Icy Dock ToughArmor MB842MP-B Dual M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe 4.0 x8 Bifurcation Enclosure

The Icy Dock ToughArmor MB842MP-B is a high-performance storage enclosure designed to house two M.2 NVMe SSDs, utilizing a PCIe 4.0 x8 bifurcation interface for rapid data transfer. This robust adapter is engineered for professional workstations and servers, providing reliable cooling and secure mounting for high-speed storage expansion. It ensures optimal thermal management and seamless integration into PCIe expansion slots, allowing users to swap drives without opening the computer case.

Advantages

This enclosure features a tool-less design that allows for quick and easy installation of M.2 NVMe SSDs in under five seconds, eliminating the need for tiny, easily lost screws. The aluminum drive trays act as effective heatsinks, and the included thermal pads ensure efficient heat dissipation to maintain optimal performance during heavy workloads. With its EMI grounding technology, the device protects sensitive drives from static damage during frequent swaps. Furthermore, the PCIe interface delivers both power and data, significantly reducing cable clutter inside the system while supporting blazing-fast transfer speeds of up to 64Gbps.

Suitable for

• Machine learning and AI data processing
• Cloud computing and large-scale data mining
• High-speed image and video processing
• Professional workstations requiring frequent drive swapping
• System integrators building high-performance storage solutions

This device may not be suitable for motherboards that do not support PCIe bifurcation, as the x16 slot must be configured to x4/x4/x4/x4 to access both drives simultaneously. It is also not compatible with systems lacking a full-height PCIe expansion slot or those that do not provide sufficient space for a single-width card.

Key specifications

• Supports 2x M.2 PCIe NVMe SSDs (lengths 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, 22110)
• Interface: PCIe 3.0/4.0 x16 slot (requires PCIe bifurcation)
• Form factor: Single-width full-height PCIe card
• Material: Aluminum drive trays with metal housing
• Cooling: Passive heatsink design with thermal pads
• Dimensions: 120.8 mm x 171 mm x 21.6 mm

To use the enclosure, insert your M.2 NVMe SSD into the removable tray and secure it using the adjustable tool-less locker. Slide the tray into the main enclosure until it clicks into place. Ensure your motherboard BIOS is configured for PCIe bifurcation to recognize both drives. Once installed in the PCIe slot, the system will detect the drives automatically, and the LED indicators will provide status updates on power and activity.

What to consider before purchase

• Verify that your motherboard supports PCIe bifurcation for the specific slot used
• Ensure your computer case has a full-height PCIe expansion slot available
• Check that your M.2 SSD length is supported (2230 to 22110)
• Confirm that your workload requires the high-speed performance of NVMe over PCIe

For best performance, ensure the included thermal pads are correctly applied between the SSD and the aluminum tray to maximize heat dissipation. Always power down the system before removing the PCIe card to prevent electrical damage.