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Black metal M.2 NVMe PCIe adapter with full-height and low-profile brackets

Athena Power

Athena Power SP-M21NVME M.2 NVMe PCIe Adapter Backplane Cage

SKU CH-278H-215C2

An M.2 NVMe PCIe adapter backplane cage with full-height and low-profile brackets supporting 2230/2242/2260/2280 SSDs at Gen3 32 Gbps and Gen4 64 Gbps

  • ColorBlack / Silver
  • SizeM.2
  • TypeEnclosure
  • AC AdapterNo
  • MaterialMetal
  • Internal InterfaceM.2 NVME M-Key
  • Supports PCIe 3.0/4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 M key SSDs
  • Achieve data transfer rates up to Gen3/32 Gbps and Gen4/64 Gbps
  • Includes full-height and low-profile PCIe brackets for broad system compatibility
  • Anti-vibration springs on M.2 tray enhance drive stability
  • Accommodates M.2 NVMe SSD lengths 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280

M.2 NVMe PCIe adapter cage

The Athena Power SP-M21NVME fits a single M.2 NVMe M-key SSD into a PCIe x4 slot. It ships with both a full-height bracket and a low-profile bracket for different chassis. The metal tray holds drives from 2230 up to 2280 length and uses anti-vibration springs for stability. No external cables or AC adapter are required.

Passive cooling and zero fan noise

The enclosure relies on the metal cage and system airflow to dissipate heat without a fan. Power comes directly from the PCIe slot, so there is no separate power connector. The adapter works with PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 x4 NVMe SSDs, drawing only the power the drive itself needs. Silent operation is guaranteed because no moving parts are present.

Sustained transfer at Gen3 and Gen4 speeds

Under continuous load the card maintains up to 32 Gbps on PCIe 3.0 and 64 Gbps on PCIe 4.0, limited by the installed SSD. The passive design has no thermal throttling mechanism beyond the metal tray, so very high-end drives may throttle in tight cases. Builders who need active cooling or multiple drive bays should look elsewhere.

Highlights

  • Supports PCIe 3.0/4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 M key SSDs
  • Achieve data transfer rates up to Gen3/32 Gbps and Gen4/64 Gbps
  • Includes full-height and low-profile PCIe brackets for broad system compatibility
  • Anti-vibration springs on M.2 tray enhance drive stability
  • Accommodates M.2 NVMe SSD lengths 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280

Specifications

BrandAthena Power
SeriesM2U2 Series
ModelM.2 SSD Adapter
Part NumberSP-M21NVME
ColorBlack / Silver
SizeM.2
TypeEnclosure
AC AdapterNo
MaterialMetal
Internal InterfaceM.2 NVME M-Key
External InterfaceNo
HDD Count SupportedSingle NVMe SSD
Maximum Capacity (per Bay)1
FanNo
Dimensions6x5x1167.3mm x 120.8mm x 19mm [Full height bracket]/167.3mm x 84mm x 19mm [Low profile bracket
Weight141.8 g

Questions about this item

How do I install the SP-M21NVME adapter and which bracket step is often missed?

Insert the M.2 NVMe M-key SSD (2230, 2242, 2260 or 2280) into the tray, secure it with the screw, attach the chosen full-height (120.8 mm) or low-profile (84 mm) bracket to the backplane cage, then plug the x4 card into a PCIe 3.0/4.0 x4 slot. The step people miss is swapping the bracket before mounting the card.

What maintenance or replacement will the SP-M21NVME need later?

The adapter has no fan or moving parts, so it requires no routine maintenance. Only the installed M.2 NVMe SSD may need replacement if it reaches its write endurance limit. The anti-vibration springs and metal cage are fixed and not serviceable.

What limit appears first under sustained heavy I/O on the SP-M21NVME?

The electrical ceiling is the PCIe 3.0 x4 limit of 32 Gbps or PCIe 4.0 x4 limit of 64 Gbps, whichever your platform supports. Because there is no active cooling, the SSD itself will throttle before the adapter reaches any other bottleneck.

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