What is PCI Express M.2 Specification Revision 1.0?
PCI Express M.2 Specification Revision 1.0 is a standard that defines a new form factor for expansion cards that can be used in laptops, desktops, servers, and other devices. It was released by PCI-SIG, the organization that develops and maintains the PCI Express technology, in February 2013.
M.2 cards are small and thin, with a maximum size of 22 mm wide and 110 mm long. They can support different interfaces, such as PCI Express, SATA, USB, and others, depending on the card type and the host device. M.2 cards can also support different keying schemes, which determine how the card is inserted into the slot and what signals are available on the connector.
Pci Express M.2 Specification Revision 1.0.pdf
One of the main advantages of M.2 cards is that they can offer higher performance and lower power consumption than other form factors, such as mini PCIe or mSATA. For example, an M.2 card can support up to four lanes of PCI Express 3.0, which can deliver up to 32 Gbps of bandwidth. An M.2 card can also support NVMe, a protocol that enables faster and more efficient access to solid-state drives (SSDs).
Another advantage of M.2 cards is that they can enable more flexibility and scalability for system design and configuration. For instance, an M.2 card can be used to add wireless connectivity, storage capacity, graphics processing, or other functionality to a device without occupying much space or requiring additional cables or adapters.
PCI Express M.2 Specification Revision 1.0 defines the physical and electrical characteristics of M.2 cards and connectors, as well as the software requirements and features for device detection and configuration. It also provides guidelines and recommendations for implementing and testing M.2 solutions.
If you want to learn more about PCI Express M.2 Specification Revision 1.0, you can download the full document from PCI-SIG website.
Examples of M.2 cards
M.2 cards can be used for various purposes, such as adding wireless connectivity, storage capacity, graphics processing, or other functionality to a device. Some examples of M.2 cards are:
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth cards: These cards provide wireless networking and communication capabilities to a device. They usually have a size of 2230 (22 mm wide and 30 mm long) and use one or two notches in the B and/or M positions to support both PCI Express and USB interfaces. [^1^] [^2^]
SATA SSDs: These cards use the SATA interface to connect to the host device and provide solid-state storage. They typically have a size of 2280 (22 mm wide and 80 mm long) and use one notch in the B or M position to support SATA signals. [^2^] [^3^]
PCIe SSDs: These cards use the PCI Express interface to connect to the host device and provide faster and more efficient solid-state storage than SATA SSDs. They can support up to four lanes of PCI Express 3.0 or newer, which can deliver up to 32 Gbps of bandwidth. They can also support NVMe, a protocol that enables faster and more efficient access to SSDs. They usually have a size of 2280 or 22110 (22 mm wide and 110 mm long) and use one notch in the M position to support PCI Express signals. [^2^] [^4^]
M.2 cards can be identified by their size and keying notches, which determine how they fit into the slot and what interfaces they support. The following table summarizes the common sizes and keying schemes of M.2 cards:
SizeKeyingInterface
2230B or B+MPCIe x2, USB 3.0, SATA
2242B or B+MPCIe x2, USB 3.0, SATA
2260B or B+MPCIe x2, USB 3.0, SATA
2280B or B+M or MPCIe x2 or x4, USB 3.0, SATA
22110MPCIe x4
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