AC87u thermal issues?

[cmillar6]

So does the AC87u have overheating issues or not? I have read enough on these forums to have me a little concerned the cooling tape used may be insufficient.
The reason I ask is I'm about to receive my annual bonus and I always treat myself to a new Asus router. I don't want to drop $260 on a router that may have been improperly designed. If this is so I'll wait for the reviews on the AC3200 and just spend the extra $40 on that and bypass the AC87.

 

[L&LD]

Seems like different people get different results.

Your best bet is to buy one and test it out extensively within the return period.

It is the best right now (and I think it will be better than the AC3200 too).

 

[DaveMishSr]

It simply depends on each individual router. My AC87R is doing great, even overclocked to 1200MHz. I also have 2 other scripts loaded that: a) reboot the router every day at 6am and b) load Merlin's fix for the VLAN2 dead loop error message (just hides the error messages). I have all forms of QoS disabled and have both CTF and FA disabled. All is stable, which is why I am a big fan of Merlin's firmwares. The fact that his firmwares have been more stable than Asus' stock firmwares speaks for itself (anyone remember the 376.3602 fiasco on AC68U's?).

 

[Ayatollah Khomaneei]

Buy the AC 3200 or wait for the EA-AC-87....

 

[raphaelogy]

hmm, very dangerous.. haha

without active cooling, resting itself on the table..

 

[System Error Message]

that 5 Ghz will fail soon at that temperature. 2.4Ghz and CPU seem alright.

 

[DaveMishSr]

Simple solution - router stand!

I have been lucky in that my AC87R runs at about 48/58/78°C. However, it did run 2-3°C hotter across the board. My solution is to passively cool the router by constructing a custom-built stand for it (photo attached

).

The materials used were: plain cardboard, Popsicle sticks, empty bathroom tissue tubes (4) & Gorilla Glue. Construction takes about 2 days, 3 at the most if you don't know what you're doing (like me), mostly to allow the glue to fully set up.

Please note: Frogs and monkey are optional and completely unnecessary for the router stand to function properly.

Edit 3/10/15: I have since gone over to active cooling. I bought an USB mini-laptop cooler for $4.55 on eBay from China. It is a dual fan model that fits perfectly under the router's cooling vents.



My current temps with active cooling are:

2.4 GHz: 38°C - 5 GHz: 45°C - CPU: 55°C

 

[bigmag]

Hi
my cooling with FAN2USB - 12 V fan on USB - Adapter Converter and Akasa Slimfan 80mm

2.4 GHz:39°C 5 GHz: 40°C CPU: 56°C

0 Tage 1 Std 4 Minuten 31 Sekunden Runtime

 

[cmillar6]

I have been lucky in that my AC87R runs at about 48/58/78°C. However, it did run 2-3°C hotter across the board. My solution is to passively cool the router by constructing a custom-built stand for it (photo attached

).

The materials used were: plain cardboard, Popsicle sticks, empty bathroom tissue tubes (4) & Gorilla Glue. Construction takes about 2 days, 3 at the most if you don't know what you're doing (like me), mostly to allow the glue to fully set up.

Please note: Frogs and monkey are optional and completely unnecessary for the router stand to function properly.

I admire your creativity however having to put the router up on a stand to get acceptable temperatures suggests to me this router was improperly designed. Results do seem to vary from person to person but I don't want to spend the money on the upgrade and then be the unlucky one. I'll stick with the AC68. As routers begin to get faster processors in them and more powerful hardware all around it seems to me its only a matter of time before a cooling fan is required.

 

[L&LD]

I'm hoping that when a cooling fan will be an actual requirement, the routers will move onto Intel 4-5 watt soc's at the Broadwell or Skylake levels which won't need fans anymore but still be 10x more powerful than what we're currently running.

 

[DaveMishSr]

I admire your creativity however having to put the router up on a stand to get acceptable temperatures suggests to me this router was improperly designed. Results do seem to vary from person to person but I don't want to spend the money on the upgrade and then be the unlucky one. I'll stick with the AC68. As routers begin to get faster processors in them and more powerful hardware all around it seems to me its only a matter of time before a cooling fan is required.

My AC68U cannot compete against the AC87U when it comes to 5GHz performance. Since upgrading to the AC87R I have been able to do away with my range extender. That is because the AC87R covers every square inch of my property. Also, I did not have to construct a stand for my AC87R to cool it as it was running around 50/60/80°C. Now it runs around 48/58/78°C. I built it as I wanted to make sure it would run as cool as possible without an active cooling system. Also, having 2 small shelves of storage directly under the router is very convenient.