The 5 Best Heatsinks For NVMe M.2 Storage Devices – Tested And Ranked
For most people, SATA SSDs are a major upgrade over a traditional hard drive. When you’ve been using a hard drive for a couple of years, the jump from that to an SSD is jaw-dropping. This is especially true if you get a reliable SSD with a decent DRAM cache. However, the jump from a good SSD to a blazing fast NVMe one doesn’t feel that different. At least for the average consumer.
However, if you’re reading this guide, chances are high that you’re not the average consumer. Maybe you are someone who is transferring large files all day, or maybe you’re a video editor. Whatever the case may be, you are someone who’ll benefit from NVMe speeds. Especially since PCIe Gen 4 SSDs are setting new records in random read/write speeds. As we move into the world of next-gen gaming, games will benefit from these speeds as well.
However, turns out there’s a bit of a problem here. Having a fast NVMe SSD is great and all, but they can run quite hot. This is natural, as you likely have a lot of components inside of the case. Heat can eventually ruin performance and shorten the lifespan of the drive. Because of this, getting a heatsink for your drive is a good idea. So, here are five of the best NVMe SSD Heatsinks in 2022.
| # | Preview | Product Name | Award | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Sabrent M.2 2280 SSD Rocket Heatsink | Best Overall | Check Price |
| 2 |  | Micro Connectors M.2 SSD Heat Sink Kit | Best Design | Check Price |
| 3 |  | ACIDALIE M.2 SSD Heatsink | Best Performance | Check Price |
| 4 |  | Glotrends Universal M.2 SSD Heatsink | Budget Pick | Check Price |
| 5 |  | Thermal Grizzly M.2 SSD Cooler | Slim Design | Check Price |
| # | 1 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Sabrent M.2 2280 SSD Rocket Heatsink |
| Award | Best Overall |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 2 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Micro Connectors M.2 SSD Heat Sink Kit |
| Award | Best Design |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 3 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | ACIDALIE M.2 SSD Heatsink |
| Award | Best Performance |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 4 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Glotrends Universal M.2 SSD Heatsink |
| Award | Budget Pick |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 5 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Thermal Grizzly M.2 SSD Cooler |
| Award | Slim Design |
| Details | Check Price |
Last Update on 2024-03-05 at 13:50 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Sabrent M.2 2280 SSD Rocket Heatsink
Best Overall
Pros
- Great overall performance
- Excellent design
- Solid construction
- Easy to install
- Wide compatibility
Cons
- Short screws
Size: M.2 2280 | Dimensions: 3.13 x 0.95 x 0.9 inches | Weight: 5.6 ounces
Check PriceSabrent was one of the first manufacturers to quickly adopt PCIe Gen 4. Their Rocket lineup of next-gen SSDs is quite remarkable. This remains true both in performance, efficiency, and reliability. However, if you want to keep that expensive SSD of yours around for longer, the Rocket heatsink is a good investment.
The Sabrent M.2 2280 SSD Rocket Heatsink is designed for desktop computers. As the name implies, this SSD works with the 2280 form factor. While it’s intended to be used with the Rocket SSDs, it will work with most other brands out there. It uses a combination of copper heat pipes and aluminum construction to dissipate heat. This does the job surprisingly well.
The Rocket Heatsink is compatible with single and double-sided M.2 SSDs. Some SSDs have memory controllers on both sides, so it’s good to see wide compatibility here. The packaging includes thermal tape, screws, and even a screwdriver. It is relatively easy to install. Overall, the engineering here is incredible, and the heatsink feels premium.
The copper and aluminum materials do a great job of reducing the temperature. You’ll notice a difference, that’s for sure. There is one small issue, as some reported that the mounting screw is a bit short. However, some motherboards have foam pads in the way to reduce rattling. Installation is easier if you remove this.
2. Micro Connectors M.2 SSD Heat Sink Kit
Best Design
Pros
- Lots of color options
- Excellent construction
- Decent performance
- Very versatile
Cons
- Not the easiest installation
Size: M.2 2280 | Dimensions: 2.76 x 0.39 x 0.87 inches | Weight: 0.96 ounces
Next up, our second heatsink on our list is from Micro Connectors. This is a relatively small brand that provides smaller things like standoffs, screws, thermal pads, and heatsinks. Their M.2 2280 SSD Heat Sink Kit is one of the best out there. It’s also incredibly good value for money.
This heatsink is available in a variety of colors. These include red, blue, silver, and plain old black. It’s surprising to see a manufacturer offer this sort of variety in a heatsink. If you are someone who is color-conscious of their build, this might interest you. The heatsink works with standard 2280 length M.2 SSDs.
It uses a mixture of aluminum and silicone construction. The entire top part is constructed out of aluminum. These aluminum fins do a great job of dissipating heat efficiently. It works with most motherboards of even M.2 adapter. Silicone rings are included to secure the heatsink properly.
Performance-wise, it does get the job done. Thermals were more consistent and controlled with this heatsink applied. The installation can feel a bit involved. This is only because the actual fins are a bit taller. If you can remove the motherboard from the case, the installation will feel easier.
3. ACIDALIE M.2 SSD Heatsink
Best Performance
Pros
- Dual Copper Heatpipes
- Extraordinary Cooling Performance
- Comes with a manual
- Durable Silicone Pad
Cons
- Very Bulky
Size: M.2 2280 | Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.01 x 1.14 inches | Weight: 3.5 ounces
The ACIDALIE M.2 SSD heatsink immediately sets itself apart from the crowd thanks to its curved heat pipes that exhibit a certain heft that is not seen in many other products of this kind. This particular NVMe heatsink is our recommendation for the best-performing heatsink of the bunch. The aluminum assembly is also finned on both sides to increase the surface area of the metal, thus improving heat dissipation directly from the SSD.
The thermal performance is further enhanced by the bulky heat pipes that are the star of the show here. The two heat pipes are actually a set of 4 smaller pipes that make direct contact with the lower metal plate.
Speaking of the bulky heat pipes, the ACIDALIE is one of the thickest and largest NVMe heatsinks you will find on the market right now. While that may be a great thing for thermals, it is quite the opposite for compatibility and aesthetics. You may have a hard time fitting this heatsink on smaller motherboards and in tight spaces. Forget about installing one of these on the back of a mini ITX motherboard either!
On the flip side, the construction of this particular heatsink is actually top-notch. There is a top heat spreader made out of aluminum with adequate finning on both sides to help dissipate the heat. This assembly makes direct contact with four copper heat pipes, which in turn rest on an aluminum heatsink on the bottom. This heat sink makes direct contact with the SSD through a pair of silicone thermal pads. You can also install a bottom aluminum tray under your SSD, but that is up to you.
At the end of the day, the ACIDALIE M.2 SSD heatsink is one for true enthusiasts who want to maximize the performance of their particular drive. If you don’t want your drive to overheat in any circumstances, you would be hard-pressed to find a better thermal solution than the ACIDALIE M.2 SSD heatsink.
4. Glotrends Universal M.2 SSD Heatsink
Budget Pick
Pros
- Very affordable price
- Unobtrusive design
- Works with most SSDs
Cons
- Sub-par performance
- Difficult to install
Size: M.2 2280 | Dimensions: 2.76 x 0.87 x 0.12 inches | Weight: 0.64 ounces
So, you spent all your budget on a blazing fast NVMe SSD. However, it’s running a bit hot and you’re worried about it degrading gradually. Well if you want a cheap cooling solution, the Glotrends Universal M.2 Heatsink is a good option. Granted, it’s not going to make a drastic change, but you’ll appreciate it in the long run.
Let’s get this out of the way first. Most motherboards come with an M.2 Heatsink already. If yours does not include one, then sure, this is a decent option. However, just note that it’s not going to be a major step up from those factory-included heatsinks. It does provide a minor decrease in temperature in both idle and under load.
As usual, this SSD Heatsink is of the standard 2280 size. This means that it can easily work with a wide variety of drives, even with the higher end Samsung SSDs. The heatsink’s fins use aluminum for the construction, and the thermal pads use a silicone material. Apart from that, the design isn’t obtrusive, so it should fit right into your rig without drawing attention to itself.
Overall, this is a good replacement heatsink if you don’t want to use the stock one from your motherboard. It is an entry-level option, so just be aware of what you’re getting. Installation can feel a bit involved as well.
5. Thermal Grizzly M.2 SSD Cooler
Slim Design
Pros
- Slim and Sleek design
- Extremely reliable
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Unimpressive performance
- No double-sided SSD support
Size: M.2 2280 | Dimensions: 5.35 x 3.07 x 0.79 inches | Weight: 0.704 ounces
Last but not least, we have an M.2 SSD Cooler from Thermal Grizzly. Thermal Grizzly provides high-performance cooling solutions. They are always held to a high standard among the hardware enthusiast community. Fortunately, their SSD Heatsink lives up to the name. But there are a few issues some should be aware of.
This M.2 passive cooling solution is one of the more discreet ones out there. It’s not big and bulky like other heatsinks, and it doesn’t use a fan either. It works with most M.2 2280 SSDs out there. Note that it does not support double-sided SSDs. The assembly is uncomplicated and it comes in a simple black color.
The performance is quite decent overall. You might notice a drastic difference immediately. However, even a slight drop in temperature will make a world of difference in the long run. This is an enthusiast product after all, and at some point, these heat sinks reach a point of diminishing returns.
We would have liked to see better performance, as there are a few options out there that perform better for a lower price. However, you get the reliability and sleek design that you may not get elsewhere.
