NUC 11 Enthusiast Phantom Canyon Questions

[TDean]

At this site:

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/195961/intel-nuc-11-enthusiast-mini-pc-nuc11phki7caa.html

it states there are 2x m.2 2280  PCIe x4  slots

In the technical specs here:

https://simplynuc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NUC11PH_TechProdSpec.pdf

the block diagram at 2.1.5 shows 2x 2280 PCIe x4  slots,

1 being a key type M and 1 being key type B   with the M key being NVME and the B key being either NVME or SATA 

I'm not familiar with key type B NVME PCIe  ssd.  

Can you recommend some brand names that have PCIe  2280 key type B   NVME ssd? 

What I'm asking is who mkaes B key or B+M ket pcie NVME ssd that would fit in this slot? 

Aren't B key NVME limited to x2 speeds?

Does Intel have a hardware compatibility URL for this NUC 11?

TIA

[n_scott_pearson]

According to the PH TPS document (page 10 (Table 1) and page 16 (Figure 4)) - which you should consider the gold standard - it was one M.2 2280 Type M socket that exclusively hosts an NVMe SSD and one M.2 2280 Type M socket that hosts either an NVMe SSD or a SATA SSD. 

The primary difference is that a M.2 Type M socket supports PCIe x4 whereas a M.2 Type B socket only supports PCIe x2. There is a great writeup on M.2 here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.2.

Intel's compatibility list for the PH NUC is here: https://compatibleproducts.intel.com/ProductDetails?prodSearch=True&searchTerm=NUC11PHKi7C. I find it to be, um, somewhat lacking.

I attempt to keep track of the NVMe drives that are available (while I have a few, I won't use SATA any longer). I have attached my document. There will always be drives that I have missed (send me updates if you see any) and the Amazon prices are woefully out of date (prices have risen across the board, unfortunately, due to component shortages), but its at least a list.

Hope this helps,

...S

[TDean]

n_scott_pearson:

Page 10 Table 1 states:

One M.2 connector  supporting  M.2 2242 (key type B)  for SATA SSD, PCIe x1 or USB 3.2 

while the block diagram on Page 16 Figure 4 states M.2 NVME  2280, M.2 SATA 2280 or M.2 Optane 2280 as PCIe x4 

Figure 1 on Page 13 shows B: M.2 2280 Connector (Key Type B) NVME/SATA

So this is what is confusing me. Is B M.2 2242  Or M.2 2280 ?   Key Type B is x2 while Page 10 says PCIe x1

It appears that the B M.2 is either x1 or x2 and its a key type B  either nvme or sata.

TDean

[n_scott_pearson · Accepted solution]

Ah, I see what you are seeing now. Well, I guess the (supposed) gold standard has a few issues. It's a confusing mess, I agree. I will put in a request to get the document fixed.

Here is reality as I understand it:

• The NUC 11 Enthusiast (NUC11PHKi7) Phantom Canyon (PH) NUC has two M.2 Type M connectors to support two SSDs.
• There is no M.2 Type B connector.
• Both of the M.2 Type M connectors provide the expected PCIe x4 support.
• One M.2 Type M connector supports a 2280 or 22110 NVMe SSD.
• The other M.2 Type M connector supports a 2280 NVMe SSD or a 2280 SATA SSD.

Aside: It is the NUC 11 Pro (NUC11TNx) Tiger Canyon (TN) that has a M.2 Type B connector. It is the only NUC to have ever had a M.2 Type B connector. It is used to support either a (secondary) 2242 SATA SSD or a card exposing PCIe x1 and/or USB 3.2 capabilities (in support of optional 'Dual-LAN, Dual-USB' expansion card).

Hope this explains it. I will get tables 1 and 3 fixed.

...S

[n_scott_pearson]

I have been told that the fixes that I suggested are being applied. They wouldn't give me a publication date, however. We'll just have to watch...

...S

[mckenzm]

It is also not immediately obvious that "A" and "B" are interface types and not disk enumeration.  When two NVMe disks are fitted, A is the 2nd Disk. Be advised.