3-Port M.2 SSD Adapter Card StarTech PEXM2SAT32N1 — 1×PCIe (NVMe) M.2, 2×SATA III M.2, PCIe 3.0, Full/Low-profile

The StarTech PEXM2SAT32N1 is a 3‑port M.2 SSD adapter card that enables installation of one PCIe (NVMe) M.2 drive and two SATA III M.2 drives in a system with an available PCIe slot. Designed for use in desktops and workstations, the card supports PCIe 3.0 host connectivity and both full‑height and low‑profile brackets for flexible installation. It accepts common M.2 module lengths and offers a platform to expand storage, accelerate system performance and simplify data recovery from M.2 modules.

Advantages

This adapter card supports both PCIe (NVMe) and SATA M.2 SSDs on a single board, enabling mixed drive configurations without requiring separate controllers. The PCIe 3.0 x4 interface provides the bandwidth needed for high‑performance NVMe SSDs while the two SATA M.2 slots use a passthrough design to connect directly to the host SATA ports for reliable SATA operation. The card supports multiple M.2 module lengths and ships with full‑height and low‑profile brackets to suit different chassis types. A rated MTBF offers a predictable service life for professional use.

Suitable for

• Adding an NVMe M.2 boot drive to a desktop or workstation
• Expanding storage capacity with SATA M.2 SSDs for file storage and backups
• Upgrading performance for applications that benefit from fast NVMe storage
• Recovering data from M.2 modules removed from laptops or small devices
• Small form‑factor builds where space for traditional drives is limited

Key specifications

• Interface to host: PCIe 3.0 (x4)
• M.2 ports: 1 × PCIe (NVMe) M.2, 2 × SATA III M.2
• SATA transfer rate: up to 6 Gbit/s per SATA M.2 slot
• Supported M.2 module sizes: 2280, 2260, 2242, 2230
• Form factor: full‑height with included low‑profile bracket
• MTBF: 50,000 hours

How to use

Install the card into an available PCIe slot on a powered‑off computer and secure it to the chassis using the appropriate bracket. Mount compatible M.2 SSDs into the corresponding slots and fasten them with the supplied screws and standoffs. For SATA M.2 modules, ensure the host motherboard SATA ports are available and connected according to the card's passthrough configuration. After physical installation, boot the system and verify drive detection in the BIOS/UEFI or operating system, then format and partition the drives as required.

Usage recommendations

Use a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot to obtain full NVMe performance, and confirm available SATA ports on the host before installing SATA M.2 SSDs. For optimal thermal behavior, consider adequate case airflow or heatsinks for high‑performance NVMe drives. When using the card for data recovery, mount the recovered drive and complete recovery procedures before reusing the module for storage or backup.