Adding a fan?

[ChuckT]

My AC66U lives in a closet, on the top shelf. Lately (this month) I'm seeing an odd thing. We keep losing the wired connection. 2.4 and 5 ghz are OK (for the cell phones and the laptops) but if I crank up the big dog desktop with a wired connection I have to do a reset either of the router or the cable modem or both!
Our ISP is Bright House and they seem to be having problems - techs come to the house will admit it, phone support won't (I know - duh!)
The Router is warm to the touch so I would like to install a small _quiet_ fan on the shelf to provide extra cooling.
Anybody tried this? Worth doing?
Thanks.
Cvt

 

[gbk18030]

I have put my AC87U on top of the platform which was used for cooling one of my notebooks. I also adjusted the router CPU clock to 1.2GHz. At this moment, the router temperature reports only 62 degree.

 

[ChuckT]

Platform - bought one for wifie she's not using (?) Perhaps I can "borrow" it.

 

[JPAC99]

Fry's has Thermaltake Massive V20 for 9.99 after rebate. At this price it's worth a try.
http://www.frys.com/product/8026224?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

[bigal7400]

WARNING what I am about to tell you can damage your router. So, only do this if you know what you are doing!!!!

Ok, so I did not like the temp in my AC-87U so I decided to try a different approach. I opened up the router and added some new "fins".

Stock temps:
120°F (49°C) @ 2.4GHz
152°F (67°C) @ 5GHz
172°F (78°C) @ CPU

With two homemade fins:
116°F (47°C) @ 2.4GHz
142°F (61°C) @ 5GHz
168°F (75°C) @ CPU

I added a third fin that was closer to the underside air inlets on the right Did not take a pick of that yet.
111 °F (44°C) @ 2.4GHz
145 °F (63°C) @ 5GHz
162 °F (72°C) @ CPU

So overall with the case closed I can get the CPU down 10°F (6°C) no added fans.

 

[toor]

WARNING what I am about to tell you can damage your router. So, only do this if you know what you are doing!!!!

Ok, so I did not like the temp in my AC-87U so I decided to try a different approach. I opened up the router and added some new "fins".

Stock temps:
120°F (49°C) @ 2.4GHz
152°F (67°C) @ 5GHz
172°F (78°C) @ CPU

With two homemade fins:
116°F (47°C) @ 2.4GHz
142°F (61°C) @ 5GHz
168°F (75°C) @ CPU

View attachment 3549

I added a third fin that was closer to the underside air inlets on the right Did not take a pick of that yet.
111 °F (44°C) @ 2.4GHz
145 °F (63°C) @ 5GHz
162 °F (72°C) @ CPU

So overall with the case closed I can get the CPU down 10°F (6°C) no added fans.

You are better off since you already have it open to remove the 3 heatsinks and replace the thermal tape with thermal compound. I really dont see how these "fins" will do anything, the more likely culprit of the lower temp is from having the plastic case off. You might have gotten the same results just by pressing down on the heat sinks to get the thermal tape to have better contact.

 

[ml70]

Just buy a cheap USB fan, my AC66U temps under full load went from 55 °C - 65 °C to 49 °C - 59 °C and no more occasional random reboots (it used to do that approx 2 times a month).

 

[sfx2000]

I look at that tin foil pic, and think to myself - not "can", but likely "will" break things - plus/plus for a creative solution perhaps, but it's pretty scary...

I think Toor's advice is better, which is to look carefully at the thermal interface material and improve the contact there, and ml70's comment about a USB powered fan has merit as well...

 

[ChuckT]

Tried to order that fan from Frys without any success maybe closed on Easter weekend?

 

[JPAC99]

Tried to order that fan from Frys without any success maybe closed on Easter weekend?

Frys is closed today.
Amazon has it for 17.51 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IGSATZY/?tag=snbforums-20