Is a thermal pad reuired?

[tecboy]

I have watch plenty of YouTube videos about stick on a thermal pad for ssd.  Is it necessary to apply thermal pad?  My laptop doesn't have a thermal pad when I take the  ssd out.

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@tecboy, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 

Great question — and one that comes up a lot when upgrading or replacing SSDs in laptops.
 

Is a Thermal Pad Required for SSDs?

Short Answer:
No, a thermal pad is not strictly required for SSDs, but it can be beneficial in certain situations.

Breakdown of the Situation:

💻 Your Laptop Didn't Come with One:

If your laptop did not include a thermal pad, the manufacturer likely determined that it wasn't necessary for the SSD to function safely under normal conditions. This decision is based on the thermal profile of the SSD and the laptop’s internal airflow.

📈 Why Do People Add Thermal Pads?

Thermal pads help transfer heat from the SSD to the laptop chassis or heatsink, which can lower the SSD’s temperature. NVMe SSDs, particularly Gen 3 or Gen 4 models, can generate significant heat during sustained use, such as gaming, video editing, or large file transfers. Excessive heat can lead to thermal throttling, which slows down performance.

✅ When a Thermal Pad is a Good Idea:

• High-Performance NVMe SSDs: If you're using a high-performance SSD (e.g., Samsung 980 Pro, WD SN850).
• Hot Running Laptops: If your laptop tends to run hot or has poor airflow.
• Sustained Disk Activity: If you frequently perform tasks that involve heavy disk usage.
• High Temperatures: If you notice throttling or high SSD temperatures (e.g., above 70–80°C).

🧊 Final Thoughts:

If you’re not experiencing any performance drops or overheating, it’s perfectly fine to leave the SSD as-is. However, if you want to be cautious or are upgrading to a hotter drive, adding a thin thermal pad (usually 0.5mm or 1mm thick) can help without causing any issues. Just ensure there’s enough clearance in the laptop chassis to close it properly.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support