http://hexus.net/tech/news/cooling/ 101974-msi-m2-heat-shiel

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http://hexus.net/tech/news/cooling/101974-msi-m2-heat-shield-increases-ssd-temperatures-testing/

>Just ahead of the weekend inquisitive Gamer's Nexus writer Steve Burke published an article about his investigations into MSI's claims regarding its M.2 Heat Shield. Burke reckoned that "The idea that the 'shield' can perform two opposing functions – shielding an SSD from external heat while somehow simultaneously sinking heat from within – seems like it's written by marketing, not by engineering".

>After testing his cynicism looks to have been justified. Burke concludes that "The only thing the M.2 shield is shielding the SSD from is proper cooling. MSI needs to either wrap the entire SSD with the shield and use better interfaces, or needs to ditch the idea altogether." In tests the key observation was that the underside of the SSD was adversely affected by the Heat Shield - it didn't get heat sink contact, and it received poorer airflow. Thus for cooling and reducing the possibility of thermal throttling the MSI M.2 Heat Shield is summed up as a worse than leaving your M.2 drive bare or uncovered.

OK, so who's right?