PCIe Card Adds M.2 SSDs You Can Swap Without Opening Your PC

ToughArmor MB842MP-B
ToughArmor MB842MP-B (Image credit: Icy Dock)

Icy Dock has launched the ToughArmor MB842MP-B, a PCIe card with removable bays for two M.2 SSDs. The MB842MP-B is an upgrade over the MB840M2P-B, which Icy Dock launched three years ago.

Many motherboards come with two or even three M.2 slots. The ToughArmor MB842MP-B comes into play when users need more M.2 slots than the motherboard can provide. It's also a valid option for owners of legacy motherboards to add one, or in this case, two M.2 slots to an older system. Interestingly, once the card is installed, you can add or remove SSDs without opening your PC's case. 

Other options on the market, such as ASRock's Blazing Quad M.2 Card or the PCIe riser cards included in premium motherboards, provide housing for more SSDs. However, one of ToughArmor MB842MP-B's selling points is the tools-free design, where users can install or replace SSDs without opening the computer case.

The SSD goes into a small aluminum enclosure, or M.2 locker, as Icy Dock calls it. The installation consists of popping the lid off, sliding the drive, and putting the cover back into place. The M.2 locker accepts M.2 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, and 22110 SSDs. The maximum allowed width is 3.8mm, though. The M.2 locker is a huge heatsink, while the included thermal pad helps heat dissipation. 

The ToughArmor MB842MP-B comes with LED indicators to show drive activity. Icy Dock also sells an optional 2-pin HDD activity cable to connect the ToughArmor MB842MP-B to your motherboard or front panel.

M.2 SSDs are hot-swappable, depending if the motherboard and firmware supports it. The feature isn't very common on mainstream motherboards. Unless your system has that feature, Icy Dock recommends owners to turn off the system before replacing or installing SSDs into the ToughArmor MB842MP-B.

The ToughArmor MB842MP-B is compatible with PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 expansion slots that operate at x8 or x16. The only requirement is that your motherboard must support PCIe bifurcation for the ToughArmor MB842MP-B to work correctly. PCIe bifurcation means splitting the expansion slot into smaller interfaces. For example, an x8 expansion slot divides into x4/x4, or an x16 expansion slot is bifurcated into an x4/x4/x4/x4 configuration. PCIe bifurcation is a feature that's on most modern motherboards. However, if you're unsure if yours has it, Icy Dock has a handy list you can consult.

Icy Dock sells the ToughArmor MB842MP-B for $249.99. The ToughArmor MB840M2P-B, which only has spacing for a single M.2 SSD, retails for $105.50. The dual-bay variant costs more than two times that of the original.

Zhiye Liu
News Editor and Memory Reviewer

Zhiye Liu is a news editor and memory reviewer at Tom’s Hardware. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

  • Kamen Rider Blade
    I wish it wasn't that expensive, but I can attest to Icy Dock's quality.

    It's generally very solid of a offering.
    Reply
  • Oldcompsci
    Now if only we could get motherboards with enough PCI-E x4 and x8 ports to take advantage of this. Here's a hint MB makers, reduce the number of USB and SATA ports and give us more PCI-E
    Reply
  • RichardtST
    OMG. This is nice. So easy to make backup clones, instantly swap in and out drives and use them at full speed. No more USB throttling. Sweet. I'm going to have to try to remember this... I will make up an excuse to get one and a half dozen drives soon! Guess I need to check my mobo to see if it can hot-swap m.2...
    Reply
  • Oldcompsci said:
    Now if only we could get motherboards with enough PCI-E x4 and x8 ports to take advantage of this. Here's a hint MB makers, reduce the number of USB and SATA ports and give us more PCI-E

    I agree... though I must admit that

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRYQH443?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093H3G3KF?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1
    are amazing and allowed me to a) keep my 4x 970 SSDs from the previous build and b) use the slot that the GPU blocks.

    Couldn't mount it with the bracket though so I removed the bracket and mounted it with velcro underneath the GPU. Turned out great...

    8x m.2 SSDs... :ROFLMAO:
    Reply
  • atomicWAR
    Cheaper would be nice but as a whole, yes please.

    Oldcompsci said:
    Now if only we could get motherboards with enough PCI-E x4 and x8 ports to take advantage of this. Here's a hint MB makers, reduce the number of USB and SATA ports and give us more PCI-E
    We need more PCIe lanes. For consumer use at least have potential access to 32 lanes (CPU or at the very least via PLX) should be standard and another 8 lanes (chipset) for 40 lanes much like the old HEDT systems of yesteryear. And its not like budget boards couldn't cut lanes/slots to keep entry level prices low while higher end boards include some or all of them. I'd happily paid another 100-200 dollars more for access to those lanes on top of the 499 I spent on my x670e Taichi (say 599-699 for a similar spec'd board plus the extra lanes/PCIe slots).
    Reply
  • SyCoREAPER
    Such a simple concept yet nobody thought of it. Now the race is on for the clones to come out cheaper.
    Reply
  • Kamen Rider Blade
    Oldcompsci said:
    Now if only we could get motherboards with enough PCI-E x4 and x8 ports to take advantage of this. Here's a hint MB makers, reduce the number of USB and SATA ports and give us more PCI-E
    More like, stop giving us M.2 ports.

    We don't need it or want it.

    M.2 was designed for laptops.

    Stop giving us LapTop junk.

    The PCIe port works just fine, if we want M.2, we'll convert it ourselves.
    Reply
  • plateLunch
    Admin said:
    However, one of ToughArmor MB842MP-B's selling points is the tools-free design, where users can install or replace SSDs without opening the computer case.
    I think that may be their only selling point. I'm using a no-name card that only cost me $12 and allows me to mount an M.2 drive in my old 4th gen Core i7 motherboad. Grabs 4 PCIe 3.0 bus lanes and I was able to get the same read throughput as the Tom's review of the WD SN 550.

    For $93, I think I can open my case to change the SSD.
    Reply
  • newtechldtech
    sorry but for this price at least a PLX chip should be included to avoid the need of bifurcation. x8 to two x4 PLX switch chip is very cheap ...
    Reply
  • I was wondering when they would come out with something like this
    Reply