You might have seen the name floated around before, but it actually lets you connect many different things, everything from SSDs to Wi-Fi cards and even GPUs. But what is M.2 exactly? And should you care about it?
What Is the M.2 Standard?
The M.2 connector, formerly known as Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF), is a type of internal computer connector. It replaces the mSATA standard and allows you to insert small expansion cards on everything from desktop PCs to thin-and-light laptops. The M.2 connector can pass PCI Express, SATA, and USB signals, making it versatile and allowing manufacturers to make all kinds of modules using it.
Since it supports a wide range of expansion cards, M.2 modules and slots typically have different keying notches to prevent users from plugging the wrong module into the wrong slot.
The M.2 interface has been around for years. Version 1.0 of the PCI-SIG M.2 specification was published in December 2013, and since then, the standard has made its way to all kinds of computers of all sizes.
What Are M.2 Modules Used For?
You might know M.2 from one specific use case—storage— but there are several other uses.
Solid State Drives (SSDs)
These days, the most common reason why you’re likely to use an M.2 slot is with SSDs. Most high-end SSDs now use an M.2 connector. Not only is it way more compact than a regular, 2.5-inch SATA drive, but it also has natural advantages in both performance and power consumption that ultimately benefit both SSD makers and end users.
You’ll find two kinds of M.2 SSDs. The first one is SATA M.2, which uses the same old-fashioned SATA interface, except that it’s connected over an M.2 connection rather than using a SATA connection. Then, you have NVMe SSDs, which actually use PCI Express lanes instead. This allows for way faster performance than you would otherwise have with SATA since it lets you use the full PCI Express speeds that normally enjoy things like graphics cards for your storage, which is why PCIe SSDs are better than SATA SSDs.
They’re better, and they take less space—a win-win for everyone.
Wi-Fi Cards
The second most common use case is Wi-Fi cards. If you tear down a laptop, you’ll find the Wi-Fi card sitting in an M.2 slot. Likewise, if you disassemble a PCI Express Wi-Fi card for your desktop, you’ll likely see a smaller M.2 module sitting underneath.
It has been the port of choice for wireless cards for years. M.2 Wi-Fi modules, and slots meant for these modules, will normally have different keying notches than SSDs, for obvious reasons.
GPUs
It seems amazing, but since M.2 can carry PCI Express, you can use a graphics card and connect it to a system. You can find M.2 adapters for full PCI Express 16x cards, where you can connect and use graphics cards. You can even find smaller GPUs that fit in that slot, although, as you might imagine, they’re not amazing.
The M.2 Interface is Awesome
With its versatility, M.2 is currently one of the most important connectors in computing. And while most of the time, you’ll only use it for SSDs, it’s cool to know that it has many other uses than just that.
