Solved Where to look for an explanation for SSD temp differences?

Two very similar models of the same desktop PC (see My Computers below) with very similar software, identical background processes, identical W11 Pro versions, and physical boxes that are identical in having lots of breathing space (I removed the old SATA cables, mounting hardware, and disks from both) but no case fans.

The CrystalDiskInfo icons in the system trays reveal what I'm curious about: Can you suggest what I might look at to determine why the NVMes on System 1 run about ten degrees hotter than the same NVMes on System 2 under the same load (more or less)?

I'm not worried; I'd just like to know why.

System 1:



System 2:

Desktop circulation should be fine. SFF is compact. hope you run case fans.

PCIe bus, given same specs? 16X? gen3 or gen4? (gen4 hotter).

Any adapter between PCIe and SSD, same model? For adapter, different vendor, different layout. can impact on SSD data rate/performance.

If M2 slot, similar issue. gen3 or gen4? layout and position on motherboard? any vent around?

@siliconbeaver

Thank you very much for taking the time to give me that input. They're both gen 3 M.2 slots (the ones the OS and programs are running on). For the storage drives for the two PCs, I've used adapters to put the NVMes in x4 PCIe slots. Adapters are same model. Heat sinks on all four NVMes, all same brand, same model. Both OS NVMe disks are Samsung, same model (970 EVO Plus). Both storage disks are Samsung, but one is 970 EVO Plus; one is 980. Both storage disks run cooler than their OS-and-programs counterparts, as expected.

Yes, I would like to add a case fan to each PC's case, but the SFF design just won't accommodate anything other than a tiny fan, and I asked on this forum earlier whether I'd gain anything but NOISE if I added a tiny fan to the case. The answer was that I'd get hardly any cooling effect, but a lot of racket.

As I said above, I'm not worried about this. Both systems are working beautifully, and the temps are well within normal ranges for NVMe disks. But I thought I'd see whether anyone had any idea what would account for the temp difference. So far, your suggestions are right on, and I've checked them out as carefully as I can.

As you can see from my screenshots, I'm thinking about my new NVMe disks enough to put CrystalDiskInfo on the machines, and the temp icons in my trays. I think I'll settle down enough to take the icons out in a few days/weeks. No temps as high as 50 C yet. Good.

Many thanks.

970 EVO Plus vs 980

I did google. seems the answer is public (read below please).
The reason is, IMO, 980 lack of DRAM, less stress when running. If check ChatGPT, you may obtain a better answer.

Yes, you're right. The storage 970 EVO Plus is running at 39 C currently on System 1, while the storage 980 is running at a much cooler 29 C on System 2. Neither of the storage drives are busy this afternoon.

What I was focused on is the smaller, but significant, difference between the OS+programs disks on the two systems. They're both 970 EVO Plus, and in M.2 slots on their motherboards with approximately the same amount of breathing room. But on Sys 1, the temp is always about 45-50 C, while on Sys 2, the temp is always about 38-43 C, even when I'm running several programs, browsing, and doing "stuff." Hmmm.

when reading community.samsung


It's noticed that two factors involved.

1. motherboard does have impact on cooling. motherboard heatsink could do better than the PCIe NVMe maker's heatsink.

2. defect on SSD can make SSD running hotter. in other words, the hotter one may have more defects on SSD board.

My motherboards don't have any heat sinks, so I resorted to third-party stick-ons with clips. Tried running two NVMe disks on one PC without the sinks, then applied the sinks and went through the same routine. The temps dropped by 5-10 degrees C, so I kept the sinks.

Thank you for doing that research. I'm not going to worry about defects on my new SSDs for now, since they are still running at around 50 C (stressed, OS disk) or under, and around 40 C (idle, storage) on System 1, and about 10 C below that for each disk on System 2. If they just stay in that neighborhood, I'll be happy with them.

Thanks again for your interest and your research on my behalf.

FYI

my HP computer is using Intel 670p SSD 512GB (29F04T4ANCQKI) NVMe on M2 slot.

its info
idle 29C. active as high as 46C. No any fans/heat-sink. no gaming. main tasks are programming, charting and texting.