Reddit reviews Sabrent M.2 SSD to 2.5-Inch SATA III Aluminum Enclosure Adapter (EC-M2SA)

Sabrent makes an M.2 to 2.5 inch enclosure if you have a non NVME drive you want to move. Spending an extra $10 kinda kills this deal though.

It'll work fine. There are slightly more elegant solutions like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW

Or one that also allows connecting over USB (at extra cost):

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2CU/dp/B07924J5NT

I know this doesn't solve the NVMe/u.2 issue but:

There are SATA to m.2 enclosures that are 2.5". You have to use them with B key drives (not NVMe but SATA M.2).

For exmple I have this with 2 x 500gb M.2 drives in it. I use mine in RAID 0, but there are options (using a jumper) for spanning and other setups.

Also, the single 2.5" SATA to M.2 SATA enclosures go for $10 or less.

You mean the enclosure? Yeah here's just the first result on amazon

I'm not sure why the speed is higher. My speeds are from Linux dd command piped to /dev/zero.

I couldn't test the MX500 because I returned it to buy the Western Digital -- the MX500 had 3 sectors bad from the factory and I wasn't having it for ~$600.

For future reference, you could have used one of these to use your M.2 as a 2.5"

This is SATA drive so it doesn't use PCIe but requires a SATA connection

M.2 to 2.5" works

M.2 to PCIe doesn't work

M.2 SATA to PCIe works but requires connecting the bundled cable to one of your motherboard's SATA ports.

Got some for cloning drives at work. Just be careful of which key you have. B, M, B&M.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW/ref=sxin_2_ac_d_pm?ac_md=1-0-VW5kZXIgJDEw-ac_d_pm&crid=2T45BKK0TORPH&keywords=m.2+sata+enclosure&pd_rd_i=B01N6PMZLW&pd_rd_r=d1c879cd-05d2-47c6-abcc-f7eb75cc6a3e&pd_rd_w=FXiNu&pd_rd_wg=oCcJj&pf_rd_p=eeff02d5-070a-45ea-a79e-d591974b877e&pf_rd_r=9AHSM2DRH0HVP5VFY3VP&psc=1&qid=1566297731&s=gateway&sprefix=m.2+sata+en%2Caps%2C152

Thank you, This one worked

That card is a sata m.2, so it won't work in that adapter as its pcie only.

You want an adapter like this for a sata m.2 drive https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1525927980&sr=8-3&keywords=m.2+to+sata

In future if you ever feel like your not too sure about getting an m.2 for your mobo, you can always grab one just in case and get a 2.5" enclosure which basically turns it into an internal 2.5" ssd. It can be real handy if you have any spare m.2 drives lying around but no longer have any slots on the mobo available!

Heres a link to the one Tek Everything uses if your interested: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW

Storage space is an often overlooked issue when building for the first time. Games, especially modern titles, take up a LOT of storage space as you have discovered. It also presents a quandary - we need a lot of space but at the same time we want fast drives to reduce loading times. Problem is, fast + big = expensive. I think even if you got a 1TB NVMe, you'd still manage to fill that up pretty quickly and within a few months would be back to doing that 'uninstall game shuffle', which is a pain in the ass. I know, I've been there.

One solution I wholehearted recommend (and I've put this on a couple of other posts here) is primocache. It's a great program that costs around $30 and you can use it to turn an SSD into a cache disk for a large HDD. There's a couple of ways I see you implementing this solution:

First solution is that you get yourself a low capacity NVMe, 120-256 GB, a decent sized rotary HDD (2-4TB) and a m.2 sata adapter like this one. Install your WD blue in the adapter, hook up the power and data cables and keep this as your boot drive - if you're finding it fast enough for that. Install the NVMe and the HDD and use the NVMe as a cache for the HDD. Install all your games to the HDD and there you go, fast + big for relatively cheap. The caveat of course is that the first time you load up a game it will be slow, but as the data gets cached load times will reduce dramatically.

Second option is that you get yourself a 240-512GB NVMe. Install this in the bottom slot at first, then migrate your OS over to the NVMe using the manufacturer's migration tools if they have them, or something like minitool's partition wizard - this way you don't have to install the OS again from scratch, but you might have to uninstall a few games until there's enough space if you get a NVMe that's smaller than your WD Blue. Remove both drives, plug the NVMe into where your WD Blue was and set it up as the boot drive. Get yourself a decent sized HDD as above, and a 120-256 GB SATA SSD to use as a cache. You could get the m.2 to SATA adapter above and use your WD Blue, but I would recommend something better like a Samsung 860 Pro and selling your WD Blue.

Option 2 is a little more complicated and expensive, and games will load a little more slowly with it, but you'll have an NVMe as your boot drive. Not sure if the slightly faster boot times and snappier response from the OS or applications installed to it will make a huge enough difference for you though - I'd probably go with option 1 for faster games.

​

Some small notes - when partitioning your HDD, set the cluster size to 16k or 32k. This will help reduce the RAM overhead required to cache it, and most game files are large enough that 16k or 32k clusters will make no difference. Match the cache block size as close as you can to the drive's cluster size so that it doesn't use a ridiculous amount of RAM as overhead. I would not recommend using primocache unless you have at least 16GB RAM as you will need some for this overhead, and also level 1 caching a.k.a. RAM cache - this can make a huge difference in load times. Give it about 1GB and keep the level 2 cache (SSD cache) overhead to <1GB - your system should still have 14GB to play around with - more than enough for today's titles.

Yes, they make 2.5" enclosures for m.2 drives that will operate just like a regular 2.5" SATA SSD.

Amazon link

Note that it won't work with NVMe drives though.

Yes, at Dell. Was easy to miss.

M.2 in enclosure is just fine and it does add flexibility for a cost, although it depends on capacity. 2TB TLC in that form factor just isn't quite there yet. Also be aware that if you intend to use a USB3.1/C enclosure later, you take a massive performance hit on 4K and especially 4K writes (example). Reliability of something like the Sabrent aluminum enclosure should be just fine - physically, the M.2 socket directly exposes SATA (and USB for that matter) so the circuitry is uncomplicated; in fact, SATA Express is an example of this as it supports both protocols as well. I would advise caution when installing in an enclosure because people often do the standoff incorrectly which esp. on a double-sided drive can short it out (might be the basis of some of the poor reviews - I've had people do it wrong without knowing).

I wouldn't worry about capacitors with modern SSDs. This is something tackled by the controller/firmware and NAND (I believe Crucial actually advertised the fact the MX500 didn't need to rely on capacitors). You're right that this was an issue in the past, although it's generally an area worried about more in enterprise. It is one reason I suggest getting a drive with DRAM cache - this defers writing to the NAND copy for translation/wear - but the cache doesn't hold any actual data. You can of course be in the middle of a write, but this also involves the OS and its settings, and of course I suggest everybody use UPS on their primary system (I sure as heck do). But I don't consider it a major issue with current consumer SSDs.

If the M.2 SSD you have is a SATA drive (rather than a PCIe based one), you could also just get an M.2-to-2.5" adapter and then plug it into a normal SATA connection on your current motherboard. They should only be about $10, for example this one.

If your SSD is an NVME one, they also make adapters so you can mount the M.2 drive and connect it to one of the PCIe slots on your motherboard. The should be similarly cheap, like this one

Note: I'm not endorsing either of those specifically, but they seemed to be some of the cheaper ones on Amazon with decent reviews on a quick search.

Your welcome. just make sure the type of m.2 ssd works with the adapter you get, the one I saw when double checking had some restrictions on which form factor (the size) worked with it.

Sabrent M.2 SSD to 2.5-Inch SATA III Aluminum Enclosure Adapter (EC-M2SA) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6PMZLW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BpVxDbT54PZES

M.2 SSD to 2.5in SATA Adapter, here's one on Amazon.

Thinking about going with this adapter. Will it work as well as the one you linked or is there some keyword I should search for before purchasing?

Couldn't tell you without known the board specs, and I know it's annoying since you then have to take up a 2.5" slot, power connector, etc, but this worked perfectly for using my samsung M.2 SSD on an older MB.

edit nevermind, I'm a lost redditor and thought I was in /r/buildapc ... looking at the specs of the z370 boards though, it still doesn't seem obvious what exactly that m.2 slot has. Might still be stuck with an adapter.

Try one of these, worked for me every time:

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505599309&sr=8-1&keywords=m2+sata+adapter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6PMZLW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_atrJzbA5YSQVR

Something like this would work. Stick your m.2 drive in there, and just clone it over to the SATA drive.

Or you can just fresh install onto the SATA SSD - which is what I would do since I don't care about data.

$9 adapter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6PMZLW

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW/

This ^ will make it go inside the adapter you already bought

https://www.amazon.com/SSK-Aluminum-Enclosure-External-Based/dp/B07MKCG5ZG/

This ^ replaces both


https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Enclosure-Aluminum-External-Tool-Free/dp/B07NPG5H83/

Another option

Doesn't exist, only m.2 sata to 2.5" sata ssd [EC-M2SA] (https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=m.2+nvme+to+2.5+adapter&qid=1570302507&s=electronics&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sr=1-3) or m.2 pcie [adapter] (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=m.2+pcie+adapter&ref=nb_sb_noss)

Oh, yeah, sorry, probably should have asked that beforehand but this should work fine

enclosure maybe?


https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW

So something like this should work? I’m wondering if it’s far too wide.

https://www.amazon.ca/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW#immersive-view_1551058844564

Or maybe this

https://www.amazon.ca/AD905A-SATA-Connector-Converter-Adapter/dp/B018ATXKLI

Looks like adapters are the main options.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW/

https://www.amazon.com/External-Converter-Adapter-Enclosure-Support/dp/B07PTN3PQ9/

Yeah that’s fine, you’ll want something like this m.2 to sata enclosure.

you might be able to swap the hdd for it if you use an adapter like this https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_147_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RB0ZG57FAQ680M748151 but you won't have the HDD anymore so

I have a 525 gb Crucial MX300 m.2 SSD drive

I just purchased a ThinkCentre m93p Tiny i5-4570T. (detailed specs)

I'd like to replace the 2.5" HDD with the above drive, using an m.2 to 2.5" SATA adapter (such as this one or any other one). Do you think it'll boot?

I saw that the Intel Q87 chipset doesn't support booting from an m.2 NVMe drive. However, this drive is not NVMe I don't think, it's just m.2 SATA.

What do you think? Give it a try? Don't bother? Suck it up and get a regular SATA SSD?

you can buy & use m.2 sata ssd pcie adapter

Vantec M.2 NVMe + M.2 SATA SSD PCIe x4 Adapter (UGT-M2PC200)

https://www.amazon.com/Vantec-NVMe-SATA-Adapter-UGT-M2PC200/dp/B0751CJ139

SilverStone Technology M.2 PCIE Adapter for SATA or PCIE NVMe SSD with Advanced Thermal Solution (ECM22)

https://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-Technology-Advanced-Solution-ECM22/dp/B075ZNWS9Y

Or you can use too m.2 sata ssd to sata hdd 2.5 adapter

Sabrent M.2 SSD to 2.5-Inch SATA III Aluminum Enclosure Adapter (EC-M2SA)

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW

You can get a m.2 to SATA adapter for around $10. I have this one and it works really well.

This is one of the cheapest options:

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Aluminum-Enclosure-EC-M2SA/dp/B01N6PMZLW/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_147_lp_t_3/137-9392396-8380743?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FSQ8WFHKC5XPR55PJ0NE

Edit: Nvm doesn't support NVME, use a PCIE adapter:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIABP565E1156&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Data+Adapters-_-9SIABP565E1156&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrYDUwPXb3QIVkIizCh33Wgj5EAQYAyABEgIUuPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds