I'm currently building my first PC and noticed that my M.2 drive seems to be bending a bit under the heatsink after installation. I'm using an ASUS TUF B650-Plus motherboard, which didn't come with any standoffs. Instead, I was instructed to apply a small rubber pad on an already pre-installed rubber standoff, since my M.2 drive is single-sided. After I secured the M.2 and put the heatsink back on, I saw this noticeable bend. Is this something I should worry about or is it a common occurrence?
2 Answers
It's kinda common for M.2 drives to flex a little under the heatsink, especially if the drive is single-sided. The rubber pad is designed to provide some cushioning. Just make sure it’s not bending too much—if it's just a slight curve, you should be fine. But if it looks really deformed, you might want to investigate further.
Before you applied the heatsink, was there any bend? If it was straight beforehand, it might be worth checking. Removing the heatsink won't damage the thermal pad unless you do it a lot. But if you're worried, double-check how it's seated and consider using a different standoff configuration.
I honestly didn't notice if it was bent before. I'll think about reseating it after checking the thermal pad.
Thanks for the reassurance! I'll keep an eye on it and see how it goes.