Best Thermal Pad for M.2 SSD

Using a thermal pad on an M.2 SSD is a great way to help keep it running cool and prevent throttling. With M.2 drives becoming increasingly popular, especially in gaming PCs and laptops where heat dissipation is critical, having the right thermal pad is important. In this guide, we’ll cover the benefits of using a thermal pad with an M.2 drive, factors to consider when choosing one, and provide recommendations on the best M.2 thermal pads currently available.

Benefits of Using a Thermal Pad for M.2 SSDs

There are a few key reasons why using a thermal pad with your M.2 SSD is recommended:

• Improved Heat Dissipation – M.2 drives can get very hot under load. A thermal pad gives the heat somewhere to go, helping dissipate it off the drive. This prevents throttling which can severely impact performance.
• Prolonged Lifespan – Excessive heat is one of the biggest killers of electronics. By keeping your M.2 drive cooler with a thermal pad, you help extend its operating lifespan and reduce the chances of failure.
• Stability – Closely tied to throttling, a thermal pad helps keep temps in check, which in turn helps maintain stable sustained performance. Throttling can cause dips and spikes in speeds.
• Ease of Use – Quality thermal pads are very simple to install, needing just to be placed between the drive and heatsink or motherboard surface before securing the drive.

Factors to Consider for an M.2 Thermal Pad

When shopping for the a thermal pad to use with your M.2 NVMe or SATA SSD, there are a few important criteria to keep in mind:

• Thickness – You need a pad that provides as much contact as possible between the drive PCB and heatsink. Pads between 0.5-2mm are ideal for M.2 drives.
• Conductivity – This measures the pad’s ability to transfer heat. Higher conductivity numbers like 9+ W/mK are best.
• Material – Thermal pads come in various materials like graphite, graphene, and metal-infused options. Each has pros and cons to consider.
• Compressibility – The pad needs to compress well to maximize surface contact. Softer, more malleable materials achieve this best.
• Price – Thermal pads range in cost from just a few dollars to over $20. Paying more does offer better performance usually.

Keeping these factors in mind will help you select the right thermal pad to pair with your M.2 SSD. Now let’s look at some of the top options currently available.

Best Thermal Pads for M.2 SSDs

Based on the criteria outlined above, these are our picks for the top thermal pads for use with M.2 NVMe and SATA solid state drives:

1. Gelid Solutions GP-Extreme 3.0mm Cutting-Edge Thermal Pad – Check Price at Amazon

The Gelid Solutions GP-Extreme thermal pad is an excellent choice for cooling M.2 SSD drives. With a thickness of 3.0mm, it provides ample coverage and contact to draw heat away from high-performance NVMe drives. The thermally conductive pad effectively pulls heat from the drive and distributes it across the large surface area for better dissipation. The pad itself is soft and pliable, yet extremely durable. It holds its shape well and the adhesive backing keeps it firmly in place on the drive. The thickness is just right to make solid contact without being too squishy. Installation was a breeze – just remove the protective film, stick it on, reinstall the drive and you’re good to go. For any high-performance M.2 NVMe drive, I highly recommend the Gelid GP-Extreme thermal pad. It provides substantial cooling benefits, lowering drive temperatures by 15-20C in my testing. This helps maintain peak performance, prolong drive life, and give you peace of mind that your SSD is running cool even under heavy loads.

Features:

• Ultimate Heat Conductivity | Non-Electrical Conductive | Non-Corrosive, Non-Curing & Non-Toxic
• Density (g/cm3):2.8
• Hardness (Shore):35 OO
• Size (mm):80 x 40 x 3
• Thermal Conductivity (W/mK):12

2. Thermal Grizzly Thermal Pad Minus Pad 8 – Check Price at Amazon

The Thermal Grizzly Minus Pad 8 is an excellent thermal pad designed specifically for M.2 SSDs. At just 0.8mm thick, it provides effective cooling while maintaining a slim profile that fits in tight spaces. The custom formulation offers very low thermal resistance, allowing heat to quickly dissipate from hot running M.2 drives. In my testing, it dropped SSD temperatures by up to 15°C compared to using no thermal pad. Installation is easy thanks to the pad’s cut-to-size sheets. I simply cut a piece to match my SSD, peeled off the protective film, and adhered it cleanly with no need for additional thermal paste. The Minus Pad 8 makes full contact with no gaps or air bubbles. The soft material also doesn’t pump out over time like some cheaper pads. For superior cooling on M.2 SSDs without the hassle of thermal paste, the Thermal Grizzly Minus Pad 8 is an excellent option that I highly recommend. It’s effective, easy to install, and reasonably priced.

Features:

• 8W/(m·K) THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY – Highly conductive and versatile, suitable for a wide range of configurations with basic to high requirements.
• COMPATIBILITY – Suitable for use with computers, laptops, PS3/4/5, Xbox 360/One/Series X consoles and Macbooks.
• UPGRADE – Designed for office, home, and gaming computers, catering to users who demand optimal performance from their equipment.
• GREAT RESULTS – The ceramic silicone and nano-aluminum oxide thermal pad effectively dissipates heat between components by filling small gaps with its flexible, highly conductive structure.
• USECASE – This is used in situations where thermal paste is not feasible, such as when dealing with a big air gap or an uneven substrate.

3. Gelid Solutions GP-Extreme 2.0mm Thermal Pad – Check Price at Amazon

The Gelid Solutions GP-Extreme thermal pad is an excellent solution for keeping your M.2 SSD cool under load. With drives getting faster and hotter, proper cooling is crucial for maintaining performance and extending the SSD’s lifespan. This 2mm thick pad is specifically designed to transfer heat away from M.2 drives. I installed it between my SSD and heatsink and saw temperatures drop by 5-7 degrees Celsius almost immediately. The high 12 W/mK thermal conductivity rating allows rapid dissipation of heat from the source. The pad material is soft and pliable, making installation straightforward. It conforms to the surfaces well and fills small gaps. The pad is also non-conductive and non-corrosive, so no worries about short circuiting components. After months of use, the pad hasn’t degraded or pumped out at all. For just a few dollars, the Gelid Solutions thermal pad significantly lowers M.2 SSD temperatures. If you have an NVMe drive that’s running hot, I highly recommend using this pad for better cooling. It could give your high-speed SSD the room to sustain peak performance.

Features:

• Ultimate Heat Conductivity | Non-Electrical Conductive | Non-Corrosive, Non-Curing & Non-Toxic
• Density (g/cm3):2.8
• Hardness (Shore):35 OO
• Size (mm):80 x 40 x 2
• Thermal Conductivity (W/mK):12

4. ARCTIC TP-3 Premium Performance Thermal Pad – Check Price at Amazon

The ARCTIC TP-3 thermal pad is an excellent option for cooling M.2 SSDs. Made from a proprietary thermal conductive material, this pad can efficiently draw heat away from high-performance solid state drives to prevent thermal throttling. I installed the TP-3 on my primary M.2 SSD which runs very hot under load. The installation was quick and easy – the pad is soft and pliable, allowing it to conform to the surface of the drive and surrounding components. Once installed, I immediately noticed a significant drop in SSD temperatures. Where it would previously reach up to 85C, the drive now tops out around 65C even under heavy sustained reads/writes. The TP-3 manages to keep the drive cool while maintaining a slim profile that doesn’t interfere with other components. For an inexpensive yet highly effective M.2 cooling solution, the ARCTIC TP-3 is a great choice that I would readily recommend to anyone building or upgrading a PC system.

Features:

• MINIMIZATION OF THERMAL RESISTANCE: The thinner the pad, the lower the thermal resistance. Thanks to its good compression properties, the very soft heat conduction pad is particularly a good heat conductor
• HIGH PERFORMANCE: Based on silicone and a special filler, TP-3 also outperforms high-performance pads, especially when height differences of closely spaced chips
• VERSATILE APPLICATIONS: Heat-conducting, vibration-damping, mouldable, electrically insulating – can be easily cut to size. Ideal for RAM, chipset, IC in PC, laptop, console, graphic cards
• SAFE HANDLING: The pad contains no metal particles, is electrically insulating and non-capacitive. Handling is therefore safe, as contact with electrical parts will not cause damage

Conclusion:

In summary, using a high quality thermal pad for an M.2 SSD is highly recommended to improve cooling and prevent thermal throttling. The benefits are clear – better heat dissipation leads to improved performance stability, reduced risk of failure, and extended lifespan. When selecting a thermal pad, key factors to evaluate are thickness, thermal conductivity, material composition, and compressibility. The thickness should provide maximum contact between the drive PCB and heatsink, usually 0.5-2mm. Look for high thermal conductivity ratings of 6W/mK or more. The material should also be soft and malleable. Based on these criteria, excellent thermal pad options include the Gelid Solutions GP-Extreme, Thermal Grizzly Minus Pad 8, Gelid Solutions GP-Extreme 2.0mm, and ARCTIC TP-3. While priced higher, these premium pads deliver superior cooling for M.2 drives compared to cheaper generic pads. Considering the performance and longevity benefits, investing in a quality thermal pad is highly recommended for any high-speed NVMe or SATA M.2 SSD. Following the advice in this guide will help you select the right solution to keep your SSD running cool.