Plugable USB 3.1 Gen 2 Tool-free NVMe Enclosure

Incompatible SSDs

We have identified an incompatibility with NVMe SSDs using the Phison E7 and E12 controllers and our USB-C NVMe Enclosure. This incompatibility causes the enclosure to go offline shortly after being detected by the host computer and affects Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. Currently the only media we have identified using the Phison chipets are being sold under the brand name Silicon Power. We have escalated this issue with our manufacturing team and the chipset manufacturer. Only the NVMe enclosures with the updated Realtek Chipset (these have the silkscreen pictured the right in the Revisions section below), our JMicron JMS583 based NVMe SSD enclosures are not affected.

We have released an updated firmware to enable Phison E7 and E12 based NVMe SSDs with our enclosure. The firmware update file includes upgrade instructions in the README.PDF and is compatible with Microsoft Windows operating systems, unfortunatly the updater is not compatible with macOS or Linux. Please feel free to contact our support team via email at support@plugable.com if you have any questions or for macOS and Linux users without access to a Windows computer and we will be happy to help!

USB-C NVMe Enclosure Hardware Revision

Our USB-C to NVMe SSD enclsoure was one of the first devices of its kind to market, since the release we have been working to bring improvements in build quality, drive detection, and new features to this product. We were unable to achieve some of our goals for this device with the original chipset manufacturer and have moved to a new USB-C to NVMe chipset from Realtek. This change does not affect the speed of the enclosure or performance of the drive, but should provide for slightly cooler operation as well as drive name passthrough to help support some of the free cloning utilities that are provided with many NVMe SSDs.

To help identify the new SSD enclosures we have changed the silkscreen, in the figure above the left image is the original JMicron JMS583 chipset, and the right is the updated silkscreen with the Realtek RTL9210 chipset. The newer devices also include serial numbers starting with “2645-” and up.

In The Box

USBC-NVME Enclosure with one USB-C to C cable, one USB-C to 3.0 cable, 3 replacement SSD rubber locks, and optional adhesive thermal pads. SSD media is *not* included.

Performance and Methodology

Click For Test Procedure Details

Compatible NVMe SSDs available from Amazon

Click to expand: 120GB to 499GB NVMe SSDs

Click to expand: 500GB to 999GB NVMe SSDs

Click to expand: 1TB and larger NVMe SSDs

Heat Dissipation and Thermal Throttling

NVMe SSDs generate a great deal of heat, the Plugable NVMe to USB-C Toolless Adapter includes ports for airflow on either side of the SSD as well as extruded aluminum fins for heat dissipation. Even with these features some SSDs may still enter a reduced performance state as they heat up, especially when under heavy load, this is most common with older NVMe SSDs with less efficient flash storage. To help maintain performance we recommend allowing for plenty of airflow around the enclosure. Please be careful when handling the USBC-NVME after extended use, the aluminum cover may be quite warm to the touch.

NVMe SSD Installation Instructions

1. Optional: Locate the thermal pads included with the USBC-NVME, remove backing to expose adhesive, and affix to the controller chip and flash memory module(s) on your NVMe SSD
2. Use the slide lock to remove the aluminum casing
3. Gently align the SSD notch into the socket at a 30 degree angle from the circuit board. Press the SSD edge connector into the socket. Using excessive force may damage the SSD or casing
4. Tilt the rubber peg away from the SSD. Then press down on the SSD. Release the rubber peg to secure the SSD into the notch
5. With the SSD securely in place, slide the aluminum cover back into place
6. Connect to the computer using either the USB-A to USB-C or USB-C to USB-C cables provided

Partitioning and Formatting

New NVMe SSDs come from the factory without a partition table and will need to be partitioned and formatted before use, NVMe SSDs previously used in a computer that have already been partitioned and formatted will work right away. When a new SSD is installed into this enclosure and connected to a Windows computer nothing will happen, the drive must be manually formatted throug the Disk Management utility, we made a video explaining the process here: How to format a hard drive in Windows. MacOS will normally prompt the user when the drive is connected, like Windows the drive will need to be formatted and we also made a video for macOS here How to format a hard drive in macOS.

FAQ

General Information