Need to cool laptop M.2 SSDs?

MisterEd · Nov 27, 2022

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2022) laptop

Original configuration
slot 0: none
slot 1: Intel 670p 512GB M.2 NVME SSD (boot w/heatsink)

Changes to original configuration
slot 0: Samsung 960 EVO 500GB M.2 NVME SSD
slot 1: Intel 670p 512GB M.2 NVME SSD (boot w/heatsink)

Changes to configuration
slot 0: Samsung 980 1TB M.2 NVME SSD (boot)
slot 1: Samsung 980 1TB M.2 NVME SSD (w/heatsink)

I ran CrystalDiskMark on each SSD. Temperatures (idle/test):
slot 0: 55C / 106C
slot 1: 45C / 102C

Can someone suggest what I should do about these high temperatures?

If you suggest heatsinks can you suggest what will fit in a laptop?

glasskuter · Nov 27, 2022

How about temps other than the drive temps. Is your core temp high?

MisterEd · Nov 27, 2022

glasskuter said:
How about temps other than the drive temps. Is your core temp high?

I appreciate your response but I have a laptop with a higher than average cooling. The fans are normally pretty quiet but if the temperature goes above a certain amount they will ramp up and keep the CPU temps at a safe level. I can even kick the system up to turbo mode but don't bother because I would only get maybe 5% more performance for lot louder fans. That is not worth it for me. This is all to emphasize that my CPU temperature will always be kept in check because the system was designed to do that.

What my post was about are my concerns for my SSD temperatures being higher than I like. I realize that their temperature will thermo-throttle at some temperature to keep from failing. However, I know it is better to keep their temperature a lot lower than what they are now to prolong their life. I am looking for advice on how to address this issue.

Ghot · Nov 27, 2022

@MisterEd

Something like this, maybe...

Laptop NVMe heatsinks

Ofc, the object of the game would be the thickest sinks and thermal pads possible.
Hard to measure, I know.

Might be able to test for maximum thickness with some cardboard pieces, then once the cardboard thickness is measured you'll have an idea of the maximum thickness sinks and thermal pads you can accommodate.

MisterEd · Nov 27, 2022

Ghot said:
@MisterEd

Something like this, maybe...

Laptop NVMe heatsinks

Thanks. I already saw that but wasn't sure how much they would help. Do you have any experience with something like that?

BTW, it is a pain to take my laptop apart so I don't want to again unless I know I am not wasting my time.

Ghot · Nov 27, 2022

MisterEd said:
Thanks. I already saw that but wasn't sure how much they would help. Do you have any experience with something like that?

BTW, it is a pain to take my laptop apart so I don't want to again unless I know I am not wasting my time.

That's why I suggest the cardboard (poster board). It will allow you to pretend they are heatsinks and be able to close the case.
If the case won't close... then try thinner, etc.

Once you know how much room you have for heatsinks and thermal pads... then you'll know what you can buy.

Just like any other heatsink... the thicker the metal, the better.
There's not gonna be much airflow over those heat sinks, so keep that in mind as well.

pparks1 · Nov 28, 2022

I know you are concerned about the temps, but I believe that the temperature limit goes all the way up to 85C on the Samsung 980's. 55 really isn't a dangerous temperature for that drive to idle in.

SlicEnDicE · Nov 28, 2022

Yes, the MAX operating temp for Samsung 980 is 85C and you will get a warning at 82C. Stay below that and you are all good.

neves · Nov 28, 2022

Do you have a cooling pad?

I have the budget OEM version that came with the laptop (Samsung PM981/512Gb) - which comes without heat-sink - and rarely gets close to 45*C (during extensive usage). Right now - while running basic tasks (mostly browsing & multi-tasking / do have a lot of tabs open - including multimedia content like YouTube) - hovers around 36*C. I use HWiNFO64 to actively measure CPU, GPU and SSD temps.

I have this model: U PAL - DeepCool

Quite silent since it has 2x fans of 140X running at 1000 RPM. Does the job - even tho, there's probably other models which are slightly better (but also plenty that are worst / not my 1st rodeo).

SlicEnDicE · Nov 28, 2022

neves said:
I have this model: U PAL - DeepCool

Looks decent. Great that it has huge fans at low RPM.

SIW2 · Nov 28, 2022

Haven't seen one of those before. Isn't it a bit draughty?

MisterEd · Nov 28, 2022

HWinfo64 has two drive temperatures:

Drive Temperature = disk drive temperature
Drive Temperature 2 = ASIC controller temperature

Which one of these temperatures should I be concerned about?

Idle temperatures

Testing SSD #0 (boot drive)

Testing SSD #1 (data drive)

neves · Nov 29, 2022

MisterEd said:
HWinfo64 has two drive temperatures:

Drive Temperature = disk drive temperature

Drive Temperature 2 = ASIC controller temperature

Which one of these temperatures should I be concerned about?

Idle temperatures

View attachment 46411

Testing SSD #0 (boot drive)

Testing SSD #1 (data drive)

View attachment 46408

The 1st temperature is for the chip and 2nd for memory controller.

Checking the spec sheet: https://semiconductor.samsung.com/resources/data-sheet/Samsung_NVMe_SSD_980_Data_Sheet_Rev.1.1.pdf both are concerning.

Based on the official info/recommendation: 70*C seems to be the maximum temperature deemed stable enough (yet, even that's not optimal - long term). Even tho, the memory controller is know to run hotter - yours seems to be dangerously hot (that's why it's shown in RED - should be throttling at 85*C). I'm surprised your system doesn't shutdown (shouldn't there be a fail-safe trigger for SSD too?

) - while reaching such high temperatures.

LE. Found an older article - where Samsung 950 Pro was throttling at 70*C - Samsung 950 Pro M.2 Throttling Analysis Since SAMSUNG still recommends a maximum of 70*C even for Samsung 980 - i guess not much has changed (officialy, even 980 is expected to throttle around 70*C or higher).

neves · Nov 29, 2022

SIW2 said:
Haven't seen one of those before. Isn't it a bit draughty?

Honestly, that's actually the only Con i have with this Cooling pad. Good for cooling the laptop - but have to cover the front - cause air leaks out and i find it uncomfortable for my eyes. Then again, i also placed it on a wooden stand - increasing its height even further (by 9 cm or 3.5 inches). Sitting directly on desk - should add more distance. I'm using an external keyboard as well - but this is probably the standard for anyone using a cooling pad (my eyes would get teary with any cooling pad - while using the integrated keyboard).

hdmi · Dec 3, 2022

Using no stand or lifter, and using no additional cooling of any kind.

neves said:
that's why it's shown in RED

Nah. In HWiNFO you can set the alert threshhold to whatever you like. But yea, 100 degrees Celsius is definitely hot enough for cooking lasagna Bolognese.

werty · Dec 23, 2022

The situation after adding a second ssd to my Rog Strix G513RC is same. The original ssd included in the system is Micron 2450 512GB and it ran cool when idle - around 35 Celsius. The second ssd which I added is Western Digital Black SN770 which has two temp sensors - the one shows usually around 55 Celsius while the other is 45 Celsius at idle. So far there are no problems but I'm also concerned about the high temps despite that I read that these temps are normal and the Gen 4 PCIE ssd drives run hotter.

glasskuter · Dec 23, 2022

Amazon.com : m.2 heat sync

tbmljk · Dec 23, 2022

I think these Samsung SSD's are pretty heat tolerant. I've had a 1TB 970 EVO for 3 years. It often hits the high 60's under heavy load. I can drive those temps to the low 60's with max fans

hdmi · Dec 23, 2022

tbmljk said:
I think these Samsung SSD's are pretty heat tolerant. I've had a 1TB 970 EVO for 3 years. It often hits the high 60's under heavy load. I can drive those temps to the low 60's with max fans

They thermal throttle by design, slowing their speed automagically as soon as they get hot. This is to protect theirself against overheating, but in my laptop with the 980 Pro running at PCIe 3.0 speed (as opposed to running at PCIe 4.0 speed, which my laptop's M.2 socket does not support) as you can see in my 1st reply to this thread the 980 Pro doesn't very easily hit those kinds of scaldingly hot temperature levels. PCIe 3.0 speed is still fast enough for it to be able to finish most normal tasks long before the Elpis controller of the 980 Pro can reach above the low 60s. The fact that the 980 Pro running at PCIe 3.0 speed has a bit faster sustained write speed than the 970 Evo also can help in that regard, even though obviously this will depend on the size of the data that's going to be written by it continuously at that particular high speed. Either way, if limited to PCIe 3.0 speed, the Elpis controller of the 980 Pro looks to be a tad more power efficient than the controller of the 970 Evo. I am guessing that this would explain at least some part of the difference between the temperatures you describe and mine. Granted, the 2TB 980 Pro is rather (too) expensive in comparison, but I paid only 229 Euros with free shipping last year on Cyber Monday so, that's it, I am a happy camper. lol

hdmi · Dec 23, 2022

glasskuter said:
Amazon.com : m.2 heat sync

That's not going to work.

Need to cool laptop M.2 SSDs?

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