40Gbps Power of the Graugear M.2 SSD Enclosure
Today, we dive into a new product called the Graugear M.2 PCIe 4.0 USB4 SSD enclosure and the world of high-speed data transfer. Specifically, we’ll explore the latest version of the USB protocol, USB4. Introduced in 2019, USB4 is a game-changer. We’ll also discuss the Thunderbolt port, which has been around since February 2011 but was initially exclusive to Mac computers.
The Exciting New Hardware
I’m thrilled to share what I have today. It’s the next level in M.2 SSD enclosure hardware. Meet the Graugear M.2 SSD enclosure and docking station. These new products feature the latest ASMEDIA ASM2464PD PCIe 4.0 chipset. This chipset is a significant upgrade from the legacy Realtek RTL9210B chipset, previously used in all entry-level SSD enclosures.
What makes these products stand out? They utilize the USB4 and Thunderbolt protocol. They also feature an all-new cooling fan and heat-pipe design. So, let’s dive into a direct side-by-side speed test comparison with one of the older Realtek enclosures. We’ll measure improvements in data transfer speeds and cooling features.
Unboxing the Graugear M.2 SSD Enclosure
First, let’s look at the SSD enclosure and all its tools, cables, and documentation. Inside the box, you’ll find a USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable with a 40 Gbps rating, a torque screwdriver, a thermal heat pad, screws for installing your M.2 SSD, and all the warranty and user manual documentation.
This model, the GM2U4-40G-F, boasts a heavy-duty design. It has a robust heatsink at the top, with copper heat pipes extending from inside the enclosure, making direct contact with the heatsink. This setup is actively cooled with a fan. For I/O, it has a single USB Type-C port with an LED indicator. It also has four torque screws to access the interior. Due to its weight, it comes with a pair of anti-skid rubber pads for its base.
Inside the Graugear M.2 Enclosure
Removing the four screws reveals its intuitive design. The M.2 slot supports a single 2280 M.2 NVMe SSD and M Key type. It has a cableless design to power the cooling fan, utilizing connector pins when you close the enclosure. Once you install and secure your SSD, you apply the heat pad to its surface, close the enclosure, and it will make direct contact with the SSD.
Understanding the Differences
Before testing, it’s essential to understand the differences between first-generation SSD enclosures and this new one. The older models are USB 3.0, carrying the Realtek 9210B chipset with a limit of 1000 MB/s transfer rate. No matter what NVMe you install, they won’t exceed that threshold. Their M.2 ports also have a PCIe 3.0 rating.
However, the new Graugear M.2 SSD enclosure uses a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and has a USB 4.0 rating. This means if you plug this enclosure into a USB 3.0 port, you’ll get a prompt from Windows indicating that your speed will be adversely affected due to the limitation of the USB 3.0 port or USB Type-C port.
NVMe SSD Compatibility
Remember, not all NVMe SSDs will give you super high speeds in this new Graugear enclosure. The Graugear has a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot, so you need to install a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD to get gigabit speeds. It may be compatible with PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs or NGFF, but they will be restricted to their manufacturer specifications.
Speed Test Comparison to Legacy RTL9210B chipset
Now, let’s demonstrate how the Graugear enclosure greatly increases the speed of your existing M.2 SSDs over legacy enclosures with the Realtek 9210B chipset. I have a Kingston 512GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD with a max read speed of 2.4 GB/s and a write speed of 1.1 GB/s.
Installed in a legacy enclosure with the Realtek 9210B chipset and plugged into a USB Type-C port, it reaches a maximum sequential read speed of 1065 MB/s and a write speed of 1002 MB/s. Remember, this is not a Thunderbolt port or USB4.
Installed in the Graugear enclosure, it achieved a read speed of 1077 MB/s and a write speed of 1004 MB/s. This shows that the enclosure alone isn’t enough to access its top speed of 2.4 GB/s; you need a Thunderbolt port or USB4 port.
Graugear M.2 PCIe 3.0 enhancement
I’m now at my desktop PC with the Kingston PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD installed. To harness the true power of the enclosure, your desktop, laptop, or mini PC must have a Thunderbolt port or the latest USB4 port with speeds up to 40 Gbps.
Most modern DDR5 PCs have ei
ther a Thunderbolt or USB4 port. Some older PCs have a Thunderbolt header on the motherboard, where you can purchase a Thunderbolt card separately.
My PC has a Thund
erbolt header, so I bought a Thunderbolt card for this demonstration. On a Thunderbolt port, the Kingston PCIe 3.0 now has a read speed of 2499 MB/s and a write speed of 1207 MB/s.
Graugear M.2 Full Potential
To fully test the Graugear enclosure, I reinstalled a 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with a maximum read speed of 4334 MB/s and a maximum write speed of 2610 MB/s. When connected to my Thunderbolt port, the enclosure maxed out at 3017 MB/s read and 2565 MB/s write speed.
Compared to the speed you’d get if you connected the SSD directly to an M.2 slot on your motherboard, the Graugear enclosure achieves 69% of its maximum speed. This is double the speed of previous legacy enclosures.
Real-Time File Transfer Speed Test
For a real-time file transfer speed test, I have a 116GB folder containing various compressed files on the Graugear. I’ll cut and paste it onto an M.2 SSD on my PC. It took only one minute and seven seconds to write 116GB to my PC via Thunderbolt at an average transfer rate of 2GB/s.
Copying the same folder from my PC to the Graugear took a bit longer at one minute and 35 seconds, with a 1.29GB per second transfer rate. 116GB in approximately one minute is incredibly fast. This same transfer took over five minutes to a USB Type-C flash drive and over three minutes on one of the legacy enclosures with the Realtek 9210B chipset.
With its large heatsink, heat pipes, and cooling fan, the Graugear keeps your SSD so cool that it’s not even warm to the touch. This is the most efficiently cooled SSD enclosure I’ve encountered to date.
The Graugear Docking Station
Graugear also offers an easy-access docking station for your SSDs. It has a built-in cooling fan, a thermal pad, and a heatsink for your SSD. It has a power button and LED activity indicator. However, this docking station uses the Realtek 9210B chipset, which is only PCIe 3.0 USB 3.2 generation with speeds up to 10 Gbps. So, it performs the same as the legacy enclosures.
Him
Conclusion
This, my friends, is the next level in portable SSD enclosures. We are no longer restricted to low speeds, and we can say goodbye to legacy enclosures, slow transfer rates, and overheating SSDs.
The Graugear enclosure is a long-awaited product, and I’m happy to step into a new era of high-speed data transfer over USB. Just plug it into any Thunderbolt or USB4 port, and depending on the NVMe SSD you have installed, you can enjoy transfer rates in excess of 7000 MB/s. This marks the end of the road for legacy enclosures, as the Graugear is backward-compatible with PCIe 3.0 SSDs as well.
Graugear has taken Amazon by storm. This is only one of their SSD enclosures. They also have a range of industrial-grade, heavy-duty M.2 heat pipe with cooling fan blocks for your PC. This enclosure is their best model to date, running on PCIe 4.0. It’s currently being sold for $99 on their Amazon page. I’ve placed a link in the description below this video. But I urge you to check out their other products too.
Final Thoughts
A big shout out to Graugear for sponsoring today’s video and sending their newest products for review. I’m impressed with the performance and quality build of their products. They raise the bar to a whole new level.
Thanks for watching! Give this video a thumbs up if you like this product and support the work I do on this channel. If this kind of content interests you, click the subscribe button and ring the notifications bell. This way, you’ll receive notifications as soon as I release new videos, offer an open box deal, or decide to do a giveaway.
Thanks for spending some of your time watching this video. Stay connected and see you in the next one.
