Aspire 7 A715-42G-R20C SSD overheating

Callistemon

I was trying to connect an old internal HDD through USB and wipe free space using <cipher /w:D> when the command actually started wiping the free space on the internal SSD (C:) instead. This new Acer Aspire 7 A715-42G-R20C has a 512 GB M.2 SSD from SK Hynix that overheated to a scalding 68 degrees Celsius under full write load, and just stayed at that temperature even with both fans set to 80%. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor is highly efficient and never exceeds 65 degrees under full load, but the SSD explodes to scalding temperatures in just a few seconds. It only operates at less than 400 MB/s because of the overheating, which is not much higher than HDDs, and cannot operate at the advertised speed in open air without overheating. The write speed dropped down to 35 MB/s, which is far slower than an old 5400 RPM HDD at 103 MB/s. It is a myth that SSDs are more reliable than a high quality HDD, are cooler, or "quieter" when the fans need to spin faster than an HDD platter. If this model had an HDD slot, I would pull out the SSD and install a nice set of pristine platters spinning at 7200 RPM.

brummyfan2

Hi,
Give this a try, unscrew the retaining screw of the SSD to make little space between the SSD and the motherboard but make sure that you don't over do it, when you unscrew it the ssd will raise slightly and create a small space for airflow.

Callistemon

brummyfan2 said:

Hi,
Give this a try, unscrew the retaining screw of the SSD to make little space between the SSD and the motherboard but make sure that you don't over do it, when you unscrew it the ssd will raise slightly and create a small space for airflow.

Aren't the hottest parts already facing outward though? I will try opening the cover, but will opening it void the (stingy) 15-day return policy?

Callistemon

brummyfan2 said:

Hi,
Give this a try, unscrew the retaining screw of the SSD to make little space between the SSD and the motherboard but make sure that you don't over do it, when you unscrew it the ssd will raise slightly and create a small space for airflow.

The SSD stick already forms a bridge that leaves a 1/8" gap underneath. Maybe I could add a 2.5" HDD platter over the SSD that also extends slightly over the copper plate and fan opening, but that would require using thermal paste on the SSD and removing the label.

Callistemon

So today the SSD gradually and then completely froze up for an entire hour while running an antivirus scan using Bitdefender. If the SSD was writing anything while it was shut off, it would already be corrupt in about a month. At the same time, an HDD in an older laptop is still fully functional after 9 years and multiple unexpected power loss incidents. The SSD is slow and is constantly overheating. It freezes up intermittently under normal usage when the other components like the processor and memory are plenty. An HDD is drastically superior or equal in just about every possible way except for shock and altitude tolerance. Because of the pathetic 15-day return policy on the Stingy Acer Store, I cannot return this device that has no HDD slot for inserting a tried-and-true spinning platter.

• SSDs are not more reliable than a good HDD. Cheap HDDs drag down the reliability impression of HDDs.
• HDDs can write quickly for several minutes without overheating. SSDs start out extremely fast, but scald and choke immediately.
• SSDs are very loud to cool down, and it is much quieter to spin a platter at 5,400 RPM than a fan at 5,400 RPM.
• SSDs spread confidential files around over time from rewriting blocks, and need to be completely wiped, which wears them out.
• Of course, SSDs corrupt on power loss or even just data disconnection, whereas HDDs have loads of impressive protections.
• Newer HDDs can be dropped onto soft surfaces. Power loss is much more likely to occur than drops onto hard surfaces.
• High-altitude applications should use helium HDDs. No need for SSDs in that case either.

I Want An HDD. SSDs are obsolete and the Revolutionary Platter will always remain Best.