M.2 SSD (eg: Intel 660P) - Have you removed stickers for heat?

NeilF · 15 Mar 2019 at 08:41

My Intel 660P has arrived with a sticker down the entire length of it over all the chips. Is it a good idea to remove it?

The placement of the sticker is identical as to that shown in this article - https://www.modders-inc.com/intel-660p-nvme-m-2-ssd-review/3/

Note: I've heard some folks say the sticker can actually be a kind of heat sink/heat spreader in itself? And that's maybe why it's actually going across all the chips?

ps: I don't believe it's legal to say removing the sticker invalidates your warranty?

Oblivion007 · 15 Mar 2019 at 08:59

NeilFawcett said:
My Intel 660P has arrived with a sticker down the entire length of it over all the chips. Is it a good idea to remove it?

The placement of the sticker is identical as to that shown in this article - https://www.modders-inc.com/intel-660p-nvme-m-2-ssd-review/3/

Note: I've heard some folks say the sticker can actually be a kind of heat sink/heat spreader in itself? And that's maybe why it's actually going across all the chips?

ps: I don't believe it's legal to say removing the sticker invalidates your warranty?

I can't see it making much difference either way to be honest.

Nutella33 · 27 Mar 2019 at 15:28

I presume its ok, you must need to do it to attach any of the aftermarket heatsinks for example?

bremen1874 · 27 Mar 2019 at 15:50

Peeling the label will probably invalidate the warranty as they say. It contains all of the information including the serial number you’d need for a warranty claim. Try peeling or defacing the label on a mechanical HDD and then trying to claim warranty, you won’t get very far.

In any case isn’t it conventional wisdom that the NAND is better off running hot anyway, and that if you do apply a heatsink it should only be cooling the controller? As the heatsinks are basically there for looks only why risk the warranty?

Nutella33 · 27 Mar 2019 at 17:45

bremen1874 said:
In any case isn’t it conventional wisdom that the NAND is better off running hot anyway, and that if you do apply a heatsink it should only be cooling the controller? As the heatsinks are basically there for looks only why risk the warranty?

Not sure that is the conventional wisdom. They would kinda be unique in electronics if it was better the warmer they are no? Think the controller is the main heat source and gains are generally minimal but the main point was that people are obviously taking the stickers off, and indeed plenty of M2 drives don't have a sticker at all.