Who designed these? Terrible Cooling Performance and "Interesting" Mounting Solutions In a recent video titled "Who designed these? Terrible Cooling Performance and 'Interesting' Mounting Solutions," tech guru der8auer takes viewers on an in-depth journey through various SSD cooling solutions, exposing the flaws in design and performance across several popular products on the market .
Overview of the Video Content
The video kicks off with der8auer criticizing the evolution of SSD coolers, particularly noting the extravagant aesthetics like the gold-plated EK cooler, which he suggests may prioritize visual appeal over functionality. The host highlights that many of the SSD coolers he purchased, totaling around 30 different models, may not provide substantial benefits beyond mere appearance.
Testing Setup
Using a simple C790 platform, der8auer tests these coolers under controlled conditions, powering a Corsair MP600 Pro XT SSD—capable of handling immense workload—to see how quickly each cooler can manage thermal output during sustained loads. Notably, the absence of a dedicated GPU allows full focus on SSD performance without additional airflow influencing the results.
Key Tests and Findings
- Temperature Management: The video presents a sequential torture test using CrystalDiskMark, pushing the SSD to its limits. Without any cooler, the SSD quickly reached a critical temperature of 70°C and began throttling within minutes .
- Cooling Solutions Evaluated:
- Stock Heatsinks: The stock mainboard cooling solution achieved commendable results, maintaining temperatures below 45°C during stress testing, which declined swiftly post-load.
- Gold-Plated EK Cooler: Surprisingly, this cooler, despite its aesthetic appeal, retained excessive heat and did not effectively cool the SSD, proving to retain only marginal benefits above a plain setup.
- Various Budget Coolers: Among the budget options, some coolers had questionable design choices. For instance, a cooler that mounted via rubber bands was noted to pose a high risk of failure after only a short time, emphasizing der8auer's warning against such mounting methods .
- RGB Heatsinks: Even some products that featured RGB lighting prioritized style at the expense of effective cooling. Der8auer humorously critiques a particularly flimsy design that lacked proper mounting methods and barely functioned as a cooler.
Conclusions and Further Discussion
In closing, der8auer proposes that most common SSDs with adequate mainboard cooling already provide sufficient thermal management for typical use cases, sparking questions about the necessity of elaborate aftermarket solutions that may not yield significant performance gains . As observed by viewers, der8auer's detailed testing serves as a cautionary tale for consumers considering SSD coolers; not all shiny products perform as beautifully as they appear. Feel free to share your thoughts about SSD cooling solutions! Have you found particular coolers that either excel or disappoint? What are your personal experiences with cooling solutions in high-performance scenarios?