Via the 20-gigabit USB interface (3.2 Gen 2×2), you’ll practically reach speeds of approximately 2.1 GB/s – that is, in the case of the Axagon EEM2-20G. This is roughly double what we’ve previously recorded with external SSD enclosures. The high speed goes hand in hand with superior cooling, and aside from that, there’s also exceptional mechanical durability. Contributing to this is the thick protective sleeve.
Evaluation
With the Axagon EEM2-20G enclosure, we achieved roughly double the speeds seen in previously tested SSD enclosures. This is primarily due to the significantly higher bandwidth of the USB interface this enclosure uses – defined by the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20-gigabit standard – compared to USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s) in other tested enclosures.
The faster 20-gigabit interface supported by the EEM2-20G is less common on motherboards, though certainly not rare. Many modern motherboards do support it. For those that don’t, speed will be limited by the slower interface. Even USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 do not guarantee 20 Gb/s throughput. There may be no support for the controller (for USB 3.2 Gen 2×2), and speeds can drop to around 1 GB/s.
If a slower interface is used, the SSD enclosure obviously won’t benefit from its full potential and will be bottlenecked by the USB port of the connected device. On compatible devices, however, the SSD (M.2) inside this enclosure will be significantly less limited than in enclosures with half the bandwidth.
High speed is also associated with higher power consumption. However, this doesn’t scale with the speed increase and remains low – up to 9 W. Outside of load we measured 5.84 W, which is still relatively low. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that this is the highest of all our tests to date, and the battery of a laptop to which the EEM2-20G is connected will drain the fastest. That said, compared to other enclosures – none of which will reach such high sequential write or read speeds – it’s a fair trade-off. For desktop users, concerns about higher consumption are likely negligible. A watt or two up or down…
Surface temperature is highest, but that’s actually good. It means heat is effectively transferred away from the SSD and that cooling is working. No overheating occurred even under long-term load. The speed remained consistently stable in all tested conditions – without drops – reliably above 2 GB/s.
In addition to high speeds, we must also highlight the robust construction of the enclosure, which also features a protective sleeve. This ensures that even cosmetic damage from drops is avoided.
The Axagon EEM2-20G is essentially a no-compromise enclosure. Though it comes at a higher price, it’s still reasonably placed at a retail price of around 50 EUR. For users seeking top-tier performance, it will be a solid choice.
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
| Axagon EEM2-20G |
| + Exceptionally high speed, pushing the limits of the interface... |
| + ... exceeding 2 GB/s (many enclosures max out at “only” half that) |
| + Suitable for large-scale data transfers and backups |
| + Above-standard accessory package (including protective sleeve) |
| + Quick installation |
| + High build quality |
| + ... and a robust, durable body |
| - Relatively higher power consumption when idle |
| Approximate retail price: 50 EUR |
