The edge connectors on some computer parts are often referred to as "Gold Fingers" due to the appearance of their gold-plated pins. To protect these delicate connection points on your M.2 solid-state drives (SSDs), it's crucial to understand their vulnerability. While connectors on many computer parts, such as RAM and graphics cards, are durable, M.2 SSDs are an exception.

M.2 connectors are more fragile than those on other computer components because they were not designed for frequent installation and removal. Typically, M.2 SSDs are rated for about 250 insertion and removal cycles. If the gold plating on these connectors wears down, it can interfere with the speed, operation, and reliability of your data.

To prevent wear and tear on these delicate M.2 connections, we recommend using an intermediary, or "middle man," connection. Utilizing an i intermediary connection will keep the wear and tear limited to the middle man, sparing your M.2 PCIe NVMe drive.

This goal is achieved with the MB601M2K-B, a 3.5" front bay enclosure that provides convenient access and removability for M.2 PCIe NVMe drives. The drive tray will act as the intermediary connection, featuring a U.2 SFF-8639 connector rated for up to 10,000 insertion and removal cycles, providing peace of mind when swapping your M.2 PCIe NVMe drives.

If both M.2 and U.2 NVMe SSDs requires frequent drive swapping, the MB699VP-B paired with the MB705M2P-B can accommodate up to four M.2 PCIe NVMe drives or standard U.2/U.3 drives. The U.2 SFF-8639 connector on the MB705M2P-B is also rated for the same 10,000 insertion and removal cycles, while also providing added physical protection and enhanced heat dissipation.

Lack of a 3.5" or 5.25" bay? We've got you covered! Meet the ToughArmor MB111VP-B, a rugged and removable U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD enclosure designed to fit into a PCIe slot. To have additional support for M.2 NVMe SSDs, simply pair it with the MB705M2P-B adapter to protect the M.2 gold-plated connector from constant swapping.