Is 80°C on the WD Blue SN5000’s NAND temperature too high?
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MellowCedar27
I installed a 1TB WD Blue SN5000 as a second drive in my laptop. In HWiNFO, the NAND flash temperature sensor (Drive Temperature 2) stays above 60°C at idle and reaches about 80°C during file transfers. The other drive temperature sensors are closer to 60°C under load, while CrystalDiskInfo reports the drive at only around 50°C. My original SK hynix drive typically stays between 40°C and 50°C. Should I be concerned about the higher NAND sensor reading, or is this normal for the SN5000?
Answers
The SN5000 is known to run fairly hot under load. Its temperature limit is around 85°C, so readings near 80°C are generally still within the drive’s operating range, although the SSD may begin throttling as it approaches that limit. Laptop airflow and the way the drive is mounted can make a big difference.
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That sensor reading is not necessarily a problem. Many consumer SSDs are rated around 70°C, while this model is specified for higher temperatures, up to roughly 85°C. It should be fine during normal use as long as it does not stay near or exceed its thermal limit. A thermal pad or better contact with a metal heatsink can help, provided it fits properly and does not put pressure on the drive.
MellowCedar27: So it should be okay as long as it stays below roughly 90°C and doesn’t constantly hit the thermal limit?
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MellowCedar27: Thanks. I’ll probably try adding a thermal pad between the SSD and the laptop’s aluminum panel to improve heat transfer.