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Metal drive bay and removable tray kit for Mercury Helios 3S, silver finish, enables swappable U.2 NVMe SSD storage

OWC

OWC U.2 NVMe Interchange System for Mercury Helios 3S internal SSD

SKU CH-VCE9-4Q97C

Adds a locking U.2 NVMe drive bay to Mercury Helios 3S, enabling 16 TB swappable storage at 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt speed

  • Device TypeInternal / External Solid State Drive (SSD)
  • Turns Mercury Helios 3S into swappable U.2 NVMe storage hitting Thunderbolt 40Gb/s limit
  • Locking drive bay and tray protect U.2 connector from repeated swap wear
  • Install up to 16TB U.2 NVMe SSD onto the removable drive tray
  • Helios 3S active cooling reduces heat saturation and throttling during heavy workloads
  • Enables U.2 NVMe drive use in studio or field environments

What it is and who it is for

The OWC U.2 NVMe Interchange System converts a Mercury Helios 3S chassis into a swappable U.2 NVMe SSD solution. It adds a locking drive bay and removable tray so you can install drives up to 16TB capacity. The system is built for media and entertainment professionals who need fast, secure storage that moves between studio and field work.

Upgrade path and when it matters

It replaces fixed internal storage with a hot-swappable U.2 NVMe tray that protects the connector from repeated insertion wear. The jump is worth it when your workflow demands maximum drive performance over Thunderbolt 3 at 40Gb/s, which is over 6X faster than the fastest SATA SSDs. Active cooling from the Helios 3S design reduces heat saturation and throttling during sustained transfers.

Who it suits and who should look elsewhere

This suits M&E professionals who already own or plan to buy a Mercury Helios 3S and want tool-free drive swaps with up to 16TB per tray. It does not suit users without a Helios 3S chassis, as the system installs into its PCIe slot and relies on the enclosure for power, cooling and Thunderbolt connectivity.

Highlights

  • Turns Mercury Helios 3S into swappable U.2 NVMe storage hitting Thunderbolt 40Gb/s limit
  • Locking drive bay and tray protect U.2 connector from repeated swap wear
  • Install up to 16TB U.2 NVMe SSD onto the removable drive tray
  • Helios 3S active cooling reduces heat saturation and throttling during heavy workloads
  • Enables U.2 NVMe drive use in studio or field environments

Specifications

Device TypeInternal / External Solid State Drive (SSD)

Questions about this item

Does this interchange system fit any Thunderbolt enclosure or only the Mercury Helios 3S?

The system is designed specifically for the Mercury Helios 3S chassis. It installs into the PCIe slot of that enclosure to create a swappable U.2 NVMe solution.

What is the maximum drive capacity supported on the removable tray?

You can mount a U.2 NVMe SSD up to 16TB capacity onto the included drive tray.

How does the locking mechanism protect the drive during frequent swaps?

The locking drive bay and tray secure the U.2 connector, reducing wear from repeated insertion and removal to extend drive longevity.

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