Hey everyone, I just got my hands on a Samsung 990 Pro 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD and I'm planning to install it into the Gen 4 M.2 slot of my MSI B550 Tomahawk MAG motherboard, using the stock heatsink that comes with it. I previously had a Samsung 970 EVO Plus in the same slot for about four years, so I suspect the thermal pad on the heatsink is likely dried out and won't perform as well anymore. I'm looking to replace it with a high-quality thermal pad like the Gelid Solutions GP Extreme or Thermal Grizzly, but the only options available in India are 1.5mm or 2mm, whereas I need something closer to 1.0mm for a better fit. My main questions are: 1) Does anyone know the actual gap between the B550 Tomahawk M.2 heatsink and the SSD? 2) Can a 1.5mm pad be safely used without bending the SSD or causing contact issues? Are there others who've used a 1.5mm pad on this board? I'd love to hear about your experience regarding fitment, compression, and temperatures. Thanks!
2 Answers
I found some 1mm GP Extreme pads on Amazon.in, or if you can't find those, stacking two 0.5mm pads usually works just as well! If the 1.5mm pad is compressible, it should fit fine, so you might be okay going that route. Just be cautious about the brand you choose, though—some have sketchy ratings!
You could consider using the thermal pad from the other M.2 slot if it’s still intact. Just make sure it hasn’t been exposed to air for too long. Might save you a hassle!
I haven’t used the other slot yet, but if it’s safe, I could give it a shot. Thanks for the idea!