What Is an NVMe U.2 SSD and Why Is It Important?

Solid State Drives (or SSDs) are fast, and they keep getting faster! For creative professionals who work with an immense amount of data, time is money, and having the fastest and largest SSD storage is key to getting things done. Enter NVMe U.2 SSDs to save the day.

I’m Michele for Rocketyard. In this video, we will be talking about what an NVMe U.2 SSD is and why it’s important.

What is a U.2 SSD?

Today’s SSDs are built to use the PCIe-based NVMe standard for communication, which was designed specifically for SSDs, instead of the older SATA standard designed initially for hard disk drives (also known as HDDs). This shift to NVMe has provided a tremendous boost in performance over SATA-based SSDs. We’ve gone from transferring data at 600 megabytes per second to transferring multiple gigabytes per second!

Unlike HDDs that were typically either a 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch form-factor using a SATA or SAS connection, SSDs come in a much wider variety and can use many different connection types. NVMe SSDs are typically going to use either a blade-style M.2 connection/form-factor or a U.2 connection in a 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch form-factor.

We just presented a lot of info on U.2 fast – like SSD fast! Now it’s time for your final exam.

Why choose U.2 drives?

While NVMe U.2 and M.2 drives will perform very similarly, U.2 drives have the advantage of being available in larger capacities that are easier to handle, while being externally swappable in enclosures. These advantages make them ideal for IT and creative professionals where only the best will do.

I’m Michelle for Rocketyard, thanks for watching!