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Remove heatsink from SSUBX storage?

U

uehithneu

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Original poster
May 19, 2018
74
37
Readers, do you know about removing heatsinks? Would you please give me suggestions?

I purchased on eBay a Samsung SSUBX drive, which comes from a Mac Pro and so is enveloped (partially) by a heatsink. The width of the heatsink--in this case I use the word 'width' to refer to the small dimension -- i.e., the distance between long edges of a rectangle--is too big to fit in my 11-inch MBA (Y2013).

How can I remove the heatsink without damaging the drive?

Thanks for reading!

[This message posted also in MacBook Air + MacBook Pro subforums.]
 
uehithneu said:
Readers, do you know about removing heatsinks? Would you please give me suggestions?

I purchased on eBay a Samsung SSUBX drive, which comes from a Mac Pro and so is enveloped (partially) by a heatsink. The width of the heatsink--in this case I use the word 'width' to refer to the small dimension -- i.e., the distance between long edges of a rectangle--is too big to fit in my 11-inch MBA (Y2013).

How can I remove the heatsink without damaging the drive?

Thanks for reading!

[This message posted also in MacBook Air + MacBook Pro subforums.]
Click to expand...

If you're talking about a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter that usually looks like a large heat sink, then flip it over, there's usually 4 screws on the bottom of it that hold the drive into the adapter.

https://skinflint.co.uk/western-digital-wd-icepack-wdsl004b-a882386.html

If you're talking about an adapter like the link above, see where the holes in the bottom are? That's how the drive is held in.
 
Last edited:
flyinmac, thank you for this response. Sad to say I am indeed talking about heatsink not about adapter. [I've not ever uploaded files to this forum and so let's hope the following images are visible!]



s-l1600.jpg
s-l1600b.jpg


Beetstech 'ultimate guide' page talks about 'extremely strong thermally conductive adhesive' and so I worry there might not be an easy way to remove heatsink from SSUBX?

> The Mac Pro supports all capacities (128GB – 1TB) of Gen. 3 SSDs, but originally included drives with heatsinks that are attached with an extremely strong thermally conductive adhesive. It’s generally a safe bet that if Apple’s engineers decided it was necessary, it’s probably necessary, but it’s worth mentioning that the Mac Pros can use SSDs without heatsinks found in the other devices, and our internal testing showed absolutely no difference in SSD temperature when using drives with and without heatsinks, even under stress test conditions.

So..yes..because heatsink increases the footprint of SSD-in-laptop, the SSD becomes too big for my 11-inch MacBook Air. eBay seller's page listed my computer as one that's compatible with the product and so I'm bummed!

Anybody knows how I can remove the heatsink without damaging the drive?

Thanks for reading!
 
Last edited:
I’ve never seen anything like that installed in a Mac Pro unless it was the trash can styled one.

If it’s glued to the heat sink, then it’s probably not coming off without something breaking.

Thermally conductive adhesive can be something similar to epoxy.
 
uehithneu said:
Readers, do you know about removing heatsinks? Would you please give me suggestions?

I purchased on eBay a Samsung SSUBX drive, which comes from a Mac Pro and so is enveloped (partially) by a heatsink. The width of the heatsink--in this case I use the word 'width' to refer to the small dimension -- i.e., the distance between long edges of a rectangle--is too big to fit in my 11-inch MBA (Y2013).

How can I remove the heatsink without damaging the drive?

Thanks for reading!

[This message posted also in MacBook Air + MacBook Pro subforums.]
Click to expand...


I think Apple used the adhesive on this drive, so in my opinion I would avoid an attempt to remove it. You most likely will damage the
chip, because the solder points might be weaker then the adhesive glue. What I would probably consider is to use a dremel grinding wheel and cut off the extended size, so it can fit the laptop.
The question is however, do you have a dremel tool and will it be flat enough for the laptop. The additional thickness might be a problem.
So you might as well consider to put it on eBay and buy an OWC version flash drive that is designed for the Macbook Air as an upgrade.
 
uehithneu said:
Readers, do you know about removing heatsinks? Would you please give me suggestions?

I purchased on eBay a Samsung SSUBX drive, which comes from a Mac Pro and so is enveloped (partially) by a heatsink. The width of the heatsink--in this case I use the word 'width' to refer to the small dimension -- i.e., the distance between long edges of a rectangle--is too big to fit in my 11-inch MBA (Y2013).

How can I remove the heatsink without damaging the drive?

Thanks for reading!

[This message posted also in MacBook Air + MacBook Pro subforums.]
Click to expand...

You can remove the heatsink with sharp snapp-off utility knife. Start cutting gently from rear of the drive and work your way towards the front. Avoid twisting or bending so you won't damage the drive and/or snap the blade.
 
Update; I recently removed the heatsink from a SSD in order to fit the SSD in a MacBook Air. Using a long bladed utility knife, the process was pretty easy, done in about two minutes, and left no residue on the SSD and no damage to either the SSD or the heat shield.
 
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