Installation …
The installation is done quickly. First, remove the pre-installed M.2 frame by pressing the eject button and removing the cover. Incidentally, this is not an EZConvert adapter ordered separately, but two of these M.2 adapters are included in the scope of delivery.
Now insert the desired M.2 SSD the right way round so that the contacts of the M.2 SSD are completely visible in the outer area and push the retaining clip towards the SSD.
Now we remove one side of the foil from the supplied thermal pad, place it on the SSD, reattach the cover and the M.2 carrier is ready.
Now we can slide the M.2 SSD in the M.2 carrier into the Mobile Rack until it clicks into place completely.
The two optional Icy Dock SFF-8654 4i cables are now connected on the back on the right. Here you have to pay attention to the different versions, because there is also the slightly wider SFF-8654 8i connector. The standard 15-pin SATA power connector is then connected in the middle and the whole thing can now be mounted in a server rack or PC housing using the 6 screws.
We use this 10GTek PCIe x8 SFF-8654 4i adapter card to operate the two SSDs in a PCIe slot.
In order to be able to operate several SSDs on a single PCIe slot, the SFF-8654 4i PCIe card requires the so-called PCIe bifurcation mode for the simultaneous operation of both SSDs. We will show you how to activate this in the BIOS or UEFI on the following page in Practical testing.
Here you can see the complete connection for the two NVMe SSDs. Incidentally, M.2 SATA SSDs must not be used.
Alternatively, you could also use an M.2 to SFF-8654 4i adapter for each M.2 NVMe SSD, where you simply plug in an SFF-8654 4i cable. Of course, this also eliminates the need for two M.2 slots.
That’s it, now we can use the Icy Dock MB834MK-B V2 M.2 Mobile Rack and start directly with a few benchmarks.
Let’s see if the ToughArmor Mobile Rack can also convince in practical testing.
Icy Dock MB834MK-B V2 M.2 NVMe SSD Mobile Rack Practical testing …