The Nintendo Switch 2's MicroSD Express slot has opened up new possibilities for storage expansion, with developers creating an innovative adapter that allows users to connect standard M.2 NVMe SSDs directly to the console. This development could significantly reduce storage costs while providing faster performance compared to traditional microSD cards.
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| An M2 to Switch 2 adapter facilitating enhanced storage options for the Nintendo Switch 2 |
Technical Foundation and Compatibility
The SDEX2M2 Adapter project leverages the Nintendo Switch 2's support for the SD Express 7.1 standard, which exposes a genuine PCIe Gen3 x1 interface using the NVMe protocol for communication. This technical foundation makes the adapter possible without requiring complex protocol translation, as the Switch 2's host controller handles all communication directly. The adapter simply maps the appropriate pins from the console's MicroSD Express slot to a standard M.2 2230 NVMe SSD format.
Performance and Cost Benefits
Users can expect data transfer speeds up to approximately 1 GB/s, matching the limits of the PCIe Gen3 x1 interface. This performance level is comparable to newly released microSD Express cards from manufacturers like PNY. However, the cost advantages are substantial. While a PNY microSD Express card with 256GB capacity costs around USD 56, users can purchase M.2 2230 NVMe SSDs with double the capacity for the same price. Even more impressive, 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe SSDs like the Patriot Viper Gaming VP4000 Mini are available for just USD 66.
Development Status and Safety Considerations
The project remains a work-in-progress with several important limitations to address. Power consumption presents the most significant concern, as M.2 SSDs may draw more power than the Nintendo Switch 2 can safely provide. The development team has incorporated basic power filtering and strongly recommends using only low-voltage, low-power M.2 2230 NVMe drives. Users are also warned against attempting to use this adapter with legacy devices like the original Nintendo Switch, despite physical similarities.
Future Possibilities and External GPU Potential
The exposed PCIe interface opens theoretical possibilities beyond storage expansion. The PCIe Gen3 x1 connection could potentially support other expansion cards, including external GPUs. However, the 1 GB/s bandwidth limitation presents significant challenges compared to typical eGPU connections that use USB4 at 40 Gbps or OCuLink at 64 Gbps. Additionally, implementing an eGPU solution would require extensive modifications to redirect video output from the console's built-in Nvidia Ampere architecture GPU to an external graphics processor.
Open Source Availability
The SDEX2M2 project maintains an open-source approach, with complete component details and schematics available through the NVNTLabs GitHub repository. This accessibility allows interested developers and modders to contribute to the project's development or create their own implementations based on the provided designs.