Pros and Cons of PCIe NVMe M.2 HAT vs BASE

[Jiryn]

Didn't realize when bought that when I was buying parts at Micro Center I grabbed an M.2 BASE instead of a a hat.

I'll be installing either a Crucial 2TB or 4TB NVMe M.2 4x4 SSD into the system

So what are the PROs and CONS of both HATS and BASES
I know these HDs can run quite hot and worried as a base it might not cool correctly.
I see as a top it can have active cooling.

Also, trying to find a good case solution.
I have two cases, the Official Black, and an Aluminum which doesn't support either.

Images of HAT and BASE below.

HAT https://www.amazon.com/iUniker-Raspberry-Pimoroni-Peripheral-Board/dp/B0D948WZJV?crid=31GUPD3Y2N2BO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vVL1UmbFa5vzISKLeUqtpDQ0xPpE9Cf3JKji4EK8e0ftbp9dtXM9TR5VI4o2mjYK6fCFCghn5ckSIoSuoggB2zFmVV4fpd-dMLXna6WhHp4uN9_6iFIYCQXWciaqaG0nTigu4wxlYzEoVpqH1F2OSqAvq3buQDSpwUonx3_CDzAffrbxvREoV0vdWwUxFz-3UR8Tz8UhoeTUKnTOTdNAILM6zTA8V5WPSmvAKcJV0BE.rAw-0MyzHtp6ZU22DiOjMH5EKAmBD7exc2wsCMDeUGI&dib_tag=se&keywords=pi+hat&qid=1737304560&sprefix=pi+hat%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-2

BASE https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/nvme-base?variant=41219587178579

[Jiryn]

@Jiryn just trying to figure out which is better for long term usage, hat or base.

[retropieuser555]

fwiw I've got that base and have been running an nvme drive with it constantly for the past year or there abouts when it was released. Haven't had any significant issues and can't say overheating is much of a concern as the device is rarely turned off and doesn't seem to suffer from overheating problems, that's with the official fan and heat sinks the pi 5 has

[Jiryn]

@retropieuser555 What case are you using with it?

[retropieuser555]

@Jiryn ah I don't use a case at the moment. The only one I've found that'll fit it is apparently the geekworm p580.

So yeah, if you're after with a case get a hat version

[Jiryn]

@retropieuser555
Thank you, I found these

https://a.co/d/9d7bqmC - has SSD and FAN build iN
https://a.co/d/f6FdZ4T - Requires external SSD Hat, oddly the image shows a base as the hat.