随着计算机（主要是笔记本电脑）的尺寸不断缩小，其存储驱动器等组件也需要相应地变得更小。在过去的几十年里，计算机存储已经从典型的 2 平方米产品转变为超现代的闪存驱动器——现在可以放入最薄的笔记本电脑和超极本(Ultrabooks)中。看看M.2 SSD ( M-dot-2 ) 外形尺寸，它将传统固态存储的大小缩小到USB记忆棒的小尺寸。
如果您打算为您的下一台计算机购买M.2 SSD驱动器，那么您需要知道的一切。
什么是 M.2 SSD
M.2 是SSD(SSDs)（固态驱动器）的一种外形尺寸，看起来像一根口香糖。M.2 SSD(M.2 SSDs)是矩形的，其中大部分为 80 x 22毫米（长x(L x W)宽），但可以更短或更长（即 30 毫米、42 毫米和 110 毫米）。与较短版本相比，较长的M.2 SSD驱动器可容纳更多的 NAND 芯片并拥有额外的容量。这些驱动器也可以是单面或双面的。最常见的尺寸标记为M.2 Type-2280。
M.2 SSD卡典型地用于现代移动计算设备。M.2 SSD(M.2 SSDs)与旧系统不兼容，因为这种外形与 m SATA卡不同。由于其紧凑性因素，轻薄的笔记本电脑越来越多地使用M.2 SSD ，因为与传统的(M.2 SSDs)SATA驱动器不同，它们占用的空间非常小。此外，由于它是为移动设备设计的，因此不适合大型企业存储系统。
现在关于成本和供应商，这种类型的SSD(SSDs)现在在市场上广泛可用，通常每 GB 成本为 0.25 美元至 0.75 美元。三星(Samsung)和英特尔(Intel)是最受欢迎的M.2 SSD(M.2 SSDs)供应商。其他供应商包括东芝(Toshiba)、金士顿(Kingston)、Team Group、Plextor和Adata。
识别不同尺寸的M.2 SSD
M.2 SSD卡和主板插槽的大小不同，无论是卡的宽度还是长度。M.2 SSD的大小可以使用其名称中的四位或五位数字来识别。前两位数字是它的宽度，而其他数字是它的长度。比如M.2类型——2280卡；它宽 22 毫米，长 80 毫米。对于台式机和笔记本电脑，22 毫米宽的M.2 SSD(M.2 SSDs)是标准配置。M.2 模块的当前可用尺寸如下：
- 宽度 – 12、16、22 和 30 毫米
- 长度 – 16、26、30、38、42、60、80(Lengths – 16)和 110 毫米
一张 80 毫米或 110 毫米长的卡可以容纳 8个NAND芯片以获得 1 TB 的容量。此外(Furthermore)，M.2 SSD(M.2 SSDs)的存储容量高达 2TB。
键控结构(Keying Structure)
M.2 模块具有多个缺口引脚，可以轻松插入配对连接器，进一步增强了其简单的兼容性。确定(Definite)的缺口销与唯一的Key匹配，范围从 A（销 8-15 缺口）到 M（销 59-66 缺口）。
典型的M.2 SSD键控结构包括 B 键、M 键或B+M Key。对于WD M.2 SSD ，在(WD M.2 SSDs)WD Green SSD和WD Blue SSD型号上使用的键是 B 和 M (B+M) ，而WD Black PCIe SSD仅使用 M 键。
M.2 SSD 存储专家
- 超速
- 紧凑的外形
- 未来的技术
- 改善功耗
- 可靠可靠
1] 额外的速度(1] Extra speed)
M.2 SSD(M.2 SSDs)专为PCIe连接器设计，其口径远远超过传统SSD。这些增加了SSD技术在速度上的巨大差异，而这些价格合理的 M.2 SSD能够将速度提高 15 倍。用户还将能够获得利用NVME协议的(NVME)M.2 SSD(M.2 SSDs)，这些提供的延迟要低得多。
像Windows这样的操作系统大部分时间都在使用系统的存储，因此升级会使事情变得更顺畅。速度上的差异也将在系统的启动时间和减少的游戏负载屏幕上体现出来。
2]紧凑的外形(2] Compacted Form Factor)
因此，如果您正在计划便携式构建，那么M.2 SSD是减少重量和空间因素的重要考虑因素。传统的 2.5 英寸SSD(SSDs)几乎是你整个手的大小，但M.2 SSD(M.2 SSDs)位于 2 到 3 个手指上。除此之外，M.2 连接器直接插入主板，无需额外布线。这些驱动器将SSD(SSDs)的重量从 50 克减至仅 7 克，即相当于树上一片叶子的重量。
3]未来的技术(3] Technology of the Future)
如果您获得支持 M.2 驱动器的系统，您将在未来打开大量升级选项。与PCIe存储和NVME一样，M.2 是另一项有望在几年内主导消费市场的创新。
4] 改善功耗(4] Improved Power Consumption)
移动计算机系统的运行时间非常有限，具体取决于其电池的大小和不同组件消耗的功率。由于M.2 SSD的接口是SATA 3.2规范的一部分，因此它包含一些超出接口的功能，例如DevSleep。这一新功能创建了一个低功耗状态并减少了设备使用的电量。这有助于延长系统的运行时间并使其进入睡眠状态，而不是在多次使用中断电。
5]可靠可靠(5] Reliable and dependable)
SSD 相对于硬盘驱动器的主要优势之一是它们不会在物理上退化并且持续很长时间。M.2 SSD 的工作方式类似，长期风险很小，而且其可靠性众所周知。
M.2 SSD 缺点
对于那些不太熟悉计算机硬件的人来说，找到适合您主板的M.2 SSD可能是一项艰巨的工作。(M.2 SSD)这些驱动器带来了许多复杂性，这里有一个简单的概述：
- 两个连接器仅支持几个选择性“键”，因此可以连接到具有相同键控的连接器。
- 只有少数 M.2 驱动器和连接点支持NVME，即更快的数据传输协议。
- 用户可能需要在系统BIOS中将 M.2 驱动器切换到(BIOS)PICe模式。
- 使用SATA连接的两个驱动器可以凝聚计算机的整体性能。
因此，在最终购买之前，用户需要检查他们的主板是否与 M.2 兼容，并探索他们的连接选项和设置步骤。
另一个缺点是价格，获得英特尔傲腾(Intel Optane)等更新的现代技术可能需要 4 倍的成本。
最后的想法(Final Thoughts)
你需要M.2 SSD吗？好吧(Well)，由于众多专业人士，每台现代计算机都需要M.2 SSD，这不仅是因为其紧凑的结构和时尚感，而且是为了与新技术和即将到来的技术保持联系。
What is M.2 SSD? Does your computer need M.2 SSD?
As computers, predоminantly the laptops, continue to shrink in size, its components like the storage drіves аlso needed tо congruently get ѕmaller. In the paѕt few decades, computer storage has transformеd from that typical 2 square meter product tо υltra-modern flash drives – which now fits into thе thinnest of laptoрs and Ultrabooks. Behold the M.2 SSD (M-dot-2) form factor, that’s nips the size of conventional solid-state storage to the minuscule size of a USB stick.
If you are planning to buy an M.2 SSD drive for your next computer, here’s all that you need to know.
What is M.2 SSD
M.2 is a form factor for SSDs (solid-state drives) which looks like a stick of gum. M.2 SSDs are rectangular and most of them are 80 x 22mm (L x W) but can be shorter or longer (i.e., 30 mm, 42 mm and 110 mm). The M.2 SSD drives which are longer hold more NAND chips and hold extra capacity than the shorter versions. These drives can also be single or double-sided. The most common size is labeled M.2 Type-2280.
M.2 SSD cards are archetypally used in modern mobile computing devices. M.2 SSDs are not compatible with older systems because this form factor is not like mSATA cards. Owing to its compactness factor, thin laptops are increasingly using M.2 SSDs as they take very less room, unlike the traditional SATA drives. Also, since it’s designed for mobile devices, these aren’t fit for large enterprise storage systems.
Now about the cost and vendors, this type of SSDs are widely available in the market now and typically cost from $0.25-$0.75 per gigabyte. Samsung and Intel are the most popular vendors for M.2 SSDs. Other vendors include Toshiba, Kingston, Team Group, Plextor, and Adata.
Identifying different sizes of M.2 SSD
M.2 SSD cards and motherboard slots differ in sizes, both in the width and length of the card. The size of M.2 SSD can be identified using the four- or five-digit number in its name. The first two digits are its width, while the others are its length. For example, M.2 type – 2280 card; it’s 22 mm wide and 80 mm long. For desktop and laptops, 22 mm width M.2 SSDs are standard. The current available sizes for M.2 modules are as follow:
- Widths – 12, 16, 22, and 30 mm
- Lengths – 16, 26, 30, 38, 42, 60, 80, and 110 mm
An 80 mm or 110 mm length card can hold 8 NAND chips for 1 TB of capacity. Furthermore, M.2 SSDs go up to 2TB in storage size.
Keying Structure
With several notched pins, M.2 modules can be easily plugged into a mating connector, which further enhances its easy compatibility. Definite Notched pins match to a unique Key, ranging from A (having pins 8-15 notched) to M (having pins 59-66 notched).
The typical M.2 SSD keying structure includes B key, M key or B+M Key. For WD M.2 SSDs, the keys used are B and M (B+M) on WD Green SSD and WD Blue SSD models, while the WD Black PCIe SSD uses only the M key.
M.2 SSD Storage Pros
- Extra Speed
- Compacted Form Factor
- The technology of the Future
- Improved Power Consumption
- Reliable and dependable
1] Extra speed
M.2 SSDs are designed for the PCIe connector, which has far more caliber than the traditional SSD’s. These add to the sheer difference in speed of SSD technologies, and these reasonably priced M.2 SSD’s have the power to fetch 15x faster speed. Users will also be able to get M.2 SSDs which leverage the NVME protocol, these offer much lower latency.
Operating systems like Windows utilize the system’s storage most of the time, hence an upgrade makes things smoother. The difference in speed will also be evident in the system’s boot times and reduced game load screens.
2] Compacted Form Factor
So, if you are planning a portable build, then an M.2 SSD is one stern consideration for reducing the weight and space factor. The traditional 2.5-inch SSDs are almost the size of your entire hand, but M.2 SSDs lie on 2 to 3 fingers. In addition to this, M.2 connectors plug straight into the motherboard, eliminating the need for extra cabling. These drives cut down the weight of SSDs from 50 grams to just 7 grams, i.e., equivalent to the weight of a leaf on a tree.
3] Technology of the Future
If you get a system which supports M.2 drives, you will open plenty of upgrade options in the future. Like PCIe storage and NVME, M.2 is another innovation that is expected to dominate the consumer market in a few years.
4] Improved Power Consumption
Mobile computers systems have a very limited running time depending upon the size of their battery and the power consumed by the different components. Since the interface of M.2 SSD is a part of the SATA 3.2 specifications, it includes few features that are beyond just the interface, like DevSleep. This new feature creates a lower power state and cuts down the amount of power used by the devices. This helps in extending the running time for the systems and put it to sleep rather than powered down amid several uses.
5] Reliable and dependable
One of the major advantages of SSD’s over hard drives was that they do not degrade physically and last very long. M.2 SSD’s work in a similar fashion, there’s a very little long-run risk, and their dependability is well known.
M.2 SSD Cons
Spotting an M.2 SSD which fits your motherboard can be a difficult job for those who aren’t too conversant with computer hardware. These drives come with many complications, here’s a quick rundown:
- Two connectors support only a few selective ‘keys,’ hence can connect to connectors with the same keying.
- Only a few M.2 drives and connection points support NVME, i.e., the faster data transfer protocol.
- Users might have to switch their M.2 drive to PICe mode in their system BIOS.
- Two drives which use SATA connection can condense the overall computer performance.
Hence before making the final purchase, a user needs to check if their motherboard is compatible with M.2 and explore their connections options and setup steps.
Another con is the price, getting newer modern technologies like Intel Optane can demand 4X cost.
Final Thoughts
Do you need M.2 SSD? Well, owing to the array of pros every modern computer needs M.2 SSD, not just for its compact structure and sleekness, but to stay relevant with the new and upcoming technologies.
