Rpi2 cooling

Question

Hello everybody (and sorry for my bad english),

I'm currently working on cooling system for Rpi2 to overclock it a bit. I'm already owner of older model (just B) where are 3 "chips" I'm cooling (CPU/GPU/RAM, ethernet and input voltage regulator) all on front side. On this new B2 model, front side only contains CPU/GPU and ethernet controler and RAM is from bottom side... The question is, if the RAM temperature will increase too, if CPU will be overclocked (i guess yes...)... so is it necessary to cool RAM too? (if there will be a cooler on the bottom of rpi, I would have to mod whole box to fit it in...)

Thank you for your help and suggestions.

sthibaud · Accepted Answer

Hi, Sure that overclocking will increase RAM Chip temperature. It is placed on rear face to optimize bus speed with the SoC. Makes cooling more harder. But it will depend the overclocking mod that you will apply (frequency and/or voltage, the second will have a bigger impact on temperature) Without goal of overclocking (as PI2 matches my needs as is), I currently use heatsink on SoC only and Cooling Case with a noiseless tiny fan (powered by GPIO port). Regards,

clem57 · Answer

I have built a few desktop intel computers and can say the memory will heat up, but not to the say degree as the CPU/GPU chips. It will get hotter underneath for sure, so leave some room for air to flow.

sthibaud · Answer

Hi, It seems also that network chip (usb, ethernet), can heat too. Give a look on the thermal pic below. Maybe i will plan to use a second heatsink on it.

gdstew · Answer

@ Clem It is also the Ethernet controller which uses the USB bus to communicate with the Broadcom SoC. On the overall subject: All IC's are designed to run fairly hot. The lowest temperature grade for most ICs is commercial with a maximum die temperature of 70 deg. C (158 deg. F). For industrial grade ICs it is 85 deg. C (175 deg. F), and for military grade it is 125 deg. C (250 deg. F, OUCH). Note that even the lowest of these temperatures will feel uncomfortably hot on bare skin. I believe that the Broadcom SoCs are industrial grade, if the software is enabled it will throttle the clock when the die reaches 85 deg. C. If you are overclocking or running it in high ambient temperatures extra cooling is a good idea because it allows the IC package to dissipate the heat of the die more efficiently. Otherwise it should be fine as is.