Question *STABLE* NVMe - USB Adapter?

[cyberjedi]

I'm looking to buy a *RELIABLE* NVME-USB external adapter, that doesn't disconnect randomly, can keep up the close to 1GB/s speed.
So far all adapter's reviews contain frighteningly high % of reports of malfunction, random disconnects, sub-par speeds, falling to even under USB 2.0 speeds, etc.
There are 3 main chipsets in the market: JMicron JMS583, Asmedia ASM2362, and Realtek RTL9210 (no product has surfaced with the latter yet, so no REAL reviews, experiences yet UPDATE: it is on the market already).
Also ASUS has a new product, ROG Strix Arion, but there isn't enough feedback about it yet, and I mean real life feedback not just being able to run a few benchmarks, but real stress test to see if the device (adapter) can keep it up, without disconnecting or slowing down hard.
I would really appreciate any feedback from those who have GOOD experiences during stress-tests, like tons of random 4k writes with a stable speed, cloning 100's of GB-s at a stable high speed close to 1GB/s.
I know SSD's very well, so please stick to the point and don't start to educate me on how their speed falls after some writes, etc. I'm aware and this is NOT the point.
You can help if you can point me to a STABLE and RELIABLE NVMe-USB-C adapter that WORKS as expected.
Thank you in advance!

 

[viktorhun]

Hello
I bought one of these https://www.axagon.eu/en/produkty/eem2-sb2 with rtl9210b but not show SMART DATA with Samsung 980 . Always back to false zero.
Maybe I should look elsewhere https://rog.asus.com/storage/rog-strix-arion-model/ with asm2362

 

[Jimminy]

Hello
I bought one of these https://www.axagon.eu/en/produkty/eem2-sb2 with rtl9210b but not show SMART DATA with Samsung 980 . Always back to false zero.
Maybe I should look elsewhere https://rog.asus.com/storage/rog-strix-arion-model/ with asm2362


View attachment 86821View attachment 86822

Have you tried using crystal disk info? I don't have your particular enclosure, but I have several oricos which use the rtl 9210b and crystal disk info is able to read the SMART data.

 

[viktorhun]

Have you tried using crystal disk info? I don't have your particular enclosure, but I have several oricos which use the rtl 9210b and crystal disk info is able to read the SMART data.

Yes, I have attached that picture too.
But the point is that it works.Who really cares about smart data.
I will try the Asus also with the asm2364 chip

 

[Nafrayu]

Do keep us posted on the reliability of the JMS583-based Icybox.

On a side note, I went ahead and ordered a Ugreen NVME enclosure. Not 100% sure which controller I'll be getting, but there's a good chance that it could be a JMS583.

Unfortunately i keep having issues with this enclosure (Tbh it demotivated me a lot, so i haven't tried any troubleshooting steps yet.)

What happens is, seemingly at random i keep hearing the "usb disconnected" sound from windows - turns out its actually the enclosure or disk crashing or turning off and back on again.

Sometimes i have to unplug it from the pc to fix it (Windows will give me a "USB Device not recognized" message until i replug it)

I feel like it might be a temperature issue though.

The entire thing feels super warm to the touch (Meaning it -does- transfer heat to the outside - i did install the heating pads properly, and i did peel the plastic before installing, so that shouldn't be the issue!)

As dumb as it sounds, i'll try having a fan blow on it to see if cooling helps :/

 

[Jimminy]

Yes, I have attached that picture too.
But the point is that it works.Who really cares about smart data.
I will try the Asus also with the asm2364 chip

I'm confused Victor! I thought you cared about getting smart data but you just couldn't read the data. I guess I didn't read your post carefully. Sorry.

I don't have an enclosure that uses any ASM chip, but I can say their PCIE USB 3.2 gen 2 adaptor chip works VERY well. Better than any other pcie USB port adapter card I have tried.

Anyway, please post again after you've tried the asm2364 chip. It's probably a good choice but I'd like to know more.

 

[skanskan]

Hello.


Do you think this one will work well or is it scam?
It's supposed to be USB 3.2, 20Gbps, ASM2364. Just 24€

There are no reviews yet.

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005006075349980.html

I have other alternatives.

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005005128721690.html

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005006018518468.html

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005005971495946.html

Why do they state it supports a maximum 4TB disk size? They have just not tested anything larger or it really won't support it?

 

[rych]

Do you think this one will work well or is it scam?
It's supposed to be USB 3.2, 20Gbps, ASM2364

I've ordered one of those. Will report here when it arrives. The occasional disconnection of my current rtl 9210b enclosure, although rare, means I can't reliably use it. So, I'll test and see how this ASM2364 (of a higher speed class which is overkill but anyway) chipset will perform in comparison.

 

[rych]

Thank you! Will definitely do some research. It’s hard to figure out which chipset all of these enclosures are using before buying them.


Doesn’t this setting control power savings when the system changes to power saving mode and such? Most of the issues I see right now surface during boot, so I’m wondering if that will have any impact.

I don’t mind testing this with the same firmware as you, but I’m not optimistic.

Sorry, I can actually confirm that Realtek RTL9210B chipset still disconnects randomly although rarely under Linux and no variations in its firmware or in the cable quality have solved it for me. As suggested above, I've ordered a higher class ASM2364 enclosure seeing its price drop on AE. Will report later whether it works better.

 

[drevilish]

I am also running a pair of identical RTL9210 attached NVMe Optane drives in a RAIDz1 Pool, device only comes back after a reboot or after replugging the device. Using Proxmox (Debian 12 - 6.2.16-18-pve)

Firmware was updated to the latest version I could find in late August, can't remember the exact version.

In the last two weeks has dropped out twice.

I'm using these as Proxmox boot drives, as they are low latency but I don't need the storage capacity. I'm using the internal PCIe and m.2 slots for other devices in the system.
I'd rather not have to use both my internal m.2 slots for boot drives.


With that firmware installed, while the m.2 drives are installed in the enclosure I'm unable to format the drives. Neither Windows nor Linux could wipe and format the drives while installed in the enclosures.

 

[MAL0W]

Hello, I would like to thank all the participants in this thread, it has been very interesting for me to know that there are JMicron JMS583, Asmedia ASM2362 and Realtek RTL9210 drivers.

I have asked the seller of this NVME case what controller it uses because in the advertisement I have not seen either in text or in the photos what controller it uses.

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005006134294055.html

And this is Realtek RTL9210B..

https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005057195255.html

And I think this is also Realtek RTL9210 because of the diamond shape of the chipset..

https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005300135845.html

 

[MAL0W]

Here's the original configuration. I saved it before trying any changes, exactly as it came to me from Orico:


**************************************************************
Device : [Port1] : Realtek RTL9210B-CG #0
**************************************************************
U2PHY : 02 f4 9b e0 e1
U3PHY : 02 d4 09 00 d5 00 80
VID : 0x0bda
PID : 0x9210
MANUFACTURE : "Realtek"
PRODUCT : "RTL9210B-CG"
SERIAL : "012345679039"
SCSI_PRODUCT : "RTL9210B-CG "
SCSI_VENDOR : "Realtek "
DISK_HOTPLUG : 0x00
LED : 0x01
PINMUX1 : 0x00070000
PINMUX2 : 0x00000000
U2_MAXPWR : 0xfa
U3_MAXPWR : 0x70
ASPMDIS : 0x00
PCIE_REFCLK : n/a
DISK_IPS_THRES : 0x0a
SWR_1_2V : n/a
EN_UPS : n/a
PD : n/a
CUSTOMIZED_LED : n/a
SUSPEND_LED_OFF : n/a
FORCE_USB_SPEED : n/a
FORCE_PCIE_SPEED : n/a
EN_U1U2 : n/a
FORCE_USB_QUIRK : n/a
FORCE_PCIE_QUIRK : n/a
FAN : n/a
DIS_SHOW_EMPTY_DISK : n/a
FORCE_SATA_NORMAL_DMA : n/a
UART_DBG_PIN : 0x05
FINGER_PRINT_EN : n/a
RM_INTERNAL_RD : n/a
HS_AUTO_SWITCH : n/a
UART_BAUD_RATE : n/a
CUSTOMIZED_DISK_IDENTIFY : n/a
HW_LED_CFG : n/a
CDROM_CFG : n/a
SUPPORT_HID : n/a
LATE_INIT_DISK : n/a
SCSI_WP_PIN : n/a
SD_MMC_TYPE : n/a
FORCE_PORT_TYPE : n/a
BCDDEVICE : n/a
SUSPEND_DISK_OFF : n/a
SCSI_WB_PIN : n/a
CUSTOMIZED_FEATURE : n/a

Boot Mode : Flash
FW Ver : 1.23.15
FW Build Date : 2020.11.16
IC Pkg Type : PCIE
UUID : n/a

Disconn_ForceUSB2 : false

Where did you get that information from?

I have disassembled my Sabrent NVMe-USB enclosure unit and it has the Realtek RTL9210B driver but how can I see that information from Windows?

 

[Jimminy]

Where did you get that information from?

I have disassembled my Sabrent NVMe-USB enclosure unit and it has the Realtek RTL9210B driver but how can I see that information from Windows?

The tool which is used to flash the firmware also has a "dump/show device info" function. It won't dump the actual firmware, but does dump the configuration settings.

 

[MAL0W]

The tool which is used to flash the firmware also has a "dump/show device info" function. It won't dump the actual firmware, but does dump the configuration settings.

Ah OK, could you tell me the name or download of that tool?

 

[Jimminy]

Ah OK, could you tell me the name or download of that tool?

Station drivers:

Realtek RTL92xx(B) NVMe/USB 3.1 Controller firmware Version 1.31.17.102022 (2)

Windows

www.station-drivers.com

There's a bunch of versions on station drivers. I used version 1.31.17 but the included tool you're looking for is probably the same in most of them.

UTHSB_MPtool_lite.exe.

The MP tool is contained in the zip file that you will download and unzip, along with the firmware (.bin file) and config files (in the "configure" folder).

First dump the config file if you want a copy of the original that came in your enclosure. Use select all, copy, and paste it into a text document and save it somewhere.

Then you can edit the .cfg file that came with the tool (in the configure folder), adding new settings, deleting, changing, etc. Now you can flash your enclosure when you are happy with the settings.

Be sure to remove the SSD from the enclosure, then plug it into the USB port before you run the MP tool to flash your new firmware and config.

Good luck!

 

[MAL0W]

Station drivers:

Realtek RTL92xx(B) NVMe/USB 3.1 Controller firmware Version 1.31.17.102022 (2)

Windows

www.station-drivers.com

There's a bunch of versions on station drivers. I used version 1.31.17 but the included tool you're looking for is probably the same in most of them.

UTHSB_MPtool_lite.exe.

The MP tool is contained in the zip file that you will download and unzip, along with the firmware (.bin file) and config files (in the "configure" folder).

First dump the config file if you want a copy of the original that came in your enclosure. Use select all, copy, and paste it into a text document and save it somewhere.

Then you can edit the .cfg file that came with the tool (in the configure folder), adding new settings, deleting, changing, etc. Now you can flash your enclosure when you are happy with the settings.

Be sure to remove the SSD from the enclosure, then plug it into the USB port before you run the MP tool to flash your new firmware and config.

Good luck!

Great, thank you very much for such valuable information.

There seems to be a new firmware version 1.32.68.062623 from 31 Oct 2023.

My Sabrent adapter has the 1.23.5 version

What is the Golden firmware for?

 

[Jimminy]

What is the Golden firmware for?

I don't know much about that golden stuff, so I just left it set as it came in the flashing software. I didn't see anyway to change anything and also noticed that some of the firmware packages had the same golden version numbers.

I wonder if it's just a core portion of the firmware that doesn't change often. Maybe some of the guys here know more about it.

 

[sta3b]

latest firmware is v1.32.87.082923, below link if you need it :

EC-SNVE FW Update v1.32.87.082923.zip

Shared with Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

it fixes the disconnection issues on certain nvmes along with some stability and general fixes.

also below link from sabrent forum :

EC-SNVE - Fimrware Update Required??? | Sabrent

Firstly its insane one cant write out the question and copy and paste into this text field. Forcing me to waste time and retype my question. Talk about lack of proper planning. I have 3 of these EC-SNVE enclosures. 2 purchased in 2023 and 1 in 2021. The firmware update for download on the...

sabrent.com

latest firmware is in the last comment on the bottom of the page

 

[timesarerough]

I'm looking to buy a *RELIABLE* NVME-USB external adapter, that doesn't disconnect randomly, can keep up the close to 1GB/s speed.
So far all adapter's reviews contain frighteningly high % of reports of malfunction, random disconnects, sub-par speeds, falling to even under USB 2.0 speeds, etc.
There are 3 main chipsets in the market: JMicron JMS583, Asmedia ASM2362, and Realtek RTL9210 (no product has surfaced with the latter yet, so no REAL reviews, experiences yet UPDATE: it is on the market already).
Also ASUS has a new product, ROG Strix Arion, but there isn't enough feedback about it yet, and I mean real life feedback not just being able to run a few benchmarks, but real stress test to see if the device (adapter) can keep it up, without disconnecting or slowing down hard.
I would really appreciate any feedback from those who have GOOD experiences during stress-tests, like tons of random 4k writes with a stable speed, cloning 100's of GB-s at a stable high speed close to 1GB/s.
I know SSD's very well, so please stick to the point and don't start to educate me on how their speed falls after some writes, etc. I'm aware and this is NOT the point.
You can help if you can point me to a STABLE and RELIABLE NVMe-USB-C adapter that WORKS as expected.
Thank you in advance!

Though your comment is quite old, I'm at least happy to see others with the same issues. I can report with certainty that my Kioxia KBG40ZNT512G / KBG4AZNT1T02 does NOT function at all using the RTL9210B controller, but it DOES work in the JMS583 controller.

I've yet to find a firmware upgrade that'll fix this compatibility issue with the RTL board, hoping this thread has good news as I progress reading through it. The JMS583 was purchased here:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805248205935.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.33.6d001802wNXuGx&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

It is the first of the four enclosures offered, the 2230 sized for $13.60 That price may be different for you if you're a new user. "Welcome deals" are usually offered so it could be cheaper.

I have several of these enclosures, both the 2230 and 2242 sizes and they are by far the best ones that I own. You can scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the written and picture reviews.

Here to find a firmware upgrade for the KBG40ZNT512G / KBG4AZNT1T02 (Suspect Lenovo OEM). Zero results after scouring the net. Kioxia is no help, Lenovo is no help, Dell is no help.

 

[MAL0W]

I bought this and I CONFIRM that it is a Realtek RTL9210B controller.

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005006141073424.html

 

[gxcreator]

 

[harj]

What is the Golden firmware for?

I'm pretty sure it's a bootloader and is probably the firmware that's used when you connect the device without an m.2 drive

 

[eddieobscurant]

I bought this Ugreen RTL9210 adapter.

Ugreen Tool-Free Aluminum M.2 NVMe 10Gbps SSD Enclosure

Previous page Next page Previous page Next page 1 Auto Sleep Mode 2 RTL9210 Chipset 3 LED Indicator 4 Silicone Case 5 Included Cables Previous page Next page

uk.ugreen.com

On my desktop (Ryzen 5600 , msi b350 motherboard, latest bios) it works fine when i connect it to the usb 3.0 ports that come from the cpu , but when i connect to the usb 3.0 ports that are coming from the b350 chipset the speed is limited to usb 2.0 speeds. Anyone having similar issues?

If i connect other devices to the usb 3.0 ports that come from the chipset , i have the full usb 3.0 speed.

 

[zilog256]

Hi there.

Haven't posted since...2013....(well, with only 2 posts; yes...)

I have a problem that is driving me NUTS for months , with hardware bought specifically for one use, that cannot be achieved, due to USB dropouts.

The PC is a Genmachine NUC with a 5500U CPU : works flawlessly.

I have FOUR ORICO M2PV-C3 external enclosures (RTL9210B) ; I began with 2 of them populated with 1 Tb Crucial P5Plus NVMe : worked like a charm, transfers at 500-900 Mb/sec.

Then one day, let's call it "ENCLOSURE2" began to have USB dropouts : while writing data on the NVMe, suddently, throughput decreases, than stalls ; only solution is to forcefully remove the USB enclosure. I tried switching the NVMe drives between ENCLOSURE1&2 : maybe the enclosure was the problem? well, no, NVMe2 has the same bug in ENCLOSURE1, and NVMe1 works like a charme on ENCLOSURE2...

Tried rolling back / changing USB/chipset drivers, no result ; checked out all USB disconnect/energy savings as usual etc etc , to no avail

I eventually bought a cheap NVMe (FIKWOT) to test on a 3rd enclosure : worked flawlessly for a time then....VOILA....same bug......this is driving me NUTS.

And I must state that pulling out these enclosures straight from the NUC and inserting them in a Desktop PC = they work PERFECTLY (tested on Z370/8600K, Z390/9900K, and B450/5600G platforms....)

Today I tried upgrading the FW (was very old 1.24 something) of the ORICO enclosures; the FW upgrade by ORICO is fairly old (1.27) ; I tried messing with other bundles on station drivers (1.32 ... 1.30)...ending up bricking one of the enclosures and having to short the FW EEPROM to revive it, another waste of my time and energy etc.... That changes nothing of course.

I'm almost sure something is fishy with the "AMD / USB / 5xxx CPU". The NUC's BIOS is recent (2023) but I have no way to check if it has up to date AGESA, should be, the bug was 2021 but some still seem to have it even with stuff like X570/5800X.

I'm hesitating between throwing the NUC on the wall to see it explode,then trample the ORICO enclosures with rage....or yet invest some more in a non RTL9210B enclosure.....with no guarantee....

 

[igor_kavinski]

or yet invest some more in a non RTL9210B enclosure

Enclosures are not too expensive. Wonder why you are hesitating...

Get at least two with different chipsets. If they all exhibit the same issue, post a support ticket on the NUC's website. If that goes nowhere, complain on the AMD forums.

Support Forums

The AMD Online Support Community is a place where AMD users can help each other by sharing their valuable knowledge and experiences about AMD products. Please begin by reviewing the official Terms of Use and Membership for the AMD Community forum and the Information Required When Creating a...

community.amd.com

 

[Seba]

Enclosures are not too expensive. Wonder why you are hesitating...

It seems the enclosures are not the issue:

I tried switching the NVMe drives between ENCLOSURE1&2 : maybe the enclosure was the problem? well, no, NVMe2 has the same bug in ENCLOSURE1, and NVMe1 works like a charme on ENCLOSURE2...