So performing a new build today... new everything and those M2 SSDs, my first encounter.  I see you have these thermal pads used to stick onto the RAM.  What I noticed is on one location when I place a stick and then place the cover (with the thermal pad on it), where one screws the ram secure (or in my case a little rotating switch), there is a bump from the screw into the pad.  Should I worry?  Should I notch out of the pad where the mounting screw sets.  I even saw a vid where you are to cut the pad into twp sections - one to cover the ram itself and the other to cover the controller.

Making too much of this?  Its an Asus  voard (see specs),

With good case airflow, the M2 drives should not overheat.  RAM with a decent heat spreader should also stay sufficiently cool when there is good airflow through the case.

I used the little pads but the locking arms that you mention were super flimsy on my board so I didn't really use them.  I just gently tightened the screw onto the M2 mount.

My board also has a basic m2 heatsink (the pads were pretty much loose in the package but I stuck them in place anyway).

On 6/18/2022 at 5:37 PM, Clutch Cargo said:

So performing a new build today... new everything and those M2 SSDs, my first encounter.  I see you have these thermal pads used to stick onto the RAM.  What I noticed is on one location when I place a stick and then place the cover (with the thermal pad on it), where one screws the ram secure (or in my case a little rotating switch), there is a bump from the screw into the pad.  Should I worry?  Should I notch out of the pad where the mounting screw sets. 

Making too much of this?  Its an Asus  voard (see specs),

 

Its not RAM. You mean the nvme drive. A slight dent in the the pad is no issue at all. Its just an interface material to transfer heat to the cover. As long as the cover/heat sink goes down properly its not an issue. 

Quote

I even saw a vid where you are to cut the pad into twp sections - one to cover the ram itself and the other to cover the controller.

 

Leave the thermal pad as it is, as Asus designed it. Read your motherboard manual, it will tell you all you need to know. 

Which M.2 nvme drive are you talking about? 

Edited June 20, 20223 yr by martin-w

8 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

I used the little pads but the locking arms that you mention were super flimsy on my board so I didn't really use them.  I just gently tightened the screw onto the M2 mount.

My board also has a basic m2 heatsink (the pads were pretty much loose in the package but I stuck them in place anyway).

 

Q-Latch worked great for me. Good solution, better than minuscule screws. Only issue I had was that in the factory they had pushed one down too far and so it was too low to latch. I realised what the problem was and just lifted it up slightly with a screwdriver, and it clicked into its proper location.

Pads lose in the package you say? The pads are usually in place on the back of the cover/heatsink. For single sided nvme drives that's all you need. Your 860 Evo is single sided. 

Thx guys, fired her up for the first time.... and everything worked the first time (whew!).  Yea, left the pads as they were.  Temps are hovering at 29c at 4.9Ghz!  Granted no load on them but just happy to see the install worked as planned.   Now comes the software - tons and tons of software - oh boy 😵