990 PRO.... thermal pad required?

[gsf600y]

Bit confused about re-using a thermal pad for SSD drive.
I'm reading conflicting things online, I don't know if some of the information is out of date.

I've got a motherboard which has had a nvme drive installed for about 4 years, with the included motherboard cover/heatsink thing and the thermal pad that came with it.
I'm about to replace with a 990 Pro, that doesn't have a heatsink installed on it or anything.
Do I need a new thermal pad?
Should I unstick the existing and reuse?
Should I not have one at all?

Any advice welcome

 

[gupsterg]

I would just reuse the one which came with motherboard. The C8H doesn't come with poor pads for the M.2, should be still soft/pliable/sticky. If had temperature issue, then source another and or upgraded HS for NVMe. Does seem like a warm drive, link.

 

[gsf600y]

Ok, cool, thanks.

Just found drive temp info is buried in Windows settings
Current drive is sat at 32 degrees (without any load). I'll get the new one installed and see how that looks!

 

[mickyflinn]

If the drive comes without a heatsink then it tested in that regards to temps and performance so there should be no problems.

The heatsink from your motherboard just helps.

 

[gupsterg]

Ok, cool, thanks.

Just found drive temp info is buried in Windows settings
Current drive is sat at 32 degrees (without any load). I'll get the new one installed and see how that looks!

For current installed drive, see if manufacturer has an app for it, will give you temps info easily without digging into windows settings. HWINFO well also get you temperature plus multitude of other sensors readings, etc.

For the 990 Pro get Samsung Magician allows you to check NVMe firmware is update, as well as give temps, other information.

 

[Rroff]

The 990 Pro will run a lot cooler with a heatsink and generally the factory heatsink model doesn't cool as well as using a decent motherboard heat spreader or 3rd party heatsink, it runs OK without but you will eventually run into thermal throttling under heavier operations.