New AX86U router..... can't convert to Merlin??

[fubag]

The CPU temperature is greatly affected by the ambient temperature. My AC68U & AX11000 idle at 57C with room temperature at 15C. With USB fans, they idle at 38C. Last Summer the room temperature was above 35C and the AC68U surged above 80C without active cooling when loaded, and around 60C with an USB fan. There are ready made USB fans for your router and aren't expensive. Judging from all the YouTube repairs that I have watched, dead circuits were often due to weakened solder joints and cooked capacitors. The chips themselves can withstand very high temperature but not the surrounding components.

Any suggestions for "ready made fans" for routers?

 

[L&LD]

Yes, don't do it.

No need. Dust collectors/pushers.

Unless your router is in an environment that has the SoC constantly at 90C or hotter, no need. The SoC is designed for 130C (with no harm). Note that throttling/shutdown will occur at temps ~100C.