Radxa Zero 3W temperatures too high even using the heatsink created especially for the radxa 3W

Zero Series
21

Good luck fixing software bugs ‘via hardware’. Just realized that I even have a Radxa 3W review in my collection: sbc-bench/results/reviews/Radxa-Zero-3W.md at master · ThomasKaiser/sbc-bench · GitHub

With proper settings this board as every other RK3566 device idles below 35°C, so either FreeBSD is overvolting the SoC massively which results in those insanely high temperatures or calibration for the thermal sensor is broken or it’s the wrong sensor or a combination of all these issues.

But be assured: RK3566 with proper settings/software shouldn’t need a heatsink.

22

Hey Mario can u message me on fb I got a question for u if you can run a couple of tests

23

I’ve sent you a private message here.

1 Like
24

Passive cooling with FreeBSD is not enough to reach and keep a cpu temperature of 50 C. So,I will try this new heat sink :

for sure it requires the radxa zero 3W with the gpio pin header expansion. Someone is using an heat sink like that ?

25

I have the same issue, I installed Debian radxa-zero3_bookworm_kde_t1, and is super hot, and I cant touch the sbc, there is a solution to this? I agree with Mario, when you buy a product, it should work correctly.

26

Also I have the same heatsink from Radxa product.

27

Try this :

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005003651858159.html

(case fans).

28

I’m also interested to know what are the pins that I should use to attach the fans to the GPIO header…

29

HDMI output generates a lot of heat (GPU), and adding 1.6 GHz overclocking, you get a high temperature.

To fix this, use the passive heatsink + thermal paste + copper pad.
See the results here:

30

You could attach on (if operates 5v):
pin 4 → +5.0V (red)
pin 6 → GND (black)

or enable output pin 11 → GPIO3_A1 to turn it on / off
pin 11 → +3.3V (red)
pin 9 → GND (black)

31

—> To fix this, use the passive heatsink + thermal paste + copper pad.

I did this on my board with FreeBSD installed. Temp goes from 70 to 60. Not enough for my taste.

I realized that the only method to go from 70 to at least 50,I should use an active cooling. And I found an heatsink that uses two fans. It should work.

32

—> or enable output pin 11 -> GPIO3_A1 to turn it on / off
pin 11 -> +3.3V (red)
pin 9 -> GND (black)

Can u post an image ? I’m not able to understand where are located pin 11 and pin 9 on the space without to see a picture.

33
34

Sorry,I don’t understand from the link you provided. It is too technical for me. I need a picture like this :

4b489a65755fadea0c523b63a0e40c4f638981b4
4b489a65755fadea0c523b63a0e40c4f638981b4500×500 316 KB

35

you should have bought with headers, anyway, same pin positions as RPi 2W (warning!, do it at your own risk):

image
image800×800 60.4 KB

rock3w
rock3w800×800 85.1 KB

36

That’s clear. Thanks.

—> warning !, do it at your own risk)

is it dangerous ? why ?

37

nothing to worry if you know what you’re doing…

38

Let us know Mario if the active cooling fan worked for you?

39

I was thinking to buy the zero pro 2 only because it’s seem have a better cooling system without the need to use active cooling

40

I have only the original Radxa Zero and I am surprised that it has a better performance, lower power consumption and even better CPU temperature than Raspberry Pi Zero 2W when running exactly the same application (50°C Radxa Zero, over 70°C Pi Zero2W) without any heatsink.