ROCK 3A with Radxa M.2 E Key to SATA Board

#1

The board itself fits, but I cannot put a SATA connector into it then as the MIPI DSI connector is higher than the board and every SATA cable connector.

See: https://radxa.com/products/accessories/m2-ekey-to-sata-board/#techspec
I do not understand why this is stated as compatible with ROCK 3A, it seems no-one ever tried.

I already removed the white clip of the MIPI DSI connector, but then still too high. So what other options do I have?

My plan was to buy a ROCK 3C with a M-key breakout board where I think the connector/cable points the other direction. But I can’t order that from EU, I don’t speak or read Chinese (the only webshop option).
And maybe that poses other problems, at least not for me I think. I don’t plan for big heatsink of fan or so.

I think the connector should be perpendicular, so then there is at least more room. That is at least the case with a dual SATA board with own SATA chip (PCI-E). But that is quite a silly solution as the RK3568 has own SATA and at least the kernel driver and overlay works.

My plan is to use an M.2 M-key NVME-SSD and SATA-HDD wiuth the ROCK3A. I know the M.2 M-key connector also points outwards, which is a challenge, but I somehow will fit that on a 3.5inch HDD case I think.

#2

What I ordered is from here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007054550648.html

After a closer look at everything, it is now clear that I received a counterfeit product. Or a cost-cut variant no-one checked if it was usable.

An obvious difference is text is in black and the number is not 2236 but 2317.

The SATA connector on the break-out PCB I received is the same as on this for the ROCK3C (M-key):


But as it points in the other direction on the ROCK3C, there is no conflict with the MIPI-DSI.

But the real showstopper is that the SATA connector on my 2317 variant is thinner/flatter so 1 or 2 mm lower and also does not have the upper 2 square holes for the male SATA cable connector clips.

#3

I cut and heated/desoldered the small metal clips that are used to keep the SATA connector flat on the breakout PCB. While solder tin was fluid, I lifted the connected end (where the cable is) to about 20 degrees compared to flat (0 degrees). Now I can use a SATA cable connector as it is higher then the MIPI DSI connector. It is quite fragile, but SATA SSD or HDD works now.

#4

We are sorry for the inconvenience brought to you. After careful inspection, we have confirmed that there are structural problems with this product. And we have quickly formulated an improvement plan to optimize the original SATA accessories into SATA vertical sockets so as to solve this problem. Later on, we will provide you with free samples of the new SATA accessories.