How to find the right Heatsinks AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Heatsinks
- Form factor
- For M.2 SSDs, match the drive length (most are 2280) and check whether it is single- or double-sided The wrong length will not fit, and double-sided drives need a pad on both sides.
- Height clearance
- Check clearance to the GPU, the motherboard's M.2 shield, or the console or laptop bay Tall heatsinks block graphics cards and will not fit in laptops.
- Thermal pad thickness
- Use the pad thickness the heatsink maker specifies Pads that are too thin leave gaps; pads that are too thick stress the chip.
- Mounting
- Prefer clips or screws over adhesive for anything heavy Adhesive can let go when it gets hot.
Brands that matter
- Thermalright: Low-cost M.2 heatsinks, including the HR-09 series.
- Sabrent: M.2 heatsinks and PS5-compatible covers.
- be quiet!: M.2 cooler options.
What to avoid
- Adding a heatsink when the motherboard's M.2 shield already covers the slot
- Heatsinks in laptops, which almost never have room
- Heatsinks with no pad or no stated thickness
Questions
Does a PS5 SSD need a heatsink?
Sony recommends one for added drives. Buy a drive with a heatsink built in, or a low-profile heatsink that fits the expansion bay.