an Eagle-hook lock system to prevent accidental SSD ejection, ensuring that drives remain securely in place during operation. Additionally, the 2-segment key lock provides an extra layer of protection against unauthorized drive access and data theft. These security features make it an ideal solution for data-sensitive environments, such as government agencies, financial institutions, and cybersecurity infrastructure where data protection is critical.
  • Versatile Compatibility with Enterprise Storage Solutions
    The MB601V5K-B is designed for seamless integration with major enterprise storage solutions, offering broad compatibility with motherboards, RAID controllers, and HBA cards from leading brands like Supermicro, Broadcom, Adaptec, and Areca. It also supports M.2 to MCIO adapter solutions, providing flexible NVMe expansion for enterprise workloads. For a complete list of compatible hardware, please visit our FAQ section or contact our support team.
  • (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.
  • Wide Range of Compatibility
    The EZ-Slide Mini Tray MB991TRAY-B offers effortless interchangeability among different ToughArmor models.
Main Features
Supports 1x U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD (5mm to 15mm height)
   
Designed for external 3.5” drive bays
   
PCIe 5.0 up to 128Gb/s transfer speed via MCIO 4i interface
   
Hot-swappable removable tray for quick drive access
   
Secure locking system (Eagle-hook + 2-segment key lock)
   
Built-in 25mm cooling fan & passive heat dissipation design
   
EMI grounding protection for SSDs
   
Full-metal construction for industrial-grade durability
   
Anti-Vibration Technology (AVT) - only powers up if there is drive installed in the drive bay
   
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: MB601V5K-B
Color: Black
Support Drive Size: 1 x 2.5" U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD
Compatible Drive Type: NVMe
Number of Drives: 1
Max Drive Height: 15mm
Drive Bay: 1 x external 3.5" drive bay
Host Interface: 1 x MCIO 4i (SFF-TA-1016)
Power Input: 1 x SATA 15 Pin power connector
Transfer Rate: PCIe 5.0 up to 128Gbps
Support SDD Capacity: No limitation
Drive Cooling: 1 x 25 x 25 x 7mm fan
Structure / Material: Full metal
Support Hot-Swap: Yes
Drive Security: 2 segment key lock
Dimension (W x H x D): 101.2 x 25.4 x 143.8mm
Product Net Weight: 424.1g
Package Net Weight: 638.7g
Drive Activity LED Indication: Drive power: solid green; Drive access: flashing green
Package Contents: Device, user manual, screw, I/O faceplate 
 Connector Insertion Rate: 5,000
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):

  • MB991TRAY-B

Compatible Drive cable:

  • MB413L-B
  • MB414L-B

Related Products:

Related Products Series:

  • Metal+Tray Enclosures
  • SAS/SATA Enclosures

FAQ

Q: Can you recommend an add-on card that is compatible with MB601V5K-B?

A: To ensure compatibility with MB601V5K-B, 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 MB601V5K-B, 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: 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

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