Icy Dock ExpressSlot Slide MB204MP-B Removable 4-Bay M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe 5.0 x16 Mobile Rack Enclosure/Adapter Card

Icy Dock launches the ExpressSlot Slide MB204MP-1B removable 4-bay M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe 5.0 x16 mobile rack enclosure/adapter card for PCIe Expansion slot (PCIe Bifurcation required).

Achieve data transfer speeds of up to 128Gb/drive within a single PCIe slot. By utilizing motherboards with PCIe Bifurcation capability (x4, x4, x4, x4 for a x16 slot), the MB204MP-B allows users to add or remove 4 independent M.2 NVMe SSDs through a single PCIe x16 slot. This product is the 1st mobile rack enclosure enabling easy addition and removal of 4xM.2 NVMe SSDs directly on a PCIe adapter card. Ideal for environments requiring high-density M.2 NVMe SSD installations in limited space, the MB204MP-B ensures quick maintenance, upgrades, and drive replacement. This makes it for applications such as data centers, HPC, and enterprise storage solutions, where space efficiency and ease of access are crucial.

Effortless SSD tray removal design
The newly designed removable M.2 SSD tray of the MB204MP-B offers a compact and space-saving solution. Its quick-release knob is ergonomically designed for easy operation. Users can swiftly open the side panel of their computer case and slide the quick-release knob to the left to extract the M.2 SSD tray with minimal effort. This entire process takes less than a minute, providing a significant improvement in convenience compared to traditional M.2 adapter cards, which require the removal of the adapter card from the motherboard and unscrewing the M.2 SSD

Tool-less M.2 SSD tray design

The MB204MP-B is equipped with removable drive trays that allow tool-less drive removal and installation. Simply unlock the quick-release knob to release the drive tray and access the M.2 NVMe SSDs without dealing with any tools or screws. Each M.2 slot is compatible with various M.2 drive lengths from 30 to 80mm (2230 / 2242 / 2260 / 2280).

Advanced cooling mechanism for superior performance

The MB204MP-B incorporates an advanced cooling mechanism to maintain the optimal operating temperature of M.2 NVMe SSDs. Each removable drive tray features an aluminum heatsink lid that efficiently dissipates heat generated by the SSDs. The included thermal pads ensure effective heat transfer from the SSDs to the aluminum heatsink, maximizing cooling efficiency. Additionally, the airflow design channels air through the system, expelling hot air quickly and maintaining a cool environment for the SSDs. The unit is equipped with a 50mm blower fan to enhance cooling further. For systems with adequate cooling or environments requiring minimal noise, the MB204MP-B includes a fan on/off switch, allowing users to disable the fan as needed.

PCIe 5.0 performance

The advantage of utilizing the PCIe 5.0 interface is that it provides power and data through a single PCIe slot, reducing the system’s cable clutter. In addition, the blazing-fast 128Gb transfer speed is significantly faster than SATA 3, making it a solution for data-intensive applications such as ML, cloud computing, data mining, or even image processing.

Individual drive status indicators
The MB204MP-B is equipped with LED indicators on the PCIe faceplate to show the status of drive power and activity. The LEDs will automatically power off when no drive is detected to save energy.

Compatible with Intel VROC {Virtual RAID-on-CPU) function

The MB204MP-B is compatible with Intel VROC (Virtual RAID-on-CPU) function and AMD PCIe 5.0 NVMe RAID, allowing you to create bootable RAID-0/1/5/10 array with up to 4xM.2 NVMe 5.0 SSDs without needing a pricey RAID controller card. In addition, the removable SSD tray design allows you to swap SSDs without unmounting the MB204MP-B from the PCIe slot, making drive maintenance a more efficient and straightforward process.

Main features:

• Fits 4xM.2 PCIe NVMe SSD from 30-80mm (2230, 2242, 2260, 2280)
• Uses 1xPCIe 5.0 x16 slot (PCIe Bifurcation x4, x4, x4, x4 for PCIe 16x is required to access four drives)
• Installs to a single-width full-height PCIe express slot
• Removable drive tray with tool-less drive installation for easy drive maintenance
• Quick release knob design allows for fast and easy SSD removal and installation
• Fan on/off switch provides flexibility for systems with sufficient cooling or noise-sensitive environments
• Active-Power Technology (APT) – saves power by shutting the device when no drive is installed
• PCIe interface provides power and data transfer to reduce cable clutter
• Included thermal pad conducts heat from the SSD to the aluminum heatsink lid
• 5-year limited warranty against all defects
• Complimentary support from a professionally trained US-based technical support agent

Note: This new product is part of the company’s ExpressSlot Slide range, which includes the MB204MP-B model. Introduced in September 2024, the MB204MP-B is an adapter board designed to accommodate 4xM.2 PC/e 5.0 NVMe SSDs. The main difference with the new product is its support for PCle 5.0 x16 expansion slots.