Tested: Arctic M2 Pro in database of 80 SSD coolers

Conclusion

Arctic also offers SSD coolers. One of the leading brands is betting on low price, excellent compatibility and it also seems the visual impression is also important. However, the emphasis is also on high cooling performance and that the “improvement”, or reduction of (SSD) temperatures compared to a solution without a cooler is significant. What does this mean? For example, even minus 30 degrees Celsius.

Conclusion

As always in reaching a verdict, it is appropriate to look at things from several perspectives. Arctic’s solution (M2 Pro) doesn’t come close to the best performing SSD coolers, but that wasn’t the goal either. There are many significantly more powerful coolers, but often also more expensive. Although this doesn’t have to be the rule. For example, the even cheaper Axagon CLR-M2L10 has higher cooling performance than the Arctic M2 Pro. But it doesn’t have a backplate, which on some motherboards can compensate for various design flaws impairing contact with the SSD, which doesn’t happen with the Arctic cooler. By design flaws (of motherboards) in this context we mean potentially bent PCB (this is to some extent shaped by the mounting system in the case) or possibly non-parallel position of the SSD in relation to its cooler. We wrote more on this topic in the article Analysis: What have we learned from motherboard tests.

The above influences may reduce the efficiency of the cooler by causing less heat to be absorbed by the passive due to weaker contact. Arctic M2 Pro is not affected by this – it has a backplate. And coolers with backplates are naturally a bit more expensive, which is the case with the BeQuiet! MC1 as well. The Arctic cooler, in terms of cooling performance, is on par with it. This is also at a comparable height (approx. 10.5 mm). Of the coolers that are a hair smaller and for similar money to what you’d pay for the Arctic M2 Pro, while their cooling performance is comparable, there’s the Akasa Gecko Pro or Gelid IceCap, for example. The latter (Gelid IceCap) also shares the extra-fast boltless mounting with the Arctic M2 Pro.

We mentioned that Arctic isn’t attacking the top positions of the SSD cooler rankings with the M2 Pro cooler… it doesn’t have the design features, and thus the ambition, to do so. We assume that the key will be to keep SSDs away from critical temperatures at the lowest possible price. And minus 28°C on the controller of the 6-watt Samsung 980 Pro is a good result. On SSDs with higher temperatures, the drop in temperatures is likely to be even more pronounced. Although, it depends on several factors.

From the performance tests we can conclude that the Arctic M2 Pro cooler works well and if you’re impressed by its appearance, you can’t go wrong with it, that is if we’re talking about cooling performance for SSDs typically without their own cooler (on the motherboard). However, don’t count on the fact that using the Arctic M2 Pro will automatically lead to better results than what is achieved with built-in coolers on motherboards. This may be the case (and the Arctic M2 Pro will cool better), but it also may not. The extensive comparison database, which is mostly made up of the results of coolers that come with motherboards, will tell you more about this.

A significant portion of SSD coolers on motherboards have lower cooling performance than the Arctic M2 Pro, but there are also quite a few that do the opposite (and have higher cooling performance). However, for situations where the M.2 slot does not have its own cooler, the Arctic M2 pro is suitable. The only exceptions are cases where, for some reason, the cooler would interfere with surrounding components (such as the structure of a PCIe expansion card in the slot above the cooler) or motherboard parts. By these we mean, for example, the tool-less M.2 slot latches, the structure of which can potentially collide with the backplate. This is because the backplate does not have a cutout on either of the shorter sides around the mounting point to the motherboard.

Overall, the Arctic M2 Pro is a commendable cooler. With careful avoidance of the possible complications mentioned above, it does a good job. And that’s at a relatively low price. Although Arctic lists an MSRP of 10 EUR, the cooler was put out with a 50% discount. Based on previous experience and the fact that Arctic products, at least in selected markets, sell well below the manufacturer’s suggested price, we assume that in the long run the Arctic M2 Pro could often be closer to 5 EUR.

English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš

* Immediately after the release, the cooler went to stores at a temporarily reduced, half price of 5 EUR.

• Contents
• Arctic M2 Pro cooler in detail
• Result: SSD temperature
• Conclusion