M.2 SSD and motherboard support guide M.2 SSD performance tips Motherboard compatibility checklist
M.2 SSD and motherboard support guide M.2 SSD performance tips Motherboard compatibility checklist
Hello, welcome to the PC building world! I know this is your first time getting involved, so don’t worry if you’re a bit confused. You just bought a pre-assembled PC at a good price, and it came with only one M.2 NVMe drive. You’re thinking about adding another one soon, especially during the upcoming holiday sales. You’re considering the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB, which your friend suggested for its speed and reliability. The reviews seem to back this up.
Your main questions are: Should I get a model with a heat sink? I’ve read some old articles that might not be up-to-date or even contradict each other. I’m worried about possible thermal throttling if I use it heavily, though I’m not entirely sure what heavy usage means here. Also, I want to know if the second M.2 slot on your motherboard can hold a heat sink. Your board is the MSI PRO B650M-A WIFI mATX. Is the other M.2 slot below it? If so, would that block you from adding a heatsink? You mentioned seeing another M.2 with a heatsink in an image—could that be a clue?
Thanks for reaching out, and I hope this helps you make the right choice! Happy building!
Don't stress about adding a heatsink for your SSD. With typical usage and proper airflow in your computer, it's not needed. Your motherboard can handle two M.2 key drives, each offering full four lanes to the CPU.
One is placed under a black heat spreader. The other sits on the PCIe 16 connector, which lacks a heat spreader. Avoid purchasing any with a heatsink. If you choose one with a heatsink, it may not fit in the top slot and could disrupt the GPU on the bottom slot.
Please share a photo of your setup. Identifying the motherboard will allow us to provide more targeted assistance.