Accessory M.2 USB C host cards

[chx]

M.2 2280 to USB C single port: https://diarts-tech.com/product/1-port-internal-usb-c-usb-3-1-gen-2-10g-m-2-card/

Dual port: https://diarts-tech.com/product/2-port-internal-usb-3-1-gen-2-10gbs-m-2-card/

I have never seen anything like this before and I thought maybe it's interesting to the small factor crowd No, I have no idea where to buy one and how much they would cost. And I also have no idea what's up with the visibily key B+M card vs the description saying key M only. I am just sharing a discovery.

 

[Kmpkt]

Would pair quite nicely with this:

 

[chx]

It doesn't seem to have a front header. I presume it comes with a special cable as the similar USB / Ethernet host cards did before.

 

[glow]

It doesn't seem to have a front page header. I presume it comes with a special cable as the similar USB / Ethernet host cards did before.

One seems to be a 2260 with an USB-C header (new style). The other one seems to be a 2280 with a standard 20pin USB header (old style).

Both of them claim M key, but it's clear they are B+M key (Meaning, they are likely using a PCIe--> USB bridge. The SKU name implies ASMedia [ASUS] 2142). Both also seem to require additional power via a less-common connector.

IMO, though it would have been hilarious to fit, they would have been better off making them A+E 2230 cards. Sure, that would require backside IC with many layers, but the WiFi card is a bit more sacrificable than a M.2 SSD slot. Most vertical card WiFi M.2 mounts are more than able to take a thick PCB with backside IC elements, in my experience (I have a Xilinx FPGA in mine, for example).

 

[chx]

Well, it's photographed from above and I don't think it's the (rather high) front connector, I am thinking more like http://www.insidemylaptop.com/images/Lenovo-ThinkPad-T410s/keyboard-replacement-07.jpg a connector like this style ?

Also key B has PCIe signals in it, two.