12 linked sources · 22 scoped claims · 0 sources with inspection/access flags.
Assessment 2026-10-22 · earliest scheduled source review 2026-12-30. This is a recorded-date assessment, not a live source check. Page-level independent review is not established by this panel.
Inspect 12 source scopes, access limits and dates
StarTech.com · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-07 · due 2027-01-05
Within inspection window
Scoped support: Seven-contact SATA data connector, not the separate power connector.
Not established / limitations: Exact SATA18 product description only. Seven-contact data receptacles do not establish separate SATA power wiring. No universal rate, length, dimensional or mating guarantee is adopted.
Locator: PDF p. 1: two seven-contact data receptacles; p. 3: Connector(s) table, visually inspected.
Kingston · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-01 · due 2026-12-30
Within inspection window
Scoped support: M.2 physical fit does not establish SATA / PCIe / NVMe support.
Not established / limitations: Historical throughput examples and broad product marketing are not used.
Locator: M.2 physical sizes, B/M keys, host compatibility and hot-plug questions
Amphenol Communications Solutions · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-06 · due 2027-01-04
Within inspection window
Scoped support: Identifies a PCI Express x16 vertical card-edge connector with 164 positions; V43 uses form and position count only.
Not established / limitations: Identification/reference scope only. V43 does not convert this source into a universal pinout, fabrication drawing, electrical approval, protocol guarantee or end-to-end compatibility verdict.
Locator: Part specification detail
Dell · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-08 · due 2027-01-06
Within inspection window
Scoped support: Nominal module-format examples 2242 and 2280; not connector mating dimensions.
Not established / limitations: The general key/capability table is not adopted as a universal host rule. No Dell artwork, measured geometry, tolerance, contact assignment or exact-host approval is supplied.
Locator: Article 000144170, version 12; last modified 30 September 2026. M.2 Cards section, Figure 1 examples (b), (c) and (d).
ATP Electronics · Unclassified publisher domain · inspected 2026-10-08 · due 2027-01-06
Within inspection window
Scoped support: Separating mechanical key/format, wired interface, lane implementation, clearance and firmware requirements.
Not established / limitations: Manufacturer explanatory guide, not an inspected PCI-SIG M.2 standard. Numeric notch/contact positions, marketing throughput, capacity and universal key-to-protocol rules are not adopted. No third-party illustrations are copied.
Locator: Published 22 June 2026; sections on keying versus wiring, compatibility checklist, mechanical clearance and firmware. No numbered revision stated.
NVM Express · Unclassified publisher domain · inspected 2026-10-08 · due 2027-01-06
Within inspection window
Scoped support: NVMe host interface and its PCIe transport mapping are distinct from a mechanical module connector.
Not established / limitations: This transport specification is not an M.2 mechanical standard. It does not establish a module key, host boot support, mating dimensions or universal compatibility. Copyright retained by NVM Express; link and factual paraphrase only.
Locator: Revision 1.4, 31 July 2026; section 1.1/1.2, printed page 6; section 2, printed page 8. PDF pages 6 and 8 visually inspected.
ASUS · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-08 · due 2027-01-06
Within inspection window
Scoped support: Selected storage and PCIe slot roles for PRIME B550-PLUS AC-HES only, with CPU, slot population and SATA-sharing conditions.
Not established / limitations: Not the ordinary PRIME B550-PLUS or every B550 motherboard. Selected internal groups only; no current BIOS verification, boot qualification, entire port inventory or hardware test. Manual conditions must not be generalized.
Locator: E18712, First Edition, July 2021; specification summary printed vi–vii and layout 1-2. PDF pages 2, 6, 7 and 12 visually inspected.
StarTech.com · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-08 · due 2027-01-06
Within inspection window
Scoped support: Named adapter requirements distinguish a PCIe M.2 SSD, a host expansion slot and drive operating-system support.
Not established / limitations: No SATA conversion, generic adapter topology, universal key acceptance or boot guarantee is established by this guide. Printed date is retained literally rather than guessed as an ISO date.
Locator: Product PEX4M2E1; page 1 Requirements, installation and driver notes. Printed Manual Revision: 09/10/2019; date order is not resolved. PDF page 1 visually inspected.
StarTech.com · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-08 · due 2027-01-06
Within inspection window
Scoped support: One exact dual-interface enclosure’s SSD requirements and separate host-facing USB connection.
Not established / limitations: The listed keys and interfaces do not establish every key/protocol cross-combination. No universal enclosure support, measured throughput or internal M.2 hot-swap permission is inferred.
Locator: Product M2-USB-C-NVME-SATA; Manual Revision November 6, 2021 12:28 AM. PDF pages 1–2 visually inspected: requirements, installation, connection and safe removal.
StarTech.com · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-11 · due 2027-01-09
Within inspection window
Scoped support: SATA B/B+M M.2 support and explicit NVMe/AHCI PCIe exclusion. Conflicting module-length lists are not normalized into a claim.
Not established / limitations: Named example only. No universal compatibility or publication approval. Raw-byte acquisition status is recorded separately.
Locator: PDF pages 2–3: Features, Compatible Drive Types and General Specifications. Visually inspected.
StarTech.com · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-11 · due 2027-01-09
Within inspection window
Scoped support: Named 2.5-inch SATA adapter and explicit 3.5-inch drive exclusion. SAS support is not established.
Not established / limitations: Named example only. No universal compatibility or publication approval. Raw-byte acquisition status is recorded separately.
Locator: PDF page 2: drive-size exclusion and compatibility paragraphs; visually inspected.
TE Connectivity · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-13 · due 2027-01-11
Within inspection window
Scoped support: M.2 socket family; source-observed M-key representative and key/part variants.
Not established / limitations: PDF metadata says B3, but inspected drawing title blocks say B4; drawing content governs this observation. No claim this is the latest released revision.
Locator: Sheets 1–3 of 4 visually inspected. Sheet 1 revision B4 dated 05 NOV 2024; sheet 2 shows 1-2199230-5 and the key/part table; sheet 3 is a PCB footprint, not a mating view.
Trace 22 claims to their source records
C029A · P029
SATA data cables use a seven-contact connector distinct from the separate power connection.
Claim scope: Consumer identification / documented standard or product class only
Source links: S032 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C029C · P029
The PRIME B550-PLUS AC-HES manual states that populating M.2_2 disables the SATA6G_56 ports. Its condition is not limited in that note to installing a SATA-mode M.2 SSD.
Claim scope: E18712 printed vii, exact board, M.2_2 and SATA6G_56 labels; not a rule for other boards or other slots.
Source links: S429 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C029D · P029
StarTech USB3S2SAT3CB supports 2.5-inch SATA SSD/HDD use and explicitly excludes 3.5-inch hard drives.
Claim scope: Named USB-to-SATA adapter. Do not generalize this product limitation to every powered SATA dock or infer SAS support.
Source links: S492 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030A · P030
M.2 physical fit and keying do not establish whether a host supports a particular SATA, PCIe or NVMe device.
Claim scope: Consumer identification / documented standard or product class only
Source links: S033 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030B · P030
Dell’s version-12 article illustrates 2242 as a nominal 22 × 42 mm module and 2280 as a nominal 22 × 80 mm module. These are module-format examples, not socket mating dimensions.
Claim scope: Article 000144170 version 12, Figure 1 examples (b)–(d); no tolerance, connector geometry or clearance inferred.
Source links: S426 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030C · P030
ATP distinguishes M.2 keying from the interface actually wired to a socket: a mechanically matching key alone does not establish SATA or PCIe support.
Claim scope: Manufacturer compatibility checklist; no universal B, M or B+M key-to-protocol mapping or numeric contact positions.
Source links: S427 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030D · P030
ATP calls for checking module length, mounting position and vertical/component clearance, including single- versus double-sided construction, separately from keying.
Claim scope: Physical fit checklist only; no invented height, tolerance, heat-spreader or fabrication dimensions.
Source links: S427 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030E · P030
ATP separates firmware support for NVMe boot from mechanical fit and advises against treating ordinary M.2 installation as hot-plugging. Follow the exact equipment’s power-off and service instructions.
Claim scope: No claim that every NVMe-capable host can boot every drive; external USB removal is a different operation.
Source links: S427 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030F · P030
The ASUS PRIME B550-PLUS AC-HES manual lists M.2_1 with SATA and PCIe x4 modes: PCIe 4.0 for the named Ryzen 5000/3000 desktop families, and PCIe 3.0 for the named 5000 G-Series/4000 G-Series families.
Claim scope: E18712 First Edition, printed vii. Only the manual’s named processor families and M.2_1 slot; actual CPU and firmware still require verification.
Source links: S429 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030G · P030
On the same AC-HES board, the chipset-connected M.2_2 is specified for PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA; both M.2 slot entries list 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110 modules.
Claim scope: E18712 printed vii, exact board and slot labels; supported nominal lengths do not establish component clearance or boot qualification.
Source links: S429 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030H · P030
StarTech SM2NGFFMBU33 explicitly excludes M.2 NVMe and AHCI PCI-Express SSDs.
Claim scope: Named SATA-only USB enclosure; the M.2 label or an apparently matching key cannot override this exclusion.
Source links: S491 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030I · P030
The SM2NGFFMBU33 sheet lists SATA B-key and SATA B+M-key M.2 drive types.
Claim scope: Named enclosure drive-type list only. Its inconsistent module-length lists are held open, not treated as confirmed 2230 support.
Source links: S491 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030J · P030
In TE drawing C-2199230 revision B4, the representative shown as 1-2199230-5 is an M-key board socket; the card edge is its counterpart, not the illustrated component.
Claim scope: V143: the named drawing/revision or exact product page only. Recognition and document-role evidence; not a pinout, adapter verdict, dimensioned mating gauge, electrical approval or current installed-device claim.
Source links: S594 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030K · P030
The C-2199230 part table separates A, B, E and M key variants, and the M-key block includes several part suffixes rather than one universal socket.
Claim scope: V143: the named drawing/revision or exact product page only. Recognition and document-role evidence; not a pinout, adapter verdict, dimensioned mating gauge, electrical approval or current installed-device claim.
Source links: S594 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030L · P030
The C-2199230 drawing specifies 67 contact positions with a key interruption; its two solder-tail rows have different counts, so a single visible row is not the total contact inventory.
Claim scope: V143: the named drawing/revision or exact product page only. Recognition and document-role evidence; not a pinout, adapter verdict, dimensioned mating gauge, electrical approval or current installed-device claim.
Source links: S594 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C030M · P030
Kingston states that a PCIe M.2 SSD in a SATA-only host socket—or a SATA M.2 SSD in a PCIe-only socket—does not gain the missing protocol merely from physical fit. Consult the system manual for the exact slot interface and any shared-lane restrictions.
Claim scope: Storage SSD interface only; not a claim about every M.2 socket or PCIe adapter
Source links: S033 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C057A · P057
M.2 describes physical form; a compatible shape does not establish SATA, PCIe or NVMe support.
Claim scope: Consumer identification / documented standard or product class only
Source links: S033 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C057B · P057
NVM Express’s NVMe over PCIe Transport Specification distinguishes the NVMe host interface from its mapping onto PCIe. Neither the protocol nor the transport name identifies an M.2 mechanical connector.
Claim scope: Revision 1.4, sections 1.1–1.2 and 2, printed pages 6 and 8; no mechanical standard, lane assignment or boot claim.
Source links: S428 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C057C · P057
StarTech’s PEX4M2E1 guide requires a PCIe M.2 SSD and an x4-or-larger PCIe expansion slot. Its adapter-driver note does not remove the separate requirement to check the drive’s operating-system compatibility.
Claim scope: Exact PEX4M2E1 page-1 requirements; this does not establish SATA conversion or NVMe boot support.
Source links: S430 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C057D · P057
StarTech’s M2-USB-C-NVME-SATA guide lists M.2 PCIe NVMe and M.2 SATA SSD requirements, M-Key/B+M-Key wording and 30/42/60/80 mm lengths for one SSD; the enclosure connects to the host through USB.
Claim scope: Exact enclosure only. Do not infer every key/protocol combination, other enclosure support, achieved transfer speed or permission to insert a bare M.2 drive while powered.
Source links: S431 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C261A · P261
Amphenol identifies part 10146067-113A0LF as a PCI Express x16 card-edge connector with 164 positions.
Claim scope: V43 catalogue-expansion identification fact only; not independent technical approval, fabrication data, wiring instruction, protocol guarantee or end-to-end compatibility proof.
Source links: S281 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
C261C · P261
The AC-HES manual distinguishes physical x16 slots from wired modes: the chipset PCIe 3.0 x16_4 slot supports x4 mode, falling to x1 when any of the specified x16_2, x16_3 or x16_5 slots is occupied.
Claim scope: E18712 printed vi and layout 1-2; exact board and population condition, not a universal PCIe x16 lane rule.
Source links: S429 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)
Recorded evidence only. An inspection date, publisher label, source link or generated packet is not independent technical review, hardware testing, fabrication approval or a compatibility verdict.
