Need assistance with cooling the new build?
Need assistance with cooling the new build?
I bought all the parts in late October 2025 and just finished assembling it last week with my youngest son. Everything looks fine at startup, but I’d like to adjust things to ensure the M2 SSD stays cool. It’s located in slot #1, nestled between the main CPU cooler and the graphics card using the cooler that came with the motherboard. I’m not sure how much airflow is restricted there and haven’t noticed any overheating through CrystalDiskInfo. My goal is video editing and solar system orbital simulations. On my previous i5 Dell desktop, power and CPU usage often reached 100%. If I move the M2 drive to a lower slot, it would run at gen 4 while letting the GPU use all 16 lanes. In the top slot, it would run at gen 5 but slow the GPU down to x8. Following the current motherboard layout, moving the M2 to a slower slot could let me install a much better air cooler, though it would reduce speed. I usually handle large 5Gb files for my astronomy work, so optimal cooling is essential. Placing it between the lower fans in the case and the graphics card would provide a lot more airflow through the M2 SSD, whether it’s paired with a Thermalright HR-09, HR-9 Pro, HR-10 Pro, or even a Teamgroup T-Force Dark Airflow I.
Kenneth Drake
My concern is what impact will there be on performance if I relocate the drive to a slower slot for better cooling?
ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi LGA1700 ATX Motherboard
Crucial Pro DDR5 RAM 32GB Kit (2x16GB), 6400MHz CL32
Intel® Core™ i7-14700K New Gaming Desktop Processor 20 cores (8 P-cores + 12 E-cores) with Integrated Graphics - Unlocked
WD_Black SN8100 2TB NVMe SSD - PCIe 5.0x4, M.2 2280
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler
Please be quiet! BN515 Straight Power 12-850w 80 Plus Platinum, ATX 3.0
Lian Li LANCOOL 217 Genuine Walnut Wood Computer Case, Mid-Tower ATX PC Case
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Steel Legend 12GB OC Graphics Card, 2800 MHz GPU Clock, 12GB GDDR6
Which temperatures are actually reached during your intended operations with the 5.0 capable drive connected to the 5.0 port? According to Google, it claims the drive doesn't throttle until 100°C, but I can't confirm this. What about the cooling setup for this equipment?
If I understand you correctly, the desired temperatures stay within the 60s during your tasks, but if that doesn't meet your expectations, what temperature level would you consider acceptable? We don't have a clear idea of how much time, hassle, or cost you're willing to accept in lowering the temps further. A person with high anxiety might try very hard, while others might be more relaxed and let it run as they see fit unless it becomes too extreme.
It would be ideal to ensure long-lasting performance from drives. This is my initial project, mostly using Dell equipment. I've heard that these drives slow down from around 70°C to 100°C based on different sources. Having experience in the refrigerator repair field, I've seen many instances of electronics failing due to excessive heat. To get optimal operation and durability, keeping temperatures between 40 and 60°C is best. I can't confirm if those temperatures are too high, but I haven't run long-term tests to verify heat buildup. As a newcomer, I'm quite cautious about this setup.
I also believe it's wise to wait until I encounter real issues before pushing the build harder. The cooling system seems solid with five powerful fans and a decent power output.
Are you mainly worried about drive temperatures rather than CPU or other aspects in a standard PC?
As far as I understand, Intel hasn't overlooked the idea that CPUs can operate continuously into the 90s, but I know most people still believe in the "heat bad" idea. Even me, I tend to agree. However, I'm not sure how strongly that link really holds.
Of course, you can use various diagnostic tools to push hardware to its limits, but they might actually stress your system more than everyday tasks would. That could be unsettling.
I suggest using HWInfo to keep track of temperatures, power usage, voltages, CPU speeds, and other metrics across different parts of your PC. Do you already use it?
I experimented with Intel XTU the other day to see how much power my CPU used during heavy workloads and its impact on temps. It turned out I could cut power consumption by around 30 percent without more than a 5 percent drop in performance. That’s a documented effect—diminishing returns.
Connecting your drive to a PCIe 4.0 port restricts sequential read speeds to approximately 7 to 7.5 kMB/s.
My findings indicate the highest operating temperature reaches 85c.
https://www.storagereview.com/review/san...a-gen5-ssd
When the drive overheats, it will slow down until conditions stabilize.
Typically, prolonged continuous data transfers contribute to temperature rise.
Maybe a few minutes of virus scanning is sufficient.
What you truly need to do is ensure proper airflow across the motherboard.
Your setup is ideal for this, and employing an air cooler will effectively circulate air through the M.2 port.
The heat produced by the graphics card is located on the other side of the slot.
-----------Bottom line------------
Just let it run and don’t stress.
And a note—
With a 14th generation Intel processor, updating your motherboard BIOS to the latest version is essential to prevent voltage problems.
You're very similar to my setup. The M.2 above the GPU usually stays around 35°C during normal use. It's likely to perform similarly under stress. A 60-minute run isn't a big concern. I'd be more worried if I had to keep the drive running in a consistently high temperature for long periods. The key is to always back up regularly, no matter the temperature.
And regarding your question... I believe the performance drop would be minimal if you moved it to a cooler slot.