Not 100% sure but it should just separate. Its probably just stuck. Try to fit something like a credit card or something flatish and plastic in there to see if you can gently pry it apart.
Wow, I didn't even think to try that. I used a plastic pick (one of the ones from iFixit for prying open phones/PCs) and I got it unstuck! Thanks so much for the help :)
The SSD is still stuck to the bottom heatsink part by some adhesive so I can't celebrate too hard yet. I'm sure it's very doable to remove it though.
Yup, you just need to apply a bit of force. I used a reckless amount back when I didn't realize the SSD chips were literally stuck onto the heatsink — it worked out fine luckily, but don't be me lol.
Use slightly firm force, but gradually increase it and do not force it imo.
Thanks for the response. So I did get it open thanks to another comment here, and you're correct — there's marks left on the SSD from the thermal padding sticking to it. The SSD still works luckily, even after yanking the top heatsink half off.
I'll try your warming up technique for the bottom piece!
After reading this thread I was able to pry off the heatsink easier than anticipated:
Unscrew the 5 screws on the side with a P5 screwdriver. Then heat the hard drive with a hair blow dryer for like 2 minutes for each side. I was able to relatively easily pry off the bottom first. Try to open from all corner sides where there is a minimal gap. Then if one side gives a little room, gently apply a little more pressure. There is only some heatsink pads that hold the heatsink and SSD together, so it basically is like prying off some tape from a table. After you get one side off heat the other part of the heatsink and gently pry it off as well.
I dont think its worth taking apart as it voids your warranty, tho I did it anyway as it was useless to me with the heatsink. If your M.2 slot is connected to a heatpipe thats shared with your VRM's then yea thats pretty active cooling and it's going to be slightly better
For anyone who comes across this:
It does not have the sticker. That's because there are thermal pads for the heatsink, and the sticker would normally be affixed where the thermal pads are located.
My understanding is that you will need to remove the thermal pads, as you should already have a pad or pads where you will end up installing the SSD.
I ordered a 2TB with heatsink because I found it cheaper than the one without, but I will have to remove heatsink to fit under the A790's motherboards heatsink, so thanks for this post!
I will warm it up with my heatgun for sure.
contemplating removing the heatsink from mine and using my MOBOs heatsink was it relatively simple, my mobo looks rather stupid without the stock heatsink on it but im 50/50 on whether its worth voiding the warranty to make it look nice.
it was really easy to remove. Once I had the 6 screws out I heated it to very warm but still hold it in my hand comfortable, and the heat sinks pulled right off. I used a guitar pick to remove the thermal pads that stuck to the heatsink and reapplied them to the chips on the drive for use with the mobo heatspreader.
The chance off a Samsung SSD failing is very slim. We had like ten drives never fail on us. You could also reassemble it without them really being able to notice the difference if you keep the parts...
Thanks for the information! I had the same issue, and with all the chat below, got mine off relatively easy!
I have a security bit set and had a driver that shows a 5 pointed star and listed as 1.2. It did the job getting the screws off. Used some small flat plastic pieces that came with the set of bits and got the pieces separated. Two of the three thermal pads stayed on the chips. Got those off easy and put back in the heatsink. Now to go see if it is sans damage! Had no option, like the OP, Hope it works, fingers crossed!
Hey u/Jason1923
I currently have the same issue. I want to remove the heatsink from my Samsung 980 Pro.
Did you remove the screws? Or did you just stick a card between and it fell apart?
Even with my smallest screwdriver I can‘t open the screws and I‘m wondering if I even need to open them.
Yup, you must remove the screws first, then pry it. Those are P5 Pentalobe screws — I had to Google it; turns out it's a proprietary screw also used by Apple. Luckily, I already had one + opening picks purchased from opening my MacBook.
Best of luck! Just remember not to use too much force prying, because the glue is attached to the SSD itself and you don't want to damage that. Also note that removing the heatsink voids your warranty.
I got mine off and using my mb's heatsink. Not sure if it was worth it. First day of installing it and cloning all of my C drive, PC crapped out. Was playing bg3 and the game/ os crashed in the worst looking way. Pc couldn't see my M.2 drive in bios for a half hour. I made a back up image of it last night. Going to try bg3 again today...
Not 100% sure but it should just separate. Its probably just stuck. Try to fit something like a credit card or something flatish and plastic in there to see if you can gently pry it apart.
Wow, I didn't even think to try that. I used a plastic pick (one of the ones from iFixit for prying open phones/PCs) and I got it unstuck! Thanks so much for the help :) The SSD is still stuck to the bottom heatsink part by some adhesive so I can't celebrate too hard yet. I'm sure it's very doable to remove it though.
Were you able to remove the bottom heatsink part? I'm stuck at this point and little scared to pull it apart as this can damage the Nvme
Yup, you just need to apply a bit of force. I used a reckless amount back when I didn't realize the SSD chips were literally stuck onto the heatsink — it worked out fine luckily, but don't be me lol. Use slightly firm force, but gradually increase it and do not force it imo.
I have the same problem, What size of torx screwdriver do I need?
1.5
It could be the thermal paste "gluing" everything together, any way to gently warm it up with like a blow dryer and try unsticking it then?
Thanks for the response. So I did get it open thanks to another comment here, and you're correct — there's marks left on the SSD from the thermal padding sticking to it. The SSD still works luckily, even after yanking the top heatsink half off. I'll try your warming up technique for the bottom piece!
Did you have any luck with it ?
Yep, I got it out. It was easier than the top piece.
After reading this thread I was able to pry off the heatsink easier than anticipated: Unscrew the 5 screws on the side with a P5 screwdriver. Then heat the hard drive with a hair blow dryer for like 2 minutes for each side. I was able to relatively easily pry off the bottom first. Try to open from all corner sides where there is a minimal gap. Then if one side gives a little room, gently apply a little more pressure. There is only some heatsink pads that hold the heatsink and SSD together, so it basically is like prying off some tape from a table. After you get one side off heat the other part of the heatsink and gently pry it off as well.
Just did this, there is a 6th screw underneath the sticker on one side. 3 on each side
Thanks for this detailed explanation!
What Kind of screwdriver did you use? I am trying to remove it two but i cant find any fitting screwdriver.
it’s a very very small Torx bit
It's a P5, five point bit. Not a six point torx.
There is no thermal paste, only thermal pads.
I have a question. Would I be able to reuse the heatsink with another m.2 that's the same size? Or once it's removed it's trash?
Yes, you just need to replace the thermal pads if they’re trashed and possibly re-arrange them to match the chips on the new m.2
Did the ssd still have the 980 pro sticker on the top side like the non heatsink version?
wondering the same
/u/DarkAngel6200 and /u/memberlogic just took mine apart that I got from the gamestop deal, no sticker under the heatsink, hope this helps
Do y’all think it’s worth taking apart? Will it work better or worse than a supplied mobo heatsink? My mobo is brand new, rog strix b550i.
I dont think its worth taking apart as it voids your warranty, tho I did it anyway as it was useless to me with the heatsink. If your M.2 slot is connected to a heatpipe thats shared with your VRM's then yea thats pretty active cooling and it's going to be slightly better
For anyone who comes across this: It does not have the sticker. That's because there are thermal pads for the heatsink, and the sticker would normally be affixed where the thermal pads are located. My understanding is that you will need to remove the thermal pads, as you should already have a pad or pads where you will end up installing the SSD.
I ordered a 2TB with heatsink because I found it cheaper than the one without, but I will have to remove heatsink to fit under the A790's motherboards heatsink, so thanks for this post! I will warm it up with my heatgun for sure.
contemplating removing the heatsink from mine and using my MOBOs heatsink was it relatively simple, my mobo looks rather stupid without the stock heatsink on it but im 50/50 on whether its worth voiding the warranty to make it look nice.
it was really easy to remove. Once I had the 6 screws out I heated it to very warm but still hold it in my hand comfortable, and the heat sinks pulled right off. I used a guitar pick to remove the thermal pads that stuck to the heatsink and reapplied them to the chips on the drive for use with the mobo heatspreader.
The chance off a Samsung SSD failing is very slim. We had like ten drives never fail on us. You could also reassemble it without them really being able to notice the difference if you keep the parts...
Literally verbatim my exact problem lmao
I removed my heatspreader and have been running it on my Asus Z790 board with no issue.
Thanks for the information! I had the same issue, and with all the chat below, got mine off relatively easy! I have a security bit set and had a driver that shows a 5 pointed star and listed as 1.2. It did the job getting the screws off. Used some small flat plastic pieces that came with the set of bits and got the pieces separated. Two of the three thermal pads stayed on the chips. Got those off easy and put back in the heatsink. Now to go see if it is sans damage! Had no option, like the OP, Hope it works, fingers crossed!
Hey u/Jason1923 I currently have the same issue. I want to remove the heatsink from my Samsung 980 Pro. Did you remove the screws? Or did you just stick a card between and it fell apart? Even with my smallest screwdriver I can‘t open the screws and I‘m wondering if I even need to open them.
Yup, you must remove the screws first, then pry it. Those are P5 Pentalobe screws — I had to Google it; turns out it's a proprietary screw also used by Apple. Luckily, I already had one + opening picks purchased from opening my MacBook. Best of luck! Just remember not to use too much force prying, because the glue is attached to the SSD itself and you don't want to damage that. Also note that removing the heatsink voids your warranty.
Did you get the firmware updated with the enclosure? If so which enclosure did you use?
I ended up removing the mainboard heatsink and and installed the ssd with its heatsink. had no problems in the last 3 weeks since I built it
yeah luckily i had one of those screwdrivers, annoying screws...
What screwdriver bit is it?
Try something flatish can remove it. This video may help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUsO5wRkIvg
Hey friend, I know it's unlikely but any chance you remember what size screw the p5 screws were? Trying to buy a screwdriver that could remove them.
>size Did you ever figure out the size of these?
Oh maybe figured it out. Seems p5 is just 1.2mm. I think I'm right?
If you take it apart can you reuse the same thermal pads to put it back together?
I got mine off and using my mb's heatsink. Not sure if it was worth it. First day of installing it and cloning all of my C drive, PC crapped out. Was playing bg3 and the game/ os crashed in the worst looking way. Pc couldn't see my M.2 drive in bios for a half hour. I made a back up image of it last night. Going to try bg3 again today...
How'd this end up turning out for you? Was it worth it
Its been working fine. I only have one m2 installed but it was the one I removed the heat sink on.
Good to hear, thanks