Testing Samsung 990 Pro SSD's cooling efficiency: Achieving low temperatures effectively
In the realm of high-performance SSDs, Samsung's 990 Pro stands out for its efficiency and longevity. This review delves into the cooling solutions best suited for this impressive drive.
Our test setup featured the Montech HS-02 Pro computer case and the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming Wi-Fi motherboard. However, due to malfunctioning PWM headers, the fan on the Akasa GeckoPro LX heatsink was inoperable during testing.
The 990 Pro SSD, being single-sided, is a good candidate for testing basic motherboard heatsinks. When tested without additional cooling, the SSD reached a temperature of 40 degrees C. But using the petite Akasa GeckoPro LX heatsink resulted in a significant temperature drop, with the controller reaching 43 C (109 F) at the end of testing.
Samsung's 990 Pro SSD is designed with thermal optimizations in mind. The drive boasts a nickel-coated high-end controller that delivers effective thermal control to prevent overheating. The drive is designed to operate safely in a range of 0 to 70°C, and while it can handle high temperatures, cooler conditions generally contribute to better longevity by reducing charge leakage in NAND cells.
For laptops, which typically have less effective cooling setups, using the 990 Pro is still recommended, but adding a thermal solution such as a thin heatsink or heat spreader can be beneficial to maintain lower operating temperatures and enhance the drive's reliability.
In desktop and server environments, basic heatsinks or heat spreaders are recommended to provide temperature stability without necessarily needing active cooling. The larger heatsink on the PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD slot of Asus' ROG Strix B850-E Gaming Wi-Fi motherboard, for instance, resulted in a temperature of 33 degrees C.
In summary, the recommended cooling solution for Samsung's 990 Pro V-NAND SSD is a basic heatsink or heat spreader, especially for desktop or server use. These cooling recommendations help the SSD avoid thermal throttling, maintain consistent performance, and improve longevity by keeping operating temperatures within an optimal range.
Incorporating the 990 Pro SSD into a home-and-garden setup, such as a home server, would benefit from a basic heatsink or heat spreader, as these cooling solutions help maintain the SSD's efficiency and longevity, thus preventing overheating and thermal throttling.
For tech enthusiasts focusing on data-and-cloud-computing with the 990 Pro SSD in their lifestyle, it's essential to utilize a heatsink or heat spreader to ensure consistent performance and optimal longevity of the drive.
