PORT & CABLE / FIELD GUIDES / 04 / STORAGE ADAPTER SELECTION
Four source-qualified rows keep drive form, transport and named adapter restrictions separate. A fitting connector is not a data-recovery result.
Each PDF includes two pages: the chart, then source notes and a reused visual. Downloads work in the native site and full offline preview. Evidence dates remain unchanged.
01 / KEEP THE LIMIT BESIDE THE ANSWER
| Label / exact scope | What the evidence establishes | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| SATA drive to USBStarTech USB3S2SAT3CB | Supports 2.5-inch SATA SSD/HDD use; excludes 3.5-inch hard drives. Do not infer: This model limitation does not apply to every powered dock; SAS support is not established. | Read the exact drive model, interface and power requirements. |
| SAS / SATA receptacle exampleMolex 78717-0002 | Named SAS/SATA receptacle evidence is a component example. Do not infer: It does not make the SATA-only USB adapter a SAS controller. | Check controller, backplane, cable and drive support as a complete path. |
| M.2 enclosureStarTech SM2NGFFMBU33 | Lists SATA B-key / B+M-key drives; excludes NVMe and AHCI PCIe SSDs. Do not infer: M.2 does not override the exclusion. Inconsistent length lists remain unresolved. | Verify the drive interface and supported length in authoritative model documentation. |
| mSATA versus M.2Kingston FAQ / TE socket context | mSATA uses SATA; M.2 includes SATA and PCIe options and a different physical connector. Do not infer: A Mini PCIe/mSATA socket outline does not establish the host wiring. | Identify both the card and the exact host socket implementation. |
StarTech USB3S2SAT3CB
Molex 78717-0002
StarTech SM2NGFFMBU33
Kingston FAQ / TE socket context
02 / SEE THE DISTINCTION
(private workspace)SATA 7-pin data connector
cable-plug · Drive-facing female cable-plug opening concept; qualitative L-shaped key
inherited-study · not to scale · technical/rights reviews pending. Positions are named, not drawn as electrical contacts; sizes and key tolerances are unmeasured.
Inspect this exact view and carry its context → (private workspace)03 / THE EVIDENCE STAYS ATTACHED
Compiled 2026-10-11 from inherited observations. A compilation date is not a new source inspection. Expand a row for its original claims, dates and source locators.
Example scope: StarTech USB3S2SAT3CB
StarTech USB3S2SAT3CB supports 2.5-inch SATA SSD/HDD use and explicitly excludes 3.5-inch hard drives.
Named USB-to-SATA adapter. Do not generalize this product limitation to every powered SATA dock or infer SAS support.
Original claim verification: 2026-10-11. Status: source_checked. No independent hardware approval.
S492 · StarTech.com — USB3S2SAT3CB USB to SATA adapter datasheet
PDF page 2: drive-size exclusion and compatibility paragraphs; visually inspected. · Source record checked 2026-10-11
Example scope: Molex 78717-0002
Molex documents a 29-circuit SAS/SATA receptacle example with fourteen signal circuits, fifteen power circuits and SFF-8482/SFF-8680 mating references.
V36 catalogue-expansion identification fact only; not independent technical approval, fabrication data, wiring instruction or end-to-end compatibility proof.
Original claim verification: 2026-10-05. Status: source_checked. No independent hardware approval.
StarTech USB3S2SAT3CB supports 2.5-inch SATA SSD/HDD use and explicitly excludes 3.5-inch hard drives.
Named USB-to-SATA adapter. Do not generalize this product limitation to every powered SATA dock or infer SAS support.
Original claim verification: 2026-10-11. Status: source_checked. No independent hardware approval.
S201 · Molex — 78717-0002 SAS/SATA receptacle product page
Product detail and mating-interface fields · Source record checked 2026-10-05
S492 · StarTech.com — USB3S2SAT3CB USB to SATA adapter datasheet
PDF page 2: drive-size exclusion and compatibility paragraphs; visually inspected. · Source record checked 2026-10-11
Example scope: StarTech SM2NGFFMBU33
StarTech SM2NGFFMBU33 explicitly excludes M.2 NVMe and AHCI PCI-Express SSDs.
Named SATA-only USB enclosure; the M.2 label or an apparently matching key cannot override this exclusion.
Original claim verification: 2026-10-11. Status: source_checked. No independent hardware approval.
The SM2NGFFMBU33 sheet lists SATA B-key and SATA B+M-key M.2 drive types.
Named enclosure drive-type list only. Its inconsistent module-length lists are held open, not treated as confirmed 2230 support.
Original claim verification: 2026-10-11. Status: source_checked. No independent hardware approval.
S491 · StarTech.com — SM2NGFFMBU33 SATA M.2 enclosure datasheet
PDF pages 2–3: Features, Compatible Drive Types and General Specifications. Visually inspected. · Source record checked 2026-10-11
Example scope: Kingston FAQ / TE socket context
Kingston distinguishes M.2 from mSATA: mSATA uses SATA, while M.2 includes SATA and PCIe options and does not use the same physical connector. A shared Mini PCIe/mSATA socket outline still does not establish the host’s wired interface.
Kingston SSD FAQ reinspection on 8 October 2026 plus the existing TE 52-position socket example; inherited source dates unchanged. Not a universal Mini PCIe/mSATA host compatibility result.
Original claim verification: 2026-10-08. Status: source_checked. No independent hardware approval.
S033 · Kingston — SSD FAQ
M.2 physical sizes, B/M keys, host compatibility and hot-plug questions · Source record checked 2026-10-01
S339 · TE Connectivity — TE 1759513-1 Mini PCI Express & mSATA connector
Product summary and features: bus type, number of positions and centerline · Source record checked 2026-10-06
