$9 Router Cooling (RT-AC68U Example)

[Ole Geiser]

Cooler Master SickleFlow 120mm (Amazon)
Before:
2.4 GHz - 5 GHz - CPU
50 °C - 57 °C - 80 °C
After:
38 °C - 46 °C - 52 °C

 

[Deleted member 22229]

What ever works for you but hanging the fan from the antenna mounts might cause issues down the line and that fan over time will force a lot of dust and dirt into the router. Just saying !

 

[hggomes]

Indeed.

 

[wh7qq]

80 C seems a bit hot for the CPU...are you overclocking it? Go back to default clocking if so...you aren't gaining that much. Be careful if you are powering the fan from the USB hub on the router...that can generate some heat as well or even cause instability if it is taxing the power supply.

I'm always skeptical about the idea of buying a consumer grade router and then cranking up the RF power and overclocking the CPU. Give the design engineers a bit of credit...they design in some headroom but it is a safety/longevity factor, not an invitation to exceed the system's specs.

 

[rtn66uftw]

Maybe getting another fan and mount the fan so that it will blow hot air out?

 

[gatorback]

Very innovative / resourceful. Is this a 12V fan and is the power taken from the router's power supply? How much current does it use?

 

[Engineer]

Many people like the dual fan laptop coolers that run very low power from USB. They are very quiet and lower the temperature quite a bit.

Something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Folding-USB...13-15-17-SP-/181824477991?hash=item2a55955b27

Note: This is not my auction and I'm not recommending this particular unit. Just showing it as an example.

 

[Ole Geiser]

Using dedicated 12v supply, uses 0.35a. No CPU overclock RF power at 50% using. HGG firmware at default settings. It was the CPU temp that got me concerned. Room temps at 81 Deg F. The big drop in temps with this low noise/cfm fan definitely shows me a lack of heat sink size or inadequate cooling design. Yes, dust could become a problem will have to monitor it.

 

[sfx2000]

Was walking thru Fry's this afternoon - in the same aisle/section where the home network stuff was, guess what was there - yep, USB powered external fans...

interesting

 

[martinr]

Cooler Master SickleFlow 120mm (Amazon)
Before:
2.4 GHz - 5 GHz - CPU
50 °C - 57 °C - 80 °C
After:
38 °C - 46 °C - 52 °C
View attachment 4409

View attachment 4410

Interesting. I had a look at mine for comparison (same model), and the temperatures are almost identical. So I had a look at the cpu usage: core 1 was between 0% and 1%, and core 2 was 0%. My router is similarly not overclocked (and, for the reasons outlined in the earlier posts, nor would it ever be). And I assume it's been like that for the past year (since new) without any problems at all.

(By the way, I couldn't help thinking that eBay fan looked a bit like a drone. And, with a laptop sat on top, it had me thinking of Amazon's supposed plans to deliver goods by drone. Sorry, me being a bit fanciful.)

 

[hggomes]

RT-AC68U problem:

http://www.snbforums.com/threads/rt-ac87u-5ghz-band-r-i-p.23183/

Thats from a RT-AC87U issue but theres info and photos of RT-AC68U internal problem.

 

[netwrks]

R7000 running Xvortex / Merlin mod - $20 USB 4 fan laptop cooler
Legend: 2.4 GHz - 5 GHz - CPU
Current Temperatures: disabled - 46 °C - 48 °C

 

[gatorback]

I looked under the Tools menu and it indicated

• Wifi @ 50 degrees celcius
• CPU @ 86 degrees celcius

At what temperature does it warrant consideration for a cooling (fan)? or is there some other criteria?

@Ole Geiser : did you pick off the 12 volts from the router or its power supply? or use a separate power supply?

 

[netwrks]

I looked under the Tools menu and it indicated

• Wifi @ 50 degrees celcius
• CPU @ 86 degrees celcius

At what temperature does it warrant consideration for a cooling (fan)? or is there some other criteria?

@Ole Geiser : did you pick off the 12 volts from the router or its power supply? or use a separate power supply?

If that was my router, I would want to cool it down. Some will say the Temp is ok, but reality is, the cooler the device runs, the longer it lasts..

 

[hggomes]

http://www.snbforums.com/threads/rt-ac87u-5ghz-band-r-i-p.23183/#post-201592

Datasheet reports CPU can work Max Tempeature 124º C.

If that was my router, I would want to cool it down. Some will say the Temp is ok, but reality is, the cooler the device runs, the longer it lasts..

No doubts about it.

 

[gatorback]

"R7000 running Xvortex / Merlin mod - $20 4 fan laptop cooler"
@netwrks : please post photos / parts list of your cooling mod.

 

[Ole Geiser]

Separate power supply (AC adapter) from an old router. Output 12vdc 1A. Cut the 12v plug off, soldered the two connecting wires to the fan, applied shrink tubing to the connections. If you want something more elaborate get a universal AC adapter with selectable voltages from 1.5 or so to 12vdc.

 

[System Error Message]

Those are really good temps that you can overclock it.
You want the CPU to be kept below 80C for longetivity reasons (and to reduce heat build up)
Wifi chips below 50C will be stable.

 

[netwrks]

"R7000 running Xvortex / Merlin mod - $20 4 fan laptop cooler"
@netwrks : please post photos / parts list of your cooling mod.

This should work. Laptop cooler - Also have a 7000 using two of these.. USB dual fans - placed underneath my router blowing upwards. They both work and cool the same. (around 48-51c).

 

[Rankdropper84]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001K21XKS/?tag=snbforums-20

I have two of those fans and they work great. It will include a usb AC adapter. I just plug mine into a powered usb hub which is connected to my router to keep it cool.