Aqua Computer Also Announces the kryoM.2 EVO Performance SSD Cooler and Riser

[btarunr]

Almost one year ago Aqua Computer launched the kryoM.2 for the first time: an adapter card with passive heat sink for M.2 SSDs. The popularity of M.2 SSDs continues to grow and the thermal problems of these small ultrafast drives will continue too. Aqua Computer has put a lot of development energy into an improved version: the kryoM.2 evo.

The kryoM.2 evo is a high-quality PCIe card that is capable of maximizing the performance of M.2 SSDs. To achieve this, Aqua Computer drastically increased the size of the main heat sink. A second smaller heat sink has been integrated to the backside of the board. This patent-protected system encloses the SSD between these two heat sinks and also cools it from both sides.



Key features of kryoM.2 evo:

• Large passive cooler with improved cooling capacity for the upper side of the SSD
• First-time integrated heat sink for SSD back-cooling
• Configurable LED lighting and additional activity indicator on the backside
• Silicone mat protects the SSD from environmental influences and serves as a light guide for the LEDs
• Impedance controlled for high signal quality, high data rates and to avoid read/write errors
• PCIe connector with hard gold coating
• Fully gold-plated PCB
• Slot panel with improved ventilation

A ring around the passive heat sink with orange-colored LEDs illuminates the kryoM.2 evo. The lighting can be configured with a sliding switch in three modes:

• LEDs permanently on
• LEDs permanently off
• LEDs are controlled by the activity of the SSD

In addition, there is a small SSD logo on the back, which always lights up during activity. This logo is discreetly illuminated through the board with four LEDs.

Delivery will begin in early April, but orders can be already placed in Aqua Computers Webshop. The price for the kryoM.2 evo is 34.90 Euro. The previous kryoM.2 adapter is not replaced by the evo series and remains available.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

is that being sold just in EU?

 

[natr0n]

Brilliantly designed.

 

[InVasMani]

I don't know why they didn't make it so the heat sink fins don't channel the air out of the back of the case that's a bit of a design flaw that was overlooked, but still plenty effective I'm regardless.

 

[Caring1]

It looks like a George Foreman grill, and they expect it to keep the SSD cooler?
I'm not sure how encasing something in metal helps cooling, I'd like to see tests first.

 

[londiste]

I don't know why they didn't make it so the heat sink fins don't channel the air out of the back of the case that's a bit of a design flaw that was overlooked, but still plenty effective I'm regardless.

trying to keep fins vertical to get that little bit of aid from convection for when case has no good airflow?

I'm not sure how encasing something in metal helps cooling, I'd like to see tests first.

err... more dissipation area? that metal is much larger than surface of ssd itself, plus fins.

 

[Caring1]

err... more dissipation area? that metal is much larger than surface of ssd itself, plus fins.

I understand the concept that is often touted as the reason, yet fail to see how stifling adequate air flow over the unit aids in cooling, especially without direct contact with the metal housing.

 

[Basard]

Brilliantly designed.

For a change... Amazing!

 

[Caring1]

OMG, they even list water blocks for the original version prior to the LED craze.

 

[iO]

The irony of how the industry came up with the tiny M.2 standard to get rid of the bulky PCIe cards...

...especially without direct contact with the metal housing.

What do you think those big grey thermal pads are for?

 

[hyp36rmax]

It looks like a George Foreman grill, and they expect it to keep the SSD cooler?
I'm not sure how encasing something in metal helps cooling, I'd like to see tests first.

Sure! I did a test comparing a couple PCIe based add-on cards and the Angelbird PX1. Really does help. I'm sure this Aqua Computer model should see a decrease in temps on load as well. Can be negligible, but in the whole scheme of things you should get the most benefit of minimizing throttling due to the lower temps.

Source: http://www.overclock.net/t/1591795/build-log-caselabs-mercury-s5-projectevo/50_50#post_25172007

 

[PLAfiller]

I like it, the lights are nifty too. I am not sure about the form factor. I think I'd take a low profile one.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

most benefit of minimizing throttling due to the lower temps.

if a cooler stops this, its worth getting.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

I understand the concept that is often touted as the reason, yet fail to see how stifling adequate air flow over the unit aids in cooling, especially without direct contact with the metal housing.

The same way a CPU heatsink works? Have you ever seen passive PC builds?

 

[InVasMani]

trying to keep fins vertical to get that little bit of aid from convection for when case has no good airflow?

err... more dissipation area? that metal is much larger than surface of ssd itself, plus fins.

If you really wanted better convection I would think switching the fin orientation so it channels the heat from the fins out the back more naturally makes a hell of a lot more sense myself. The way it's setup it is just keeping more waste heat inside the PC case itself at least in a typical case. It looks like it would work better for a rack case than a conventional case. Normally you'd want the heat sink fins to let the waste heat flow out the back toward the direction of the mounting bracket which it clearly is not doing.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

If you really wanted better convection I would think switching the fin orientation so it channels the heat from the fins out the back more naturally makes a hell of a lot more sense myself. The way it's setup it is just keeping more waste heat inside the PC case itself at least in a typical case. It looks like it would work better for a rack case than a conventional case. Normally you'd want the heat sink fins to let the waste heat flow out the back toward the direction of the mounting bracket which it clearly is not doing.

A case with some good airflow works well enough since there is not a large amount of heat coming off there. Which explains why they designed it without a fan.

 

[InVasMani]

A case with some good airflow works well enough since there is not a large amount of heat coming off there. Which explains why they designed it without a fan.

I know that I said originally it probably works effectively enough regardless it just looks like it was a overlooked design decision and one you wouldn't normally expect because it makes no sense to do it that way for a normal case though for rack mount cases actually makes more sense. If you look at the heats sinks on video cards they all align to flow out the back of the mounting bracket. Since you mentioned a fan if you were to put a top down cooler on it the airflow wouldn't be redirected out the back of the case. Current NVMe drives though don't require that kind of ventilation however so no big deal even passively cooled it's probably somewhat overkill to prevent any kind of throttling due to heat output on the best M.2 drvies.