What I fail to understand is why they bothered with the DIMM pins? Power and data are provided by the SATA connectors in the corner, so why bother with the edge-connector at all?

I’d contemplated a similar idea previously, but vertical mounting for two 2.5” SSDs that you simply slot home onto connectors like the one on the corner of this device. Place a single SATA power in connector on one edge and two SATA data on the other.

Seems like a waste of a RAM slot.

paradigital wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:12:

What I fail to understand is why they bothered with the DIMM pins? Power and data are provided by the SATA connectors in the corner, so why bother with the edge-connector at all?

I’d contemplated a similar idea previously, but vertical mounting for two 2.5” SSDs that you simply slot home onto connectors like the one on the corner of this device. Place a single SATA power in connector on one edge and two SATA data on the other.

Well its a cost thing, the tools for making DDR3/DDR4 PCB blanks are already available and you wont need to make a new set of PCB blanks for these adaptors by just repurposing what's already available in mass quantities.

The pins dont go anywhere so there is no cost in having them there.

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:32:

Seems like a waste of a RAM slot.

most retro boards come with 4 ram slots and if you only need to use one or two then this simply uses the empty slots.

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:36:

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:32:

Seems like a waste of a RAM slot.

most retro boards come with 4 ram slots and if you only need to use one or two then this simply uses the empty slots.

But why? You can put it literally anywhere.

Yeah, many retro boards can max out ram without using all the slots. Like my p55xb2 could max out the ram using only one of the provided 6 slots 🤣

Or my tyan, only 4 of provided 8

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:39:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:36:

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:32:

Seems like a waste of a RAM slot.

most retro boards come with 4 ram slots and if you only need to use one or two then this simply uses the empty slots.

But why? You can put it literally anywhere.

Including a ram slot!

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:39:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:36:

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:32:

Seems like a waste of a RAM slot.

most retro boards come with 4 ram slots and if you only need to use one or two then this simply uses the empty slots.

But why? You can put it literally anywhere.

because this M.2 SSD adaptor is designed to fit into an empty Dimm slot, im not sure what your issue is with repurposing an empty ram slot ?

If you are putting an M2 SSD in a retro system, you've probably got the RAM maxed out as well. Doesn't make sense when you could easily just stick it in a drive bay adapter. If you don't have any free bays then stick it on the side of the case.

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:43:

If you are putting an M2 SSD in a retro system, you've probably got the RAM maxed out as well. Doesn't make sense when you could easily just stick it in a drive bay adapter. If you don't have any free bays then stick it on the side of the case.

Depends on the system, Sata is a pretty old standard and works well with XP era systems which dont need 16gb of ram so no you wont generally have maxed out memory in a retro rig since its not needed.

I have zero interest in sticking adaptors like this where they dont belong ...such a tacky thing to do when it'll fit really nice into a spare DIMM slot, if I do have maxxed ram then I sure as hell wont be using an adaptor like this ill be using something more exotic and designed to fit into a HDD drive slot or PCIe slot.

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:43:

If you are putting an M2 SSD in a retro system, you've probably got the RAM maxed out as well. Doesn't make sense when you could easily just stick it in a drive bay adapter. If you don't have any free bays then stick it on the side of the case.

I wanna use it on this build. Four unusable slots available would be kinda cool to see a m.2 in one or two of them. Good conversation starter.

This case does have some spaces for 2.5” drives in rear though. But it’s a hobby. I like to have fun with it 😀

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:49:

I have zero interest in sticking adaptors like this where they dont belong

Agreed. RAM slots are for RAM 😜

Sphere478 you clearly ran out of space in that tiny case 😜

What I dont understand about the linked adapter is ENIG on ram pins, its easily 2x the cost of pcb

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 07:02:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:49:

I have zero interest in sticking adaptors like this where they dont belong

Agreed. RAM slots are for RAM 😜

Clearly it does belong in a Dimm slot since its a Dimm PCB with pins and latch locks obviously designed and meant to go .. in a RAM slot. (Shit its even got a nice little notch that perfectly suits a RAM slot) So why would I put this anywhere else ?

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 11:10:

Clearly it does belong in a Dimm slot since its a Dimm PCB with pins and latch locks obviously designed and meant to go .. in a RAM slot. (Shit its even got a nice little notch that perfectly suits a RAM slot) So why would I put this anywhere else ?

https://imgur.com/a/4yMC8

I highly recommend cup holder with integrated lighter

hmm ..I have a cup holder in my XP rig . .the lighter I dont have but I could use one !

wait ... its a cup holder right

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 11:10:

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 07:02:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 06:49:

I have zero interest in sticking adaptors like this where they dont belong

Agreed. RAM slots are for RAM 😜

Clearly it does belong in a Dimm slot since its a Dimm PCB with pins and latch locks obviously designed and meant to go .. in a RAM slot. (Shit its even got a nice little notch that perfectly suits a RAM slot) So why would I put this anywhere else ?

A better question is why would you have it in the first place? It's unnecessary. I can 3d print a plastic shelf that plugs into an AC outlet. That doesn't mean the AC outlet is designed to hold a shelf.

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 11:40:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 11:10:

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 07:02:

Agreed. RAM slots are for RAM 😜

Clearly it does belong in a Dimm slot since its a Dimm PCB with pins and latch locks obviously designed and meant to go .. in a RAM slot. (Shit its even got a nice little notch that perfectly suits a RAM slot) So why would I put this anywhere else ?

A better question is why would you have it in the first place? It's unnecessary. I can 3d print a plastic shelf that plugs into an AC outlet. That doesn't mean the AC outlet is designed to hold a shelf.

Ok now your argument is going into silly territory, but just so you know . .AC outlets can do a myriad of things they were never designed to do .. like carry network traffic, Dimm slots can hold more than just memory modules, what something was designed to do is very different from what it can actually do.

Shifting spanners were never designed to be used as hammers but you can bet your behind thats exactly what they get used as, just ask any fitter or mechanic.

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 11:48:

Plasma wrote on 2022-05-31, 11:40:

TrashPanda wrote on 2022-05-31, 11:10:

Clearly it does belong in a Dimm slot since its a Dimm PCB with pins and latch locks obviously designed and meant to go .. in a RAM slot. (Shit its even got a nice little notch that perfectly suits a RAM slot) So why would I put this anywhere else ?

A better question is why would you have it in the first place? It's unnecessary. I can 3d print a plastic shelf that plugs into an AC outlet. That doesn't mean the AC outlet is designed to hold a shelf.

Ok now your argument is going into silly territory, but just so you know . .AC outlets can do a myriad of things they were never designed to do .. like carry network traffic, Dimm slots can hold more than just memory modules, what something was designed to do is very different from what it can actually do.

Shifting spanners were never designed to be used as hammers but you can bet your behind thats exactly what they get used as, just ask any fitter or mechanic.

This entire thread is silly territory. Is there really nowhere else to put an M2 besides the DIMM slot? If you want to waste a slot knock yourself out, but you aren't going to convince me this is useful.

Vote for the utility of these things. Maybe it's because of my penchant for vintage cases, but I've frequently had trouble getting a 2.5" SSD properly mounted in a case, let alone any nVME thing like this. I generally have more RAM slots left than good places to stick a stick.

That said, the opposite may also be true. In that case, just don't use it 😉