Question Samsung SSD970 is constantly at 90 degree celsius IDLE!

[kriptoverse]

Hi,

I just checked the temperature of my GPU via HWINFO and I noticed that the "Drive temperature 2" of my Samsung SSD evo plus 2TB is CONSTANTLY at around 90°C and it is in RED. I am just using my computer for browsing the internet and that's it. I don't understand why it is so hot. My computer is a $5000 machine that I bought 1 year ago. I never touched or replaced any components. Really there is nothing out of the ordinary that I'm doing. The last thing I did on my computer was to download and install Unreal Engine 5 and Matrix Awakening. But, the download is already finished and UE5 is closed. I restarted my computer several times but the temp always stays at 90°C.

 

[Lafong]

That's an M.2 NVMe drive, right?

Is there another suitable port for it?

I'd confirm temps with at least 1 more temp monitoring application.

 

[kriptoverse]

That's an M.2 NVMe drive, right?

Is there another suitable port for it?

I'd confirm temps with at least 1 more temp monitoring application.

Thank you for your answer.

The SSD is directly plugged to the motherboard, so as I understand, it is M.2 NVMe drive yes.

I checked the temperature with an additional software (CrystalDiskInfo). The temperature IDLE is 68°C there.


1)

(CrystalDiskInfo)


2)

(HWINFO)

Even on CrystalDisInfo it says 2nd Composite temperature is red.

I have checked latest driver on windows. it is the latest driver I am using.

I do not see another suitable port for it on the motherboard.

Here is more info about resource monitor:

And yes, when I touch the SSD drive, it is really hot...

Please help, I really don't understand what's happening...

 

[kriptoverse]

Some more printscreen, which may be helpful:

Thank you for your help.

 

[Lafong]

With your own eyeballs: are all case and cooling fans actually spinning as you'd expect?

Please list full details of all cooling apparatus.....brand, size, number, type, model name, etc......for case fans and CPU cooler.

Full name and model of graphics card?

And for your case.

That drive should throttle automatically at some specific temperature. You could dig into Samsung's documents to find out what that temp is.

You may also be able to use Samsung's supplied tools to find out the max temps ever reached and whether or not the drive has ever throttled. I know I can find out those 2 facts on my own Intel NVMe drive with Intel tools.

 

[kriptoverse]

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900K CPU @ 3.70GHz 3.70 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.9 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Graphics Card Asus Rog Strix RTX3090

CPU is watercooled with corsair.
All specs are here, under "specifications": https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/produc...-core-i9-10900k-32-gb-2000-gb-ssd-pc-13853732


All coolers and fans seem to be working normally.

 

[Lafong]

Do you know for a fact whether or not these drive temps are a new development that was not around say a month ago?

What do you see in the various tabs of Task Manager when you sort each column so the highest numbers are at the top of the column?

Particularly regarding processes or drive activity.


Does this drive have a heatsink attached?

Have you done a virus/malware scan?

I know almost nothing about liquid cooling, so can't say if that is relevant.

 

[drivinfast247]

Have you tried updating the firmware via Samsung Magician?

 

[Bob.B]

Thank you for your answer.

The SSD is directly plugged to the motherboard, so as I understand, it is M.2 NVMe drive yes.

I checked the temperature with an additional software (CrystalDiskInfo). The temperature IDLE is 68°C there.


1)

(CrystalDiskInfo)


2)

(HWINFO)

Even on CrystalDisInfo it says 2nd Composite temperature is red.

I have checked latest driver on windows. it is the latest driver I am using.

I do not see another suitable port for it on the motherboard.

Here is more info about resource monitor:

And yes, when I touch the SSD drive, it is really hot...

Please help, I really don't understand what's happening...

Your showing 2.9GB/hr writes to the ssd.
I would think that might make things a little toasty.
I don't know what is a good/bad writes/hr I see 1.4GB/hr.

Take the side panel off the case.....test.
Any diff?

 

[Phaaze88]

Drive Temperature 1 is the NAND flash, which actually does better warm - not too hot, not too cold.
Drive Temperature 2 is the ASIC controller, which should be treated like other parts - not too hot.

IF the build looks exactly like in the digitec link, then the SSD is situated in an airflow deadzone.
Motherboards that have an M.2 slot above the gpu: that spot has almost always been the worst to install them in. That never should've been a thing.
The little black strip with the drive's name on it is actually a very thin copper heatsink. Passive heatsinks still need some air passing directly over them, and with the setup as is, there's a lack of active airflow here.
Then it gets worse when you use your 3090, as it takes a dump(heat) on the little drive.


I suggest moving the drive to that secondary slot below the gpu, if possible. There's an external M.2 heatsink that you can use on top of the drive, plus with the proximity to the gpu's fans, they'll pull the heat off it fairly quickly.

 

[geofelt]

It would appear that you are hammering the ssd likely sequentially.
That will generate heat and cause the ssd to throttle to protect itself.

Normally, a m.2 ssd is mounted on the motherboard, often beneath a hot graphics card like yours. I f your cooler radiator is mounted in front, the m.2 and the graphics card is cooled by the warm radiator exhaust.

A heat sink on the m.2 may help some.
If you can, get more cool air into the case.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I suggest moving the drive to that secondary slot below the gpu, if possible.

Agreed. Move M.2 drive to lower slot under heatsink.

Note doing this, disables SATA ports SATA6G_56.

 

[kriptoverse]

Do you know for a fact whether or not these drive temps are a new development that was not around say a month ago?

What do you see in the various tabs of Task Manager when you sort each column so the highest numbers are at the top of the column?

Particularly regarding processes or drive activity.


Does this drive have a heatsink attached?

Have you done a virus/malware scan?

I know almost nothing about liquid cooling, so can't say if that is relevant.

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, the high SSD temperature is a new development. I used to check my temps regularly with 1-2 weeks interval in the last 1 year and it is the first time that the SSD temp are constantly high.

Task manager tab:

It has the stock heatsink, but I haven't attached any other heatsink. Basically, I don't modify my computer, I bought it already built this way.

Windows defender antivirus did not find any threats today.

 

[kriptoverse]

Mine is also saying the temperature is 'too high' under minimal load. I have the same model and size - 970 EVO plus 2 TB. Did you ever figure out what may be the issue?

I do not know what the issue is at all. I am very curious to know what's happening. I am thinking maybe the SSD is damaged or maybe I have downloaded something that crushes it.

But, really it is a mistery at this point.

 

[kriptoverse]

Have you tried updating the firmware via Samsung Magician?

Samsung Magician says firmware is up to date. It also says SSD is in good condition... and surprisingly, Samsung Magician says SSD temperature 67°C is "normal". Very surprised as HWINFO and CrystalDiskInfo are both showing temperature reading in red for the 2nd drive...

So, then what does that mean? There is no problem then? When I google what normal SSD temperatures are, it says between 40-70°C... so, yes it's normal, but what about the 2nd drive temperature which shows 90 degree constantly.

The 2nd Drive temp was never red in HWINFO before.. that's clearly new and I don't know why...

 

[kriptoverse]

Your showing 2.9GB/hr writes to the ssd.
I would think that might make things a little toasty.
I don't know what is a good/bad writes/hr I see 1.4GB/hr.

Take the side panel off the case.....test.
Any diff?

Side panel on or off, the temperature is the same. I even opened the window with side panel off and then temperature is around 87, but not much difference.

 

[kriptoverse]

Drive Temperature 1 is the NAND flash, which actually does better warm - not too hot, not too cold.
Drive Temperature 2 is the ASIC controller, which should be treated like other parts - not too hot.

IF the build looks exactly like in the digitec link, then the SSD is situated in an airflow deadzone.
Motherboards that have an M.2 slot above the gpu: that spot has almost always been the worst to install them in. That never should've been a thing.
The little black strip with the drive's name on it is actually a very thin copper heatsink. Passive heatsinks still need some air passing directly over them, and with the setup as is, there's a lack of active airflow here.
Then it gets worse when you use your 3090, as it takes a dump(heat) on the little drive.


I suggest moving the drive to that secondary slot below the gpu, if possible. There's an external M.2 heatsink that you can use on top of the drive, plus with the proximity to the gpu's fans, they'll pull the heat off it fairly quickly.

Thank you for your reply.

I don't see another place to plug the SSD on my motherboard, below the GPU. Puting an external heatsink is an option, but after using Samsung Magician, which says 67°C (for 1st drive) is "normal", I am wondering if there is a problem at all with my temps. Though 2nd drive temperature at around 90°C seems high (and it is signaled in red on HWINFO and Crystaldisk).

What do you think? Maybe there is no problem at all in the first place.

 

[kriptoverse]

Agreed. Move M.2 drive to lower slot under heatsink.

Note doing this, disables SATA ports SATA6G_56.

I don't see another slot under the GPU on my motherboard honestly.

Plus, my GPU's fan is not moving at IDLE, when I am browsing the internet for instance (which I am mostly doing on my computer). so, I don't see a reason why my 2nd drive temp on my SSD is at around 90°C...

 

[SkyNetRising]

I don't see another slot under the GPU on my motherboard honestly.

It's under a heatsink at the bottom of the board.

 

[Phaaze88]

I don't see another place to plug the SSD on my motherboard, below the GPU.

Spoiler

See what the number 2 is highlighting? That rectangular piece is also a NVMe heatsink.

after using Samsung Magician, which says 67°C (for 1st drive) is "normal", I am wondering if there is a problem at all with my temps. Though 2nd drive temperature at around 90°C seems high (and it is signaled in red on HWINFO and Crystaldisk).

What do you think? Maybe there is no problem at all in the first place.

I use Samsung Magician too. It does not report the controller's temperature, just the NAND. [Why Samsung, WHY?!]
Looking at HWINFO for my own 970 Pro 512GB for DT1 and 2, they're sitting around 35 and 40C respectively.
Mobo is X299 Prime Deluxe - has two M.2 slots, only one has a heatsink provided(in use). I took Samsung's heatsink off and only used paste on the controller - purely out of curiosity, it was fine even before that.

 

[kriptoverse]

I want to thank everyone for the help.

I think that moving the SSD to under the GPU is a possibility. However, for now, I decided to leave it where it is, because Samsung magician says the temperature is "normal". I have also read on the Samsung forum that the 970 EVO plus seems to be getting hotter for other people as well (even though slightly less than me still). So, I guess I shouldn't worry too much, as long as the SSD works fine and that it is in "good condition" according to Samsung Magician.

My last question is, if my SSD starts to be degrading because of the heat, will all my files be suddenly lost or will I have the possibility to back up my files on a new SSD before it completely fails? Is there any early warning from windows in case my SSD starts to degrade, so that I have enough time ahead to back up the files?

Thank you again and I wish you all a great week ahead!

 

[Lafong]

My last question is, if my SSD starts to be degrading because of the heat, will all my files be suddenly lost or will I have the possibility to back up my files on a new SSD before it completely fails? Is there any early warning from windows in case my SSD starts to degrade, so that I have enough time ahead to back up the files?

Your files should be backed up regardless, if they have any value to you.

Quite possibly to two different locations, depending on how irreplaceable they are.

Any failure on an SSD could well be without warning.

It's rank speculation whether or not temperature X will cause your drive to fail sooner than temperature X minus 10.

 

[geofelt]

It is a basic principle that to protect any data that you do not want to lose, you must back it up to an EXTERNAL device.