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Form factor for SSDs (M.2)

pc

The M.2 form factor defines the physical specifications for solid-state drives (SSDs) in computing devices.

expanded

The M.2 form factor, previously known as the Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF), is used in SSDs to specify dimensions and connection interfaces within computers. It allows for compact and flexible design options, ideally suited for ultrabooks and small form factor PCs, supporting both PCIe and SATA interfaces which provide various performance levels.

examples

A Samsung 970 EVO Plus M.2 NVMe SSD measuring 22 mm × 80 mm and supporting PCIe Gen 3x4 interface.

Commonly used in high-performance gaming laptops and workstations requiring rapid read/write speeds exceeding 3,400 MB/s (read) and 3,300 MB/s (write).

A Western Digital Blue SN570 M.2 SSD offering 22 mm × 80 mm size and interfacing over PCIe NVMe, suitable for mainstream computing applications.

Often integrated into desktops and laptops for improved system boot times and application load speeds, boasting read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s.

Crucial P5 Plus M.2 SSD operating via PCIe Gen 4x4 interface with a 22 mm × 80 mm size.

Used in systems that require PCIe Gen 4 bandwidth, achieving speeds up to 6,600 MB/s, suitable for content creation and gaming.

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