Volans Aluminium NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD to USB4 Type C Enclosure
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Great little enclosure. I'm running a Samsung 980 Pro with this into a TB4 port on a Mac. Works a treat and running the same speeds as the internal SSD. Only wish would be a quieter fan, but not Volans fault as I doubt they manufacture the fan, it is what it is. Without the fan running, the Mac OS drops and reconnects the drive multiple times. With the fan running, there has been NO dropouts at all. Very stable.
The device is incredibly speedy, but its design has some practical issues. The USB4 40Gbps transfer rate delivers outstanding performance, but the tool-free mechanism and thermal management could use improvement. When removing an M.2 SSD, you’ll likely need a new thermal pad each time. The enclosure’s design relies on the SSD sliding into place like a tray, with minimal clearance for the aluminum casing to contact the thermal pad. This sliding action compresses the pad and can inadvertently pull the SSD out of the slot during removal, risking damage to the PCB, especially since the SSD should be removed at an upward angle. Additionally, the rubber plug used to secure the SSD is inadequate for portability. It tends to loosen over time, especially with frequent movement, which could cause further complications during disassembly. The plug may jam the SSD, making removal even more challenging. While the aluminum casing and built-in cooling fan provide excellent heat dissipation, its ineffective without the thermal pad. These design flaws do affect usability and convenience, especially if you frequently swap drives or rely on the enclosure as a portable solution.
