M.2 SSDs are now an indispensable part of modern PCs, becoming ever faster and smaller. They deliver impressive data rates with minimal space requirements. However, increased speed generates heat, and those who forego SSD cooling risk experiencing significant performance losses due to thermal throttling.
Thermal throttling
Thermal throttling is a protective mechanism found in electronic components such as SSDs, CPUs and GPUs. When a critical temperature is exceeded, the system automatically reduces its performance in order to prevent overheating and potential damage. For SSDs, this results in slower write and read speeds, which is particularly problematic when high performance is required.
Without cooling, performance can deteriorate
Modern NVMe SSDs can become very hot during intensive data transfer – temperatures of over 70 °C are not uncommon. If the SSD exceeds certain temperature limits, a protective mechanism kicks in and performance is automatically reduced to prevent damage. In practice, this results in reduced maximum write and read speeds precisely when maximum performance is required.
With cooling: Full power, even under load
Specially developed heat sinks, such as the be quiet! MC1 and MC1 Pro coolers provide an effective solution. These precisely fitting aluminium coolers are specially designed for M.2 2280 SSDs and enable effective heat dissipation.
- be quiet! MC1: Compact, efficient and ideal for systems with limited space. Two thermal pads ensure optimal heat distribution.
- be quiet! MC1 Pro: The larger model with an integrated heat pipe. It offers even better heat transfer and is ideal for particularly powerful SSDs with high thermal loads.
Tests show that using a simple heat sink such as the MC1 can reduce temperatures by up to 20 °C, ensuring that the SSD performs at its best at all times. Depending on the environment, even better values can be achieved with the MC1 Pro.
Conclusion: Small investment, big effect
To benefit from the full performance of your M.2 SSD in the long term, do not compromise on good cooling. The be quiet! MC1 and MC1 Pro models are simple yet highly effective solutions for maintaining high data rates and low temperatures – ensuring stability and longevity.
Images: be quiet!
