I’m installing an M.2 drive and noticed a sticker on the underside of the motherboard’s heatsink. Should it come off, and what about a label already attached to the drive?
Do I remove the sticker from an M.2 heatsink?
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Q!ndex
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Check what the sticker is attached to. A removable film on the motherboard heatsink’s thermal pad is usually there to protect the pad before installation, and should be peeled off before the heatsink goes over the drive. Otherwise, the pad may not make proper contact.
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Don’t automatically peel labels off the drive. Some are intended to spread heat, and removing them could be a bad idea. The motherboard heatsink’s protective film and the drive’s own label aren’t interchangeable. Check the manual for your exact parts if the purpose isn’t clear.
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Quick rule: remove the protective liner from the motherboard thermal pad, but leave the drive’s label in place unless its maker specifically says otherwise. If the drive has its own heatsink, also check whether it’s meant to be used with the motherboard cover before stacking them together.
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C0bble!:
So the “remove” film is on the heatsink pad, not necessarily on the M.2 drive itself?