ORICO PWM2G2 Review: Fast USB 3.2 Gen2 NVMe SSD Enclosure (Up to 1000 MB/s)

Today we’ll be taking a look at the PWM2G2 enclosure from ORICO. The PWM2G2 is an enclosure that allows you to use an internal M.2 NVMe SSD externally. In other words, it lets you transform any M.2 NVMe SSD into a portable drive that you can easily carry with you while traveling.

This can be useful, for example, for transporting data between home and work, or for bringing files (photos, videos, etc.) to friends or family. It can also be handy for connecting an M.2 NVMe SSD to a computer that doesn’t have (or no longer has) an available M.2 slot. In this case, this type of device can be particularly useful for backing up or cloning your system before an OS update.

The PWM2G2 connects to your computer or device of choice—whether it’s a console, TV, tablet, smartphone, or another device—via its USB Type-C port, which complies with the USB 3.2 Gen2 standard (10 Gbps). According to the manufacturer, it should be possible to achieve speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s with this device. We will, of course, verify this in the tests that follow.

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Presentation

The PWM2G2 is an accessory measuring 124 mm long, 35 mm wide, and 14 mm thick. It weighs only 36 grams. The enclosure features a metal shell, while the top section is made of ABS plastic.

This section also houses an LED indicator that displays the operating status of the enclosure (and therefore the SSD). The top section features a 10 Gbps USB-C port.

Note that the PWM2G2 is available in several colors: black, silver, blue, and pink, so you can match it with your setup—or even your wardrobe (or not!).

The enclosure can accommodate M.2 NVMe SSDs in the 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 form factors, with 2280 being the most common.

Installing the SSD

Installing an M.2 NVMe SSD inside the PWM2G2 is quite simple since the drive can be installed without any tools.

No need to prepare your toolbox or screwdriver; you won’t need any of that. Simply open the case by sliding the cap located at its end.

Once opened, the internal slot becomes accessible, and you simply need to insert the SSD into the PCIe connector.

A small rubber pin is used to secure the SSD in place.

Orico includes several accessories with the enclosure: two rubber pins, a USB-C to USB-C cable, as well as a thermal pad and an aluminum heatsink. The latter two are installed on the SSD to help dissipate the heat generated by the controller and NAND flash memory.

The PWM2G2 features an internal electronic board controlled by a Realtek RTL9210 controller. This chip acts as a bridge between the PCI Express interface of the SSD and the USB interface of the enclosure.

For the purposes of this article, a 1TB WD Blue SN570 M.2 NVMe SSD was used to test the enclosure.

Testing machine

To test this ORICO enclosure, we used our usual test system with the following specifications:

• Motherboard – MSI B450 Tomahawk Max
• Processor – AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
• Memory – HyperX Fury DDR4 RGB 16GB
• SSD M.2 NVMe – Crucial P1 500GB
• SSD 2.5″ SATA – Crucial MX500 1TB
• Monitor – Philips 32″ 328P6AUBREB/00
• Case – Antec NX1000
• Power Supply – Antec VP 600W
• Operating System – Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
• USB Expansion Card – USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20 Gbps)

Performance

Using CrystalDiskMark, we measured transfer speeds of 1064.18 MB/s read and 1001.02 MB/s write, which is excellent for a device using a USB 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps) interface.

Crystal Disk Mark

ATTO Benchmark

The ATTO benchmark revealed maximum transfer speeds of 1021.28 MB/s read and 1023.70 MB/s write. These speeds are slightly lower than those reported by CrystalDiskMark but still exceed 1000 MB/s for both reading and writing.

Minimum speeds with small files were measured at 15.39 MB/s read and 6.09 MB/s write.

AS SSD Benchmark
The AS SSD Benchmark reports 989.51 MB/s read and 997.57 MB/s write. These results are slightly lower than the previous benchmarks, but AS SSD is known for producing more conservative results.

The AS SSD program also includes a test called Copy Benchmark, which measures transfer speeds based on the type of files being copied. In this test, we recorded speeds of 709.18 MB/s when copying ISO images, 364.22 MB/s when transferring programs, and 531.51 MB/s when transferring games.

Conclusion

The ORICO PWM2G2 enclosure is a device that has many advantages. Small and compact, it is ideal for users who want an easy way to back up data or clone their system drive. Simply install an M.2 NVMe SSD inside the enclosure, and it is ready to use.

There is also no need to use a high-end M.2 NVMe SSD to benefit from this enclosure. A standard PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD will work perfectly well since performance will ultimately be limited by the USB 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps) interface and the Realtek RTL9210 controller.

The PWM2G2 delivers excellent performance. During testing, we measured speeds of 1064.18 MB/s read and 1001.02 MB/s write using CrystalDiskMark, which is essentially the maximum achievable with USB 3.2 Gen2.

During the benchmarks, the SSD used (a WD Blue SN570) remained relatively cool. We recorded a maximum temperature of 41°C during large file transfers, while temperatures generally stayed around 35°C during typical use. The included thermal pad and heatsink appear to be effective.

If there is one minor criticism, it concerns the included USB-C cable. The cable is only 30 cm long, which can be inconvenient when connecting the enclosure to the rear ports of a desktop PC. It tends to dangle in this situation. Unfortunately, this is a common issue with many manufacturers who supply very short cables with their portable SSDs and enclosures.

However, one particularly attractive aspect of the ORICO PWM2G2 is its price. The enclosure can typically be found online for between €15 and €20, which is very reasonable for a tool-free NVMe enclosure of this quality.

It’s worth noting that several versions of this enclosure with a similar design are available. Orico offers a version for M.2 NVMe SSDs (the model tested here), a version for M.2 SATA SSDs, and a hybrid model that supports both NVMe and SATA drives. Make sure you choose the correct model before purchasing.

• PWM2 (5 Gbps) – supports only M.2 SATA SSDs
• PWM2G2 (10 Gbps) – supports only M.2 NVMe SSDs
• PWDM2G2 (10 Gbps) – supports both M.2 NVMe and SATA SSDs

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This article may contain affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.