> PCIe 2.0 x1 interface for fast peripherals (requires separate M.2 HAT or other adapter)
This could make it appealing for a low-power server, like a home NAS. In previous models, disk I/O had to be over USB, which imposes more CPU load than native SATA, along with various unpleasant quirks typical of USB-to-SATA bridges.
Too bad it's only one lane (assuming that's what they mean by x1), but I think that's almost enough to saturate a SATA bus, so it should nevertheless be useful where NVMe speeds aren't needed. I hope it's implemented well.
This could make it appealing for a low-power server, like a home NAS. In previous models, disk I/O had to be over USB, which imposes more CPU load than native SATA, along with various unpleasant quirks typical of USB-to-SATA bridges.
Too bad it's only one lane (assuming that's what they mean by x1), but I think that's almost enough to saturate a SATA bus, so it should nevertheless be useful where NVMe speeds aren't needed. I hope it's implemented well.