Minisforum released the ESP4B-850, a PCIe expansion card that adds four M.2 SSD slots to a PC. This hardware helps users who need more storage than a standard motherboard provides. The card connects via a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot on the motherboard. It allows up to four SSDs to be connected to a PC simultaneously.
Minisforum expansion card adds four M.2 SSD slots via PCIe 4.0 x4
The card splits bandwidth based on how many drives you install. If you install one or two SSDs, each drive gets PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth. With three or four SSDs, the bandwidth drops to PCIe 4.0 x2 per drive. This configuration ensures all drives remain accessible without bottlenecking the connection.
Specifications
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Storage Slots: 4x M.2 SSD
- Bandwidth Configuration: PCIe 4.0 x4 per drive (1-2 drives); PCIe 4.0 x2 per drive (3-4 drives)
- External Ports: 1x USB-C (20 Gbit/s), 1x OCuLink
- OCuLink Capability: Up to 4 SATA HDDs via adapter or external PCIe 3.0 devices
Minisforum included an integrated fan to manage heat under sustained load. The fan ensures that performance does not drop too sharply during heavy use. The card also features a USB-C port that supports data rates of up to 20 Gbit/s. A second rear port is an OCuLink connector for external devices.
The OCuLink port allows up to four SATA hard drives to be connected using an included adapter. Alternatively, external PCIe 3.0 devices with OCuLink support can be connected. We touched on Minisforum M2 Elite Mini Air-304 Launches in our earlier Minisforum coverage. This new card expands options for users who already own Minisforum hardware.
The ESP4B-850 is priced at 135.90 USD (around $136). Shipping is expected to begin in late October. This pricing makes the expansion card accessible for budget-conscious builders. Users can now add significant storage capacity without replacing their entire system.
Source: NotebookCheck
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