Hey everyone! I have an ASUS B650E-E TUF Gaming motherboard with an NVMe already installed using the included heatsink. I'm planning to add a second NVMe drive, specifically the WD SN850X, but the other slots on my motherboard don't come with heatsinks. Should I buy a heatsink for around $10 from Micro Center, or can I just install the drive without it? I'll primarily be using this for gaming. Thanks for the help!
2 Answers
I definitely recommend getting a heatsink. Without one, you could shorten the lifespan of the drive and experience thermal throttling even under light use. High-performance Gen4+ drives really need them. I have the same WD SN850X and it gets pretty hot during use even with a heatsink installed.
If you're just using it for gaming, you should be fine without a heatsink. However, if you're frequently transferring large files and want optimal speeds, then a heatsink might be a good idea.
How hot are we talking? I’ve heard that many Gen 4 drives don’t actually need a heatsink.