Difference between u.2 and m.2 interface solid-state drives

U.2 interface

The U.2 interface, aka SFF-8639, is an interface specification introduced by the solid-state hard disk form working organization (SSD form Factor Work Group). U.2 can not only support the Sata-express specification, but also compatible with SAS, SATA and other specifications. So you can think of it as a four-channel version of the Sata-express interface, its theoretical bandwidth has reached 32Gbps, and the M.2 interface is no different.

U.2 interface Solid State hard disk and data cable

U.2 interface on the motherboard

At this year's Taipei computer show, the SF-8639 interface will be officially renamed as the U.2 interface, with the current m.2 interface, so the U.2 interface is the future of the potential SSD interface.

M.2 interface

M.2 formerly known as the NGFF interface, it is for the ultra-polar (ultrabook)-Tailored new generation of interface standards, mainly used to replace the mSATA interface, with small size, performance mainstream characteristics.

M.2 Solid State Drive

M.2 interface on the motherboard

The M.2 interface can support both PCI-E channel and SATA, in which the former is easier to improve speed, theoretical bandwidth 10Gbps, it can be said that it also broke through the SATA interface theory transmission bottleneck. Today's m.2 interface to the PCI-E 3.0 x4 channel, the theoretical bandwidth reached 32Gbps, compared to the previous level of a lot of improvement, which also allows the SSD performance potential increased significantly. In addition, the interface SSD also supports the NVME standard, compared with the current AHCI, through the new NVMe standard access to the SSD, in the performance improvement is very obvious.

What is the difference between u.2 and m.2 interfaces?

Let's take a look at the u.2 and M.2 interface interface in the end what is the difference, through a parameter comparison diagram, you can easily understand, as shown.

Comparison of advantages and disadvantages of u.2 and m.2 interfaces

In contrast, the main advantages of m.2 interface is small size, excellent performance, more widely used in notebooks, super portable devices such as. And the u.2 interface with faster, 2.5-inch better with the current SATA3.0 interface solid-state hard drive compatible, suitable for mainstream notebooks, desktop computers, the future potential of greater. But the disadvantage is that currently equipped with u.2 interface SSD is relatively small, still waiting for maturity.