Icy Dock ToughArmor MB998V4P-B Up to 8x7mm U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs into Single External 5.25" Optical Drive Bay

Icy Dock unveils the ToughArmor MB998V4P-B, a rugged, ultra-high-density storage solution that integrates up to 8x7mm U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs into a single external 5.25″ optical drive bay.

Built with a full-metal enclosure, dual high-airflow 40×40×20mm fans, and PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth for each drive (up to 64Gb, host-dependent), it is for enterprise servers, high-performance workstations, and mission-critical systems that demand maximum speed, capacity, and reliability in a removable storage format.

Compatible with Tri-mode HBA/RAID cards (NVMe mode only), the MB998V4P-B offers integration with enterprise-grade controllers while supporting hot-swapping for efficient drive maintenance and upgrades.

Ultra-Dense Storage in Single 5.25″ Bay

By accommodating eight enterprise U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs in just one external 5.25″ bay, the MB998V4P-B delivers massive storage performance in the smallest possible footprint – for servers, HPC systems, media production rigs, edge computing nodes, and industrial IPC platforms where every bay counts. Each drive operates on a dedicated PCIe 4.0 x4 link, ensuring optimal throughput for high-bandwidth workloads such as real-time 8K video editing, virtualization clusters, scientific simulations, and transactional databases.

Removable Drive Trays for Easy Maintenance
Each SSD is mounted in its own removable ToughArmor tray, allowing for rapid drive swaps without system downtime. The tray design supports both tool-less installation for quick turnaround and optional screw mounting for added stability in high-vibration environments. Front-mounted individual drive power/activity LEDs provide instant visual status updates.

Next-Gen Connectivity with SlimSAS 8i SFF-8654 and PCIe 8-Pin Power

The MB998V4P-B features 4 SlimSAS 8i (SFF-8654) connectors, each supporting 2 PCIe 4.0 x4 U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs via Tri-mode HBAs/RAID cards (NVMe mode only). A single PCIe 8-pin power connector delivers clean, stable power to all 8 SSDs, minimizing cable clutter and simplifying system integration.

Full-Metal Rugged Construction for Harsh Environments

True to the ToughArmor legacy, the MB998V4P-B uses a full-metal chassis, trays, and housing to withstand heavy use in demanding conditions, including industrial, military, and medical environments.

EMI Grounding Technology

Grounding your drives are essential as swapping drives without the proper grounding may lead to hardware damage due to static shocks. With the firm’s innovative EMI Grounding Technology, once the drive is screwed onto the drive tray, the drive will be in a constant grounded state throughout the tray, housing, and computer system to ensure your drives are protected from static electrical surges safe during swapping.

Advanced Cooling with Dual 40mm Fans

Two 40×40×20mm fans deliver airflow directly across all 8 SSDs, while strategically placed ventilation holes throughout the enclosure optimize passive cooling. This combination ensures sustained performance and prevents thermal throttling during continuous heavy workloads.

Product Compatibility

The MB741V4P-B is compatible with motherboards, RAID/HBA cards, and M.2 adapters from major brands including Adaptec, Areca, Broadcom, HighPoint, Supermicro, and more. This compatibility gives you the freedom to choose from a wide range of hardware options, moving beyond the constraints of single-brand system configurations. (information on product compatibility).

To simplify upgrade process even further

NVMe Storage Selection Tool – an interactive guide that helps you find compatible mobile racks, cables, and adapters based on your system’s NVMe slot type and installation needs.

Perfect for system integrators and DIY users alike, it eliminates the guesswork from building removable NVMe storage solution.

Key Features:

Fits 8x7mm U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs into a single external 5.25″ device bay
PCIe 4.0 x4 interface per drive, up to 64Gb (host dependent)
Compatible with Tri-mode HBA/RAID cards (NVMe mode only)
4×SlimSAS 8i (SFF-8654) host connectors (2 drives/connector)
Removable ToughArmor trays with tool-less installation and optional screw mounting
Full-metal construction for maximum durability and heat dissipation
Dual 40×40×20mm fans with optimized airflow design
Front-mounted LED indicators for power and activity per drive
PCIe 8-pin power input for all 8 SSDs
Removable drive tray design for rapid maintenance
EMI grounding design for signal integrity in high-speed PCIe 4.0 applications
Backed by a 5-year limited warranty against all defects