26.Dec.2023
Keeping Your PC Cool: The World's First High-Performance Integrated Liquid Cooler - GD120S M.2 2280 SSD
TEAMGROUP's T-FORCE gaming brand has upped the game by tackling the issue of rising heat generation in M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSDs running at full speed. The solution? The ground-breaking T-FORCE SIREN GD120S, the world's first liquid cooler specifically designed for M.2 2280 SSDs! Today, we will demo the GD120S in a real-world heat dissipation test to showcase its effectiveness in keeping your SSD cool.
Table of Contents
- Introducing the T-FORCE SIREN GD120S M.2 2280 SSD
- Under the Hood of the First Original Integrated Liquid Cooler M.2 2280 SSD in the World
- Heat Dissipation Test
- Summary
Introducing the T-FORCE SIREN GD120S M.2 2280 SSD
The T-FORCE SIREN GD120S is the first integrated liquid cooler in the world specifically tailored for M.2 2280 SSDs. This innovative cooling solution can be installed on all SSDs that have the same length as the M.2 2280 – i.e., with M.2 SATA, PCIe 3.0, and PCIe 4.0.
When paired with an SSD that generates significantly more heat, such as the PCIe 5.0, the SIREN GD120S has exceptional heat dissipation capabilities that excel under pressure, demonstrating its superior cooling prowess.
As a reminder, this is not T-FORCE's first foray into liquid coolers. T-FORCE previously launched a 2-in-1 integrated liquid cooler, the T-FORCE SIREN DUO360 ARGB CPU & SSD for CPU+SSD. To further enhance your understanding of liquid coolers, we compiled two insightful articles that delve into the intricacies of liquid cooling systems and shared some useful tips. Check them out here: "Help! A Solution for PCIe Gen5 SSD Overheating" and "How to Properly Install the T-FORCE SIREN DUO360 AIO ARGB CPU & SSD Liquid Cooler? What Is the Difference Between a Single Water Block and a Dual Water Block Installation?"
Under the Hood of the First Original Integrated Liquid Cooler M.2 2280 SSD in the World
Unlike the aforementioned model, the T-FORCE SIREN GD120S is an all-in-one water cooler designed specifically for the M.2 2280 SSD. This all-new design features a dual-layer thermal interface beneath an aluminum alloy dual-channel cold plate, which allows the main control chip of the M.2 2280 SSD and the crystallites to attach closely on to the copper bottom of the heat transfer. A 120 mm liquid heat exchanger and a 120 mm ARGB fan work together to efficiently dissipate heat generated by the M.2 SSD, especially under high load conditions.
Heat Dissipation Test
Now, let's turn up the heat! We'll be putting the T-FORCE SIREN GD120S M.2 2280 SSD to the test, pairing it with the T-FORCE CARDEA Z540 M.2 PCIe SSD 2TB (with PCIe 5.0 x4 interface). The results in the graph clearly demonstrate the enhanced heat dissipation achieved by the SIREN GD120S.
The temperature test was conducted with three configurations: without a heat sink, with a heat sink installed on the motherboard, and paired with a GD120S. Two test items were performed: (1) idling for five minutes and (2) running a CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4 file (size set at 1 GiB) for five times. The test then gathered idle and peak temperatures using HWiNFO64 software.
To maximize the heat dissipation performance of the T-FORCE SIREN GD120S M.2 2280 SSD integrated liquid cooler, we manually set the pump and fan to operate at full speed.
Temperature Performance Without Heat Sink
In the absence of a heat sink, the T-FORCE CARDEA Z540 reached a maximum temperature of 59°C after five minutes in idle state. This temperature increased gradually over time. When running CrystalDiskMark, the temperature rose to a critical 85°C, indicating overheating. Furthermore, due to the high temperature, Z540 throttled its speed, reducing performance to under 20%.
Temperature Performance with Heat Sink Installed on the Motherboard
With a heat sink installed on the motherboard, the T-FORCE CARDEA Z540 reached a peak temperature of 43°C while idle for five minutes. When running CrystalDiskMark, the temperature hit a high of 80°C. While the high temperature did not affect the SSD's speed during the test, these temperatures are not ideal for the long-term health and lifespan of the drive.
Temperature Performance with SIREN GD120S Installed
To wrap up the thermal challenge, let's test the star of today's review, the T-FORCE SIREN GD120S M.2 2280 SSD integrated liquid cooler. During idle operation, the temperature remained at a mere 26°C, matching the room temperature during our test. Even when running CrystalDiskMark, the temperature maxed out at just 43°C, which coincidentally is the same as the idle temperature of a motherboard with a heat sink (my full load is your idle!)
Summary
Today, we tested actual temperatures of a T-FORCE CARDEA Z540 M.2 SSD with and without the T-FORCE SIREN GD120S M.2 2280 SSD integrated cooler. Under load, the cooler reduced the SSD's temperature from a scorching 85°C (which causes performance degradation) to a cool 43°C. Typically, the idle temperature is at just 26°C, matching room temperature with air conditioning.
Modern M.2 SSDs with PCIe 5.0 x4 unleash incredible performance but their blazing speed comes at a cost: increased heat generation. The T-FORCE SIREN GD120S directly tackles this challenge by utilizing an efficient liquid cooling system to significantly improve heat dissipation. With long-term use under optimal operating temperature, the lifespan of the SSD can be greatly extended!
| Installation Reminder |
Be sure to connect the three-pin DC connector of the motor pump and the four-pin PWM connector of the fan to the corresponding slots on the motherboard. Once your PC is turned on, both the pump and fan will function normally. For a cool ARGB lighting effect on the fan, hook up the fan's 5V three-pin ARGB connector. But note, be extremely careful not to plug the ARGB connector into the 12V four-pin RGB slot. A wrong connection will burning it up!
