Correct way to install Akasa M.2 SSD Thermal Pad on my SSD

event2020

event2020

event2020

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MSI Raider laptop

Hi

I have purchased a couple of Akasa M.2 SSD Thermal Pads as I have 2 SSD's in my laptop and they do get kinda hot.

I have not used these thermal pads before so I wonder if anyone can help me out.

On the SSD, do I stick them on the side with the chips or on the other side with the circuits?

Really dont want to damage anything.

Thanks.
 
Side with the chips and controller
Assuming it's a single sided m2 drive
Don't forget to peel the plastic off the pads

We're pads already on them?
Is there some sort of heatsink there?
As pads go between the m2 and a heatsink

Other thing would be are the pads the correct thickness?
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Side with the chips and controller
Assuming it's a single sided m2 drive
Don't forget to peel the plastic off the pads

We're pads already on them?
Is there some sort of heatsink there?
As pads go between the m2 and a heatsink

Other thing would be are the pads the correct thickness?
Click to expand...
Hi and thanks for your reply.

Yeah my SSDS are WD Blacks, WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe™ SSD - 2 TB, Without Heatsink

No room in the Laptop for heatsinks sadly, hence I thought the thermal pads are better than nothing.

The Chips are on the top (the side facing out from the mother board).

The Pads are as below.
They have the plastic film on both sides and are 1mm thick but stackable if needed.

M.2 SSD Thermal Pad​


AK-TT140-01​


AK-TT140-01 - M.2 SSD Thermal Pad

Image is for illustrative purposes only. Please refer to product description.
AKASA
Manufacturer:AKASA
Manufacturer Part No:AK-TT140-01

Product Overview
Thermally conductive ceramic-filled silicone pad for use between components and heatsinks, sized to fit 2280 SSD drives and can be cut down to size if required.
  • Pad moulds around uneven surfaces to ensure maximum contact area
  • High temperature range: -40 to 160°
  • Perfect fit for 2280 SSD drives or can be cut down to size
  • Hardness (shore 00): 27±5
  • Density: 2.1 g/cm³
  • Volume Resistivity: 10 ^12 ohm-cm
  • Dimensions (HxWxD): 1x20x70mm
 
Last edited:
I have a few Sn850x in my pc
So yeah pads on top side only

The pads won't do much on their own
Ideally want a heatsink or metal casing of the laptop
In contact with the pads

Will they make any difference at all?
Not sure to be honest
As never tried without a heatsink on top of the pads
Got 5 x m2 in my pc only 1 has no heatsink
That one I left bare no pads on it
But a pc has better airflow than a laptop

You could try it I guess
And see what happens since you have the pads now
If it doesn't improve things or even makes it worse
You can just remove the pads
 
As you say, I have them now I may as well see what happens I suppose.

I have seen in a couple of online posts that some people also place
a copper sheet on the outside of the thermal pads to help with
heat dissipation but I dont want to go spending any more
money until I hear from folks more knowledable that I
am and who have, preferably, done the same.
 
Well airflow inside a laptop is mostly non-existant aside from a few areas so even if there were space for a heatsink it might not help.

A pad touching the laptop chassis is about the only way I could see this making a difference I guess for those laptop bottoms which have different "doors" for NVMe that might work. The thermal pad might end up almost glueing the door shut though.

What make and model is your laptop?

And how hot is/was "they do get kinda hot"?

I would have though most modern SSD/NVMe will just throttle if they get too hot so should not damage anything. WD SN850X should only really start throttling at 85°C or so.
 
Instead of copper sheet
You could try kitchen foil/baking foil
It's aluminium not as good as copper but
Most people already have that in their house
And aluminium is good enough for Most heatsinks
Again no idea if it will make a difference
But can easily fold it to experiment with different thicknesses

And yes by kind of hot
I assumed thermal throttling
Otherwise wouldn't be something to worry about
 
Any chance of letting us know the laptop make and model so we can see if it would make any difference? Just blindly putting thermal pads on them could actually make things worse. Thermal pads do not dissipate heat, their job is basically a gap filler and a medium to transfer heat from whatever they are applied to and a heatsink. Applying a pad could actually trap heat and make it worse if there is nowhere for the hot air to escape.
 
Hi all

Sorry for the late replies, I was away frlom home.

I have two laptops that I thinking of useing the termal pads in:

Brand new ROG Strix G16 (2025) G614
and a one year old MSI Raider GE68 HX 14VHG-291UK
 
For a laptop that Raider actually has very decent cooling!!

I have had a look at Youtube vids that take the bottoms off both and there is no point in adding thermal pads, not that you can anyway. If you did all you would be doing is insulating the drives and they will end up throttling.
 
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