Icy Dock MB308A interface cards/adapter SAS

The ICY DOCK EXLink MB308A is a high-performance PCIe 4.0 x16 adapter card featuring two SlimSAS 8i (SFF-8654) ports for direct NVMe connectivity. Engineered with an integrated redriver IC and PCIe clock buffer, the MB308A maintains signal integrity across longer cable runs, ensuring stable PCIe Gen4 speed and reliability. Validated with ICY DOCK NVMe mobile racks and enclosures, the MB308A provides a dependable foundation for servers, workstations, and validation labs where consistent NVMe storage performance is mission critical.

Optimized PCIe 4.0 x16 Connectivity for NVMe Storage
With a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface delivering up to 256Gbps of total bandwidth, the MB308A is designed to work with motherboards that support lane bifurcation (x4, x4, x4, x4). When enabled, this feature allows the adapter to connect up to four NVMe SSDs across its two SlimSAS 8i ports. If the motherboard does not provide bifurcation, only a single SSD may be recognized.

Redriver for Stable High-Speed Signals
In high-speed NVMe environments, PCIe signals can degrade over longer PCB traces or external cables. The MB308A’s built-in redriver equalizes and amplifies signals, enabling SlimSAS connections to sustain full PCIe Gen4 speed even with qualified long-reach cables. This ensures reliable throughput for demanding workloads such as AI/ML training, data validation, and scientific simulations.

PCIe Clock Buffer & SMBus Management
To maintain timing accuracy across connected devices, the MB308A integrates a 100MHz PCIe clock buffer for SlimSAS-based NVMe storage. Built-in SMBus switching and reset management enhance stability and provide out-of-band control, ensuring reliable operation in enterprise-grade applications.

Validated NVMe Compatibility with ICY DOCK Mobile Racks
The MB308A has been validated with ICY DOCK NVMe mobile racks and enclosures, ensuring reliable interoperability for enterprise and workstation deployments. This reduces integration risk for system builders and provides customers with a fully tested solution for high-speed removable NVMe storage.
To simplify cable and interface selection, ICY DOCK provides an NVMe Selection Tool, which helps you filter by connector type, host card, and enclosure to find the right combination:

Universal PCIe Adapter Card Support (Gen2/3/4/5)
The EXLink MB308A is designed to operate in any PCIe x16 slot, supporting PCIe 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 platforms (operating at PCIe Gen4 speed). Its universal compatibility makes it an excellent fit for diverse system environments, from enterprise servers to R&D labs.