Installing M.2 on Motherboard question?

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Deleted member 251651

D

Deleted member 251651

I will probably sound stupid, but anyways......new PC builder problems!!!

Do I need to remove the protective film on the thermal pads in the M.2 slots on motherboard even if I am NOT using a drive in that slot?

Is there a risk of it melting and creating a mess and fire hazard if I leave it on?

Since case temperature will be high anyway with all the new high power GPU's and that?

TYIA
 
andy_mk3 said:
No need to remove them no. Not even remotely close to a fire hazard, even if you had an M.2 drive in there hitting 100C it wouldn't catch fire with the film on there.
Click to expand...
Sarcasm again!!

100C??? The plastic film would definatley melt in the M.2 drive bay! I Think I should remove the film even if I am not installing a drive in that slot......
 
Teeeeee said:
I will probably sound stupid, but anyways......new PC builder problems!!!

Do I need to remove the protective film on the thermal pads in the M.2 slots on motherboard even if I am NOT using a drive in that slot?

Is there a risk of it melting and creating a mess and fire hazard if I leave it on?

Since case temperature will be high anyway with all the new high power GPU's and that?

TYIA
Click to expand...
No need - leave it.
 
Teeeeee said:
Sarcasm again!!

100C??? The plastic film would definatley melt in the M.2 drive bay! I Think I should remove the film even if I am not installing a drive in that slot......
Click to expand...
I don't think that was sarcasm. If a drive is reporting that it's 100°C, then that's the juction temperature - the outside of the drive will be much less than that. Even if the plastic film reached 100°C, I doubt it would be made of the sort of plastic that would melt at such a low temperature. If it did, it wouldn't even survive being dunked into a fresh cup of black tea.

p.s. don't actually try testing the film in either of those cases, as neither the drive nor the cup of tea will like it.
 
ShiWarrior said:
I'm just reading through my manual
here's your answer
Click to expand...

Thanks, but that still does not answer the question. I want to know if I need to remove the plastic protective film from the motherboard or/and heatsink if I am NOT installing an M.2 drive in a particular M.2 drive bay. You obviously need to remove the film if you are installing a drive in the drive bay. The bundled rubber is there to install only on one sided M.2 so it does not bend. As far as I can see it does not mention anything in the manual about weather you need to remove the film or not if you are NOT INSTALLING and M.2 drive in a particular drive bay...??
 
Short answer - no. Only peel if there's an actual drive there. Otherwise it's safe to leave on since there'll be nothing producing heat. Rather I would leave it on so dust won't start collecting over the pad which will be extra work to clean if you ever need to install a drive.
 
Teeeeee said:
Thanks, but that still does not answer the question. I want to know if I need to remove the plastic protective film from the motherboard or/and heatsink if I am NOT installing an M.2 drive in a particular M.2 drive bay.
Click to expand...
If you aren't installing any M.2 drives, then by default the manual hasn't told you to remove the film - therefore you don't need to.

If it was essential for it be removed from empty M.2 slots, then there would be a big half page disclaimer stating so (to avoid anyone being sued due to it causing a fire etc)

:rolleyes:
 
Teeeeee said:
Thanks, but that still does not answer the question. I want to know if I need to remove the plastic protective film from the motherboard or/and heatsink if I am NOT installing an M.2 drive in a particular M.2 drive bay. You obviously need to remove the film if you are installing a drive in the drive bay. The bundled rubber is there to install only on one sided M.2 so it does not bend. As far as I can see it does not mention anything in the manual about weather you need to remove the film or not if you are NOT INSTALLING and M.2 drive in a particular drive bay...??
Click to expand...

You got the answer in the second post...

Don't remove the film unless you are installing a drive. The film is there to protect the thermal pads and clean from dust etc. Remove it and its gonna get dusty so if you decide to install a drive in the future you'll also need to replace the thermal pad.
 
Teeeeee said:
I will probably sound stupid, but anyways......new PC builder problems!!!

Do I need to remove the protective film on the thermal pads in the M.2 slots on motherboard even if I am NOT using a drive in that slot?

Is there a risk of it melting and creating a mess and fire hazard if I leave it on?

Since case temperature will be high anyway with all the new high power GPU's and that?

TYIA
Click to expand...
No, do not remove the film on the thermal pads until you need to use that particular slot. Removing the film will needlessly attract dust to the sticky surface of the pad, rendering it useless for when you do want to use it.

There is no risk of the film melting by being in contact with just the thermal pad. As I said above, do not remove the film until you need to use that slot.

There is no way that the airflow temperatures inside your case will be enough to melt the film. It's a computer, not a furnace.
 
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