Sure, let’s dive into this jumble of tech.
So, you know how those MicroSD Express cards for the Switch 2 are costing an arm and a leg these days? Yeah, it’s like, why sell your kidney for storage, right? Better Gaming, that YouTuber with a knack for tinkering, tried out this cool little open-source MicroSD Express adapter project—it’s called SDEX2M2. Sounds like a Star Wars droid, doesn’t it? Anyway, they’re trying to fit M.2 NVMe 2230 SSDs into the Switch 2 with this rig, but uh, spoiler alert: Didn’t work so hot.
We’ve been watching the whole SDEX2M2 story unfold. Apparently, this adapter’s using the PCIe stuff from MicroSD Express which ties into NVMe. I mean, they’re both into the SD Express 7.1 biz, so might as well make ‘em work together, right? Except, well…you know how these things go.
Better Gaming whips up a bunch of these PCBs from the SDEX2M2 plans—like a techie arts and crafts session or something—and jumps into soldering land. Let’s just say, four boards in and a Corsair MP600 Mini NVMe gets strapped onto their Switch 2. Physically, the whole thing’s like, perfect—slides right in, no sweat. But then, welcome to Error Code City, population: You.
So bam, error code “2016-0641”, like the Switch 2’s like, “No, thanks, I’m good without that microSD.” This set off some detective work. Turns out, passive adapters need more than just a handshake; they need the whole communication blabber with the Switch. Thing is, MicroSD cards have this built-in chatty controller. Our NVMe SSD friends? Not so much when it comes to the SD Express 7.1 gossip.
Now the brains behind SDEX2M2 are onto something. Rumor’s they’ve got their sights on shoving an FPGA in there to mimic a MicroSD Express controller. Yeah, that’s like trying to teach your dog to purr, but hey, dream big.
If they pull it off, okay, great, we could have this workaround for expanding the Switch 2 beyond its claustrophobic 256GB. Even if the whole setup is gonna be like strapping a brick to your console. Just a heads up—those MicroSD Express cards are running about 20 to 25 cents a gig, which, do the math, and a 256GB is pricy, way above $50. Meanwhile, NVMe SSDs are chilling with 1TB for around 90 bucks.
So there we have it, the rollercoaster of trying to boost Switch 2 storage. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News, because who doesn’t need more tech chaos in their life, right?
