That was an interesting review. Not sure I would come to the same conclusions.
We also performed all tests with the airflow of a 92mm-fan at a distance of a casefan in the average case.
When was the last time you saw a modern case with a relatively small 92mm fan? Would buyers of these high-end (and expensive) SSDs use such a case with that sort of limited cooling? Was that really an "average case"?
Just looking at several mid-tower cases here from Fractal Design, Corsair, NZXT and TT, not one even supports a 92mm fan. They all support a minimum of 2 x 120mm (most support both 120mm and 140mm and more than just 2 case fans).
It is the computer builder's and user's responsibility to ensure case cooling is properly set up and sufficient for the components inside, cable routing is properly managed, and the case interior is kept clean of heat trapping dust. I accept that fan noise is a consideration. But the reality is, quality, quiet fans will not break the bank. And most decent, and affordable cases these days do come with quality fans.
As long as you have some cooling, there does not necessarily seem to be a link between the temperature and performance.
Exactly! I've been saying for YEARS it is the case's responsibility to provide a sufficient supply of cool air flowing through the case to justify using OEM CPU coolers instead of wasting money on aftermarket coolers. IMO, the same applies here (assuming the M.2 is not hiding behind a rat's nest of cables or expansion cards).
Look at the 2 charts on Page 4, Results: temperatures. The first graph is without any fan (who would do that?). And the second graph is with that little 92mm. There is a HUGE difference. Imagine what it would be like in a properly cooled case where there was at least a couple 120mm case fans, if not 140mm fans. But that review did not use a properly cooled case.
I guess the purpose of the review was to compare those heatsinks so if that was the intent, I might come to the same conclusion.
But what I really want to know is, do I need a 3rd party heatsink for my M.2 if I have fulfilled my responsibility of insuring proper case cooling? Again, I think the SSD makers would include one (or at least suggest one in the documentation) if it was really needed. After all, they sure don't want their customers complaining their expensive SSDs don't perform as advertised.
I note according to the
Samsung SSD 960 EVO M.2 data sheet (PDF file),
In most cases of data transfers, heavy workloads induce heat. Once temperatures reach a threshold, memory performance may be adversely affected. As the leader in SSD memory solutions, the 960 EVO adopts a new heat spreader for dissipating heat more efficiently during heavy workload use. It achieves this by integrating a thin copper film and because copper is a great heat conductor it helps to shed heat faster than would be possible without the label.
Is everybody but Samsung saying the OEM heat spreader is worthless?
The conclusion I have come to is if your M.2 SSD is throttling due to heat, it is because you, as the user, have failed to set up proper case cooling. If the case is not providing adequate flow to extract the heat and prevent heat buildup, that is not the fault of the SSD (or CPU, RAM, etc.).