Rock 3A heats up significantly

#1

Friends, please tell me this question. It is believed that the RK3568 chipset does not heat up much compared to the RK3399. But I observe such a situation.

Rock 3A heats up significantly, even in mode when there is no active load on the CPU (GNOME desktop is running and that’s it). I thought maybe it was due to some bugs in the Linux kernel. But, I have tried different distributions (ubuntu, debian, armbian, manjaro) and have upgraded kernels to newer versions several times. Nothing changed.

Moreover, the heating is so strong that even the SSD through the connector and the cable heats up significantly, too, although there is no load on it.

What temperature is considered acceptable for a short period of time (at full load), and what temperature is normal in light load mode for this board?

1 Like
#2

Are you able to provide some real data?

Don’t know whether Radxa’s OS images contain diagnose tools but at least with Armbian you could run armbianmonitor -m to provide data. Unfortunately nobody maintains this tool any more since many years so thermal readouts may be wrong with more recent devices.

In such a situation sbc-bench -m could help

#3

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The board has been standing idle since yesterday evening. The desktop is just launched and that’s it. The temperature in the region of 50 degrees (not lower) is constantly kept. Is that how it should be?

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#4

How does this look like (most probably you need to become root before):

ls -la /etc/armbianmonitor/datasources/soctemp

If that reads /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/temp1_input then please provide output from this as well:

cat /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/name /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/type 2>/dev/null
#5

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I did not quite understand what exactly should be clear after these actions. What should be the result? What conclusions can be drawn from this information? Can you please explain?

#7

Just a quick look whether Armbian picked up the correct thermal sensor (and they did by accident since nobody adjusted the code for reality with new boards for several years).

~50°C looks good to me in case your board doesn’t wear a heatsink:

Other ROCK 3A numbers (part of sbc-bench’s results collection, so I have just data but no idea how the individual testers cooled their boards or how ambient temps look like. With the 2 other RK3568 devices it’s at least clear since R5S comes in a metal enclosure designed to dissipate the heat away and ODROID-M1 features a huge passive heatsink):

tk@gaia:~/sbc-bench-results$ grep "Rock 3A" *.txt | cut -f1 -d':' | while read ; do grep -A 5 "Thermal source" $REPLY; done
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
16:43:05: 1992MHz  0.42   7%   0%   6%   0%   0%   0%  48.9°C
Thermal source: /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/ (cpu_thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
22:50:19: 1992MHz  0.83   4%   2%   2%   0%   0%   0%  41.9°C
Thermal source: /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/ (cpu_thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
17:29:43: 1992MHz  1.04  19%   3%  15%   0%   0%   0%  40.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/ (cpu_thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
15:50:02: 1992MHz  0.65   3%   1%   1%   0%   0%   0%  38.9°C
Thermal source: /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/ (cpu_thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
15:08:28: 1992MHz  0.48   4%   1%   3%   0%   0%   0%  55.6°C
Thermal source: /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/ (cpu_thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
19:51:32: 1992MHz  0.92   4%   1%   2%   0%   0%   0%  50.0°C

No idea about the cooling solutions. If it reads soc_thermal then it’s RK’s BSP kernel (4.19 or 5.10) when it reads cpu_thermal it’s mainline kernel.

Comparison with two other RK3568 boards:

NanoPi R5S:

tk@gaia:~/sbc-bench-results$ grep "R5S" *.txt | cut -f1 -d':' | while read ; do grep -A 5 "Thermal source" $REPLY; done
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
10:43:22: 1992MHz  1.05  21%   4%  16%   0%   0%   0%  41.9°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
10:43:22: 1992MHz  1.05  21%   4%  16%   0%   0%   0%  41.9°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
11:27:26: 1992MHz  0.39  28%   0%  27%   0%   0%   0%  44.4°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
11:27:26: 1992MHz  0.39  28%   0%  27%   0%   0%   0%  44.4°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
07:26:13: 1992MHz  1.04  17%   3%  12%   0%   0%   0%  51.2°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
07:26:13: 1992MHz  1.04  17%   3%  12%   0%   0%   0%  51.2°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
15:43:00: 1992MHz  0.85  15%   5%   5%   0%   2%   1%  40.6°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
15:43:00: 1992MHz  0.85  15%   5%   5%   0%   2%   1%  40.6°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
07:05:24: 1992MHz  0.39   2%   0%   2%   0%   0%   0%  43.8°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
07:05:24: 1992MHz  0.39   2%   0%   2%   0%   0%   0%  43.8°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
06:01:40: 1992MHz  1.12   1%   0%   1%   0%   0%   0%  45.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
06:01:40: 1992MHz  1.12   1%   0%   1%   0%   0%   0%  45.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
07:34:36: 1992MHz  1.22   4%   0%   3%   0%   0%   0%  47.8°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
07:34:36: 1992MHz  1.22   4%   0%   3%   0%   0%   0%  47.8°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:23:43: 1992MHz  0.34   4%   0%   4%   0%   0%   0%  45.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:23:43: 1992MHz  0.34   4%   0%   4%   0%   0%   0%  45.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:55:05: 1992MHz  0.40   5%   0%   5%   0%   0%   0%  46.1°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:55:05: 1992MHz  0.40   5%   0%   5%   0%   0%   0%  46.1°C

ODROID-M1:

tk@gaia:~/sbc-bench-results$ grep "ODROID-M1" *.txt | cut -f1 -d':' | while read ; do grep -A 5 "Thermal source" $REPLY; done
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:17:21: 1992MHz  1.00  21%   2%  18%   0%   0%   0%  42.5°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:17:21: 1992MHz  1.00  21%   2%  18%   0%   0%   0%  42.5°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:46:57: 1992MHz  0.23   4%   1%   3%   0%   0%   0%  44.4°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:46:57: 1992MHz  0.23   4%   1%   3%   0%   0%   0%  44.4°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
14:19:24: 1992MHz  0.15   0%   0%   0%   0%   0%   0%  30.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
14:19:24: 1992MHz  0.15   0%   0%   0%   0%   0%   0%  30.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
14:45:49: 1992MHz  0.23   8%   2%   5%   0%   0%   0%  29.4°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
14:45:49: 1992MHz  0.23   8%   2%   5%   0%   0%   0%  29.4°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
03:56:47: 1992MHz  0.94   2%   0%   1%   0%   0%   0%  41.9°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
03:56:47: 1992MHz  0.94   2%   0%   1%   0%   0%   0%  41.9°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
16:23:43: 1992MHz  1.10   4%   0%   3%   0%   0%   0%  45.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
16:23:43: 1992MHz  1.10   4%   0%   3%   0%   0%   0%  45.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
23:51:50: 1992MHz  0.67   4%   1%   2%   0%   0%   0%  33.1°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
23:51:50: 1992MHz  0.67   4%   1%   2%   0%   0%   0%  33.1°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (cpu-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time      CPU n/a    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
13:08:28:   ---      0.21  65%   1%  62%   0%   0%   0%  36.1°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (cpu-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time      CPU n/a    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
13:08:28:   ---      0.21  65%   1%  62%   0%   0%   0%  36.1°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (cpu-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time      CPU n/a    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
12:20:41:   ---      2.79  83%   1%  80%   0%   0%   1%  37.8°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (cpu-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time      CPU n/a    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
12:20:41:   ---      2.79  83%   1%  80%   0%   0%   1%  37.8°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (cpu-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time      CPU n/a    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:20:30:   ---      0.24   7%   2%   5%   0%   0%   0%  37.2°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (cpu-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time      CPU n/a    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
08:20:30:   ---      0.24   7%   2%   5%   0%   0%   0%  37.2°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
01:13:53: 1992MHz  0.83   6%   1%   3%   0%   0%   0%  35.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
01:13:53: 1992MHz  0.83   6%   1%   3%   0%   0%   0%  35.0°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
13:50:46: 1992MHz  1.34   6%   1%   4%   0%   0%   0%  36.7°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
13:50:46: 1992MHz  1.34   6%   1%   4%   0%   0%   0%  36.7°C
Thermal source: /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/ (cpu_thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
21:25:38: 1992MHz  1.10   0%   0%   0%   0%   0%   0%  28.9°C
Thermal source: /sys/class/hwmon/hwmon0/ (cpu_thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
21:25:38: 1992MHz  1.10   0%   0%   0%   0%   0%   0%  28.9°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
18:34:46: 1992MHz  1.52   3%   0%   2%   0%   0%   0%  36.7°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (soc-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
18:34:46: 1992MHz  1.52   3%   0%   2%   0%   0%   0%  36.7°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (cpu-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
16:54:45: 1992MHz  1.69  15%   4%  11%   0%   0%   0%  37.8°C
Thermal source: /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/ (cpu-thermal)

System health while running tinymembench:

Time        CPU    load %cpu %sys %usr %nice %io %irq   Temp
16:54:45: 1992MHz  1.69  15%   4%  11%   0%   0%   0%  37.8°C

At least ODROID-M1 temps are generally lower. The thermal value reported above is when sbc-bench starts so the reported value is slightly above idle temps.

1 Like
#8

I will think about heat dissipation through the radiator.
Thanks for your help.

#9

All those temps seems perfectly okay to me. Use a bigger heatsink maybe. Also, use schedutil governor.