Acidalie VB01 SSD m.2 Heatsink Evaluate: Conserving your SSD cool, with out compatibility points!

The necessity to hold fashionable Gen 5 SSDs cool has resulted in a marketplace for m.2 warmth sinks, and there is all kinds of selections to contemplate. Warmth sinks of sizes massive (with compatibility points) and small, in a wide range of kind components and even with energetic cooling, at the moment are obtainable to maintain your SSD cool.

In earlier evaluations of heatsinks, some customers have expressed considerations in regards to the peak and measurement of the models I used to be reviewing. It is true that most of the strongest NVMe m.2 heatsinks and coolers can fit points with sure air coolers if put in subsequent to a CPU.

With at present’s assessment, we’re Acidealie’s VB01 SSD m.2 heatsink. It presents thermal efficiency superior to most rivals available on the market, using two heatpipes and two heatsinks for cooling. Nevertheless, not like the huge Thermalright HR-09 Professional, it arrives in a compact profile which will not trigger compatibility issues.

When NVMe warmth sinks first hit the market, most of the models included with sure motherboards have been gimmicks and really resulted in larger SSD temperatures. Cooling m.2 drives wasn’t actually a priority again then, however at present’s PCI-e Gen 5 SSDs aren’t capable of maintain their peak efficiency with out some type of cooling. The controller present in most PCI-e 5 SSDs at the moment available on the market is Phison’s E26, which has a TJ Max (most temperature) of 125C – a lot hotter than earlier era merchandise.

Does the Acidalie VB01 standout sufficient from the competitors, to make it worthy of your hard-earned cash? We’ll see within the benchmarks shortly, however first we’ll take a fast take a look at the unit’s options and design.

Options of the Acidalie VB01

Two Heatsinks, Thick Fins

The VB01 has two heatsinks to switch warmth away out of your SSD, one immediately touching the m.2 drive and one that’s suspended above the bottom.

The fins on the heatsink are pretty thick, with matching thick gaps for airflow between them.

Two Copper Heatpipes

Along with its twin heatsinks, the VB01 incorporates copper heatpipes to dissipate (switch) warmth away out of your SSD.

Low Profile – No Compatibility Points!

Most of the strongest heatsinks are tall, which may trigger compatibility points with sure system configurations. Acidalie’s VB01 has a low profile, which implies it will not run into any compatibility issues. I had EK’s CR240 AIO cooler put in after I examined this Acidalie’s VB01, and the VB01 was really decrease than the standoffs on the EK AIO when put in.

Set up, Packaging, and Contents

The VB01 arrives in a small brown field not a lot bigger than a cellphone, with an outer protecting showcasing the product.

Opening the field reveals the contents, the heatsink is protected by a tender protecting and molded foam. Included within the field are thermal pads, the heatsink, and a screwdriver.

To start out set up you may want to make use of the included screwdriver to take away the screws from the edges of the unit. Set the primary thermal pad on the backside of the unit, and place the NVMe m.2 SSD inside. Afterwards, use the blue thermal pad items on high of the NAND blocks and SSD controller.

Take away the peel from the pads, and place your SSD within the base of the unit. Place the heatsink within the bottom, and safe it with the included screws.

The final step is to attach the SSD to the m.2 slot, and safe it with a screw.

In my earlier assessment of Thermalright’s HR-10 Professional, some readers expressed considerations that these models may current compatibility points with GPUs. Acidalie’s VB01 might be put in with each air coolers and GPUs, it would not endure from compatibility issues. To make sure, I put in a prototype Intel DG1 GPU subsequent to the heatsink, as pictured under.

Thermal and Benchmark Efficiency Comparability

To check the efficiency of the heatsink’s cooling capacity, I’ve run a customized IOMeter script which takes half-hour to finish testing. This script is designed to trigger the drive, and particularly it’s controller, to create as a lot warmth as doable. You may think about it a “Furmark” of SSD testing, it’s an influence virus designed for the aim of testing NVMe cooling.

Acidealie’s VB01 heatsink does very nicely hear, with a SSD temp recorded of 65c in a 23c ambient surroundings. Even if you happen to’re knowledgeable with workloads that hammer a storage drive, Acidealie’s VB01 will hold the SSD working at affordable temperatures.

Whereas it is thermal efficiency right here is not the very best, the entire models that outperform it are additionally taller than the VB01 – which implies they could fit points with sure air coolers resulting from peak restrictions, whereas the VB01 will work fantastic regardless.

Acidalie’s VB01 is ready to run the TeamGroup Z540 SSD at it is peak efficiency of 4900 IOPs on this stress check. As you’ll be able to see from the chart above, diminished temperatures don’t at all times translate into larger benchmark efficiency – however it can enhance it’s lifespan and longevity. A SSD operating at or close to peak temperatures (often known as TJunction Max or TJ Max) with have a decrease lifespan in comparison with one operating at a extra affordable temperature.

Worth Comparability

For coolers just like the VB01 that are capable of run a SSD unthrottled, a good way to take a look at it’s worth is to check the thermal enchancment for each greenback spent – how nicely does the heatsink hold a Gen 5 SSD Cool for the amount of cash spent?

Trying on the means I’ve this chart displayed now, you may assume that the VB01 would not provide the best worth. However this chart would not inform the entire story – each heatsink that gives a better efficiency/$ on this chart can also be a product that’s taller than Acidalie’s VB01 and may encounter compatibility points that the VB01 would not.

As soon as I’ve examined extra of those models I will break up this chart into two elements – one part for models which have low-profiles, and one part for bigger heatsinks.

Conclusion

Acidalie’s VB01 presents very sturdy thermal efficiency paired with a low profile package deal, making certain compatibility it doesn’t matter what kind of CPU cooler you are utilizing. Reaching solely 65c throughout our 30 minute torture check, the VB01’s thermal efficiency will permit your Gen 5 SSD to run unthrottled with out reaching excessive temperatures.

If you happen to’re knowledgeable or different person with storage intensive workloads, a heatsink of some type is required to keep up peak efficiency with fashionable SSDs. If you happen to’re occupied with Acidalie’s VB01, it has a MSRP of $22 however is mostly obtainable for $20 on Amazon.com