Have you ever constructed a machine not too long ago, loyal HotHardware reader? You probably have, then it in all probability included an M.2 SSD, and if it did, then you definitely’re properly conscious of the annoyance that’s the M.2 screw. Too small for the screwdriver you utilize for the remainder of the PC, and terrifyingly tiny if you happen to drop it on the ground, the screw is decidedly the largest M.2-related nuisance.
It is the form of factor that makes infomercial stars scream, “there needs to be a greater manner!” Nicely, because it seems, there’s, or not less than can be. MSI is debuting a function referred to as “Screwless M.2 Protect Frozr” on its Socket AM5 motherboards. The corporate demonstrated it throughout its livestream again at Computex in Could, however the presenter had some bother with it and it was laborious to see the way it works.
Now, due to Twitter person and occasional leakster chi11eddog (@g01d3nm4ng0 on Twitter), we’ve a number of leaked photos that appear as an example the function in higher element. One seems to be from the product web page of an MSI motherboard, one other one appears prefer it’s a snip from a handbook, and the third seems to be some form of industrial diagram. We’ll embed all of them right here so you’ll be able to eye them up.
It appears just like the system is a complete mount-and-heatsink combo setup, as we do not assume the mount would work correctly with out the heatsink in place. Primarily, you put in the M.2 SSD round a stationary peg, snap a few pegs on the heatsink into the bracket across the M.2 socket, and then you definitely pop the retention peg from the M.2 socket into the opposite finish of the heatsink.
M.2 SSDs can work simply superb and not using a screw holding them down—do not ask how we all know this—so it isn’t like they want a bunch of mounting stress like a CPU heatsink. The heatsink that they are utilizing is sweet and beefy, too, though we want it had fins or not less than ridges to enhance the floor space. Because it stands, the highest of the heatsink is a flat piece of anodized aluminum that does not appear like it can really dissipate a lot warmth.
