6 Best Heatsinks for M.2 SSDs in 2023

M.2 SSDs have skyrocketed in popularity, owing to their superb performance and small form factor. However, these drives can also generate a lot of heat, leading to thermal throttling and decreased performance. That’s where a heatsink comes in. For those unaware, a heatsink helps transfer heat away from the drive and dissipate it in the air. But, with options aplenty, you might be wondering about the best heatsinks for M.2 SSDs on the market.

That’s what we’ll talk about in this article. On that note, we will look at some of the best heatsinks for M.2 SSDs in 2023. We will consider factors such as performance, price, and ease of installation so that you can find the perfect heatsink for your needs.

But first, you might want to check out the following:

Buy

The MHQJRH M.2 2280 SSD heatsink is a budget-friendly option that is quite effective at dissipating heat. It is made of aluminum and has a double-sided design. It also comes with three thermal pads and six screws which make the installation process more manageable.

In terms of compatibility, the MHQJRH M.2 SSD heatsink works with both single as well as double-sided SSDs. Moreover, thanks to its compact size, you can even use it as a heatsink for your PS5’s SSD.

Apart from a black colorway, you can also get this heatsink in six other colors, such as red, green, blue, purple, silver, and golden. Needless to say, the heatsink has amassed terrific ratings. To put it in numbers, the product has aggregated over 4,700 ratings and an average of 4.7 stars on Amazon. As such, if you’re looking for a simple-to-install and capable M.2 SSD heatsink, this is the one for you.

Buy

While the MHQJRH heatsink is suitable for those on a budget, it doesn’t offer the best performance, especially for desktop users. If you want a bit more performance, purely for your desktop PC, then the Thermalright HR-09 2280 PRO is for you.

The HR-09 2280 PRO heatsink comes with a total of 33 fins on top along with an aluminum alloy-groove design. It also uses a unique thermal pad made from nano silicon grease material. All the components work exceptionally well and ensure that your SSD has a larger heat dissipation area with no performance limitations.

In terms of installation, the HR-09 is relatively easy to install thanks to its double-sided clip design. However, due to its tall form factor, it might not fit every system out there. As such, ensure you have enough room to accommodate the 74mm tall heatsink.

Buy

At the end of the day, a heatsink is a passive cooling solution. Unless, of course, you attach a fan close to it. If your system doesn’t have enough fans to keep the cabinet cool, how about a heatsink with its own fan? Enter the ineo Aluminum M.2 2280 SSD Heatsink.

The ineo Aluminum M.2 2280 SSD Heatsink has a tiny 20x20mm fan. However, don’t be fooled by its size. Despite drawing just 1W of power, it can spin at a whopping 10,000 rpm, all with no vibration and minimal noise. To power it up, you must use a 4-pin fan connector on your motherboard. However, that also means you can’t use it with your PlayStation 5.

The heatsink is made from aluminum alloy material, but it also packs in a pure copper strip underneath. This is heat conductive as well, thus ensuring maximum thermal conductivity, along with the nano silicone thermal pad included.

Buy

be quiet! is one of the biggest names in the PC cooler biz. And, the company’s BZ002 MC1 M.2 SSD cooler is a reliable product that can keep your SSD’s operating temperatures at bay. As such, the drive should be able to run at full performance for an extended time span.

The SSD Cooler is made of aluminum and has a simple, yet effective design. It touts an all-black finish that looks premium and elegant and blends in with most black motherboards. be quiet! has designed the cooler to work with both single and double-sided M.2 2280 modules. In fact, it’s also compatible with the M.2 SSD slot on the PlayStation 5.

The heatsink comes with a thermal pad, which helps to transfer heat from the SSD to the heatsink. It is also very easy to install. The thermal pad is pre-applied. As such, all you need to do is screw the heatsink onto the SSD. While the cooling performance is nothing exceptional as compared to the previous options on this list, none of them can hold a candle to BZ002 MC1’s reliability.

Buy

SABRENT has quickly grown to become the most trustworthy brand for high-performance M.2 SSDs. As you’d expect, they know a thing or two about keeping these SSDs cool too. If you’re specifically looking for a PS5 SSD heatsink, then this is the one for you.

The SB-PSHS from SABRENT is designed exclusively for the PS5 console. It fits inside the PS5’s SSD expansion slot, making for a quick and easy installation. It is made of aluminum and has a unique “sandwich design” which ensures even pressure throughout the SSD for efficient and consistent heat transfer. The heatsink also comes with thermal tape and screws for easy installation.

One thing to note is that it replaces the SSD slot cover plate on the PS5. However, that is necessary to ensure optimal cooling. And, as consumers have highlighted in their reviews, the SABRENT PS5 heatsink has dramatically improved their console’s performance. Needless to say, if you’re looking for an efficient way to stop your PS5 from overheating, this is it.

Buy

SABRENT makes the best M.2 SSD heatsink for desktop PCs, too. However, the company’s offering is quite expensive. As such, it’s best to pair it with high-performance NVMe drives only.

The SB-HTSP from SABRENT is a high-performance heatsink designed for M.2 NVMe SSDs. It is made of copper and aluminum and has a unique “fin design” that helps dissipate heat effectively. The copper absorbs the heat from the drive, fanning it up to the grooved, aluminum surface of the heatsink.

The heatsink also offers an enlarged surface area for efficient cooling. As a result, you can squeeze every ounce of performance out of your NVMe drive without worrying about throttling. Suffice it to say, if you’re looking for a high-performance heatsink for your NVMe SSD, this is it.

One small thing to note is that the SB-HTSP from SABRENT is the newer and updated version of the older SB-HTSK heatsink. The heatsinks draw a lot of parallels, with the underlying difference being that the SB-HTSP heatsink is slightly bigger. Nonetheless, for most users, the size disparity will not result in a massive difference in performance. What’s more, both heatsinks cost the same as well. As such, you can get whichever one you can find in stock.

Not all M.2 SSDs need a heatsink. However, if you constantly face throttling, or are using an NVMe SSD that generates a lot of heat, you may want to consider using a heatsink. A heatsink can come in handy for demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing.

The best material for a heatsink is aluminum. Aluminum is a good conductor of heat, and it is also relatively lightweight. That being said, some heatsinks are also made of copper, which is an even better conductor of heat. However, it is also more expensive. As such, using a combination of both is the best.

In general, you will need to remove the screw cover on your M.2 SSD slot, attach the heatsink to the SSD, and then screw it in place. However, the actual installation can differ from heatsink to heatsink. As such, it’s best to refer to the instruction manual that comes included in the package.

With the adoption of M.2 SSDs, there has been a need for high-quality heatsinks too. As such, if you want the most effective way to cool your M.2 NVMe SSD, the Sabrent SB-HTSP is an excellent option.

However, if you are looking for a more compact and lightweight heatsink, the MHQJRH M.2 2280 SSD Heatsink offers acceptable performance without burning a hole in your pocket.

Last updated on 28 June, 2023

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The content head for the Guiding Tech YouTube channels, Varun also contributes to the website for Buying Guides and Product Explainers. Feel free to reach out to him on Twitter.