RT-AX88U Cooling Direction

[immi803]

Hi everyone,

Previously i had bad experience with RT-AC88U whose 2.4ghz radio chip burnt due to excessive heat, leaving it a huge paper weight

Now I've got AX88U and want to understand how it cools and probably I'll add some cooling fans if i understand this
What i perceive if i set two fans underneath it, they should throw air inside the router and one fan on top cover inside yellow looking grill should have a fan as exhaust, i-e sucking air from router

Does it sound fine? Am i taking it right
Someone on forum suggested me all fans throwing inside including top cover one , and one of my friends suggested that all fans should suck air from router

I'm sure someone here just be well knowledgeable and can guide me properly
Thanks

 

[dev_null]

While I don't have this particular router, I have always been of the opinion that pulling air THRU the device is the safest method. You don't create any "cold spots" where the fan may be blowing, thus setting up thermal imbalances, and you aren't blowing dust into the device.

I totally understand that I'm sucking dust through (and I've seen pictures of folks who will wrap their devices in filtering - or pantyhose to accomplish same), but that dust tends to be easily cleaned (vacuum or compressed air).

Probably others will have different approaches.

 

[immi803]

While I don't have this particular router, I have always been of the opinion that pulling air THRU the device is the safest method. You don't create any "cold spots" where the fan may be blowing, thus setting up thermal imbalances, and you aren't blowing dust into the device.

I totally understand that I'm sucking dust through (and I've seen pictures of folks who will wrap their devices in filtering - or pantyhose to accomplish same), but that dust tends to be easily cleaned (vacuum or compressed air).

Probably others will have different approaches.

Your approach creates a well-deserved space for fitting the fans right under the radios and cpu if one exactly knows the exact position, we're supposed to keep them coolest as much as possible, throwing inside favors this
Your point for thermal imbalance also makes a point too, don't know what impact it can make overall, feared that in order to safe a device for long run may make blunders on my part, your approach sounds safe

Also, if we pull air from the part which is made by the sense of taking air inside :/ don't know

Dust part also well catered and no filters or housing is required in taking air out theory is required

Well, thanks for your opinion
Anyone here who well understands the design of Ac88u or ax88u as they both look similar

 

[Deleted member 22229]

Not needed unless your router is in a very hot environment. If your other router failed due to over heating then there was a hardware issue or heat sink problem.

 

[immi803]

Not needed unless your router is in a very hot environment. If your other router failed due to over heating then there was a hardware issue or heat sink problem.

Yes, forgot to mention in first post, weather in summers at my location is extremely hot as well as router placement was done badly on my part years ago (cisco home routers era) regarding heat, all wirings are to that place now

 

[Deleted member 22229]

Well in that case you may need active cooling. What are your CPU and radio temps ?

 

[immi803]

Well in that case you may need active cooling. What are your CPU and radio temps ?

90/92 cpu
62 5ghz
58 2.4ghz

I remember cpu exact (mentioned above) as i plugged in my backup ac68u and don't want to burn another, it was very hot to touch

 

[Deleted member 22229]

Yes that's much to hot. My AX58U runs at 50C CPU radio temps 5 GHz radio at 42C dont use 2 Ghz disabled. My retired AC3100 ran hotter CPU 72-74C but never once had a issue with heat.

 

[thecheapseats]

that ac88 runs too damn hot compared to the two ax88s... put two, 60cfm fans (140mm - blowing up) under each of them and they knocked it down quite a bit... 35-36-46 for 2.4/5/cpu, respectively... definitely necessary on ac88 - you can heat coffee on that thing...

 

[AntonK]

So I finally bit the bullet and bought a small USB-powered fan for my router (see image. Fan's plugged into my router's USB 2.0 port). Within a very short time, my CPU temperature had dropped 40deg F (185 to 145), and my radio temperatures had dropped ~15deg F each as well.

I feel better, and I'm sure my router does too

 

[AntonK]

While I don't have this particular router, I have always been of the opinion that pulling air THRU the device is the safest method. You don't create any "cold spots" where the fan may be blowing, thus setting up thermal imbalances, and you aren't blowing dust into the device.

I totally understand that I'm sucking dust through (and I've seen pictures of folks who will wrap their devices in filtering - or pantyhose to accomplish same), but that dust tends to be easily cleaned (vacuum or compressed air).

Probably others will have different approaches.

If I spend ~$350.00 on a router that I have to wrap in pantyhose and attach third-party fans to, I'll go with another model or manufacturer

 

[Ola Malmstrom]

I noticed that my AC87U ran hot. So I put it on the wall instead of on a table top. This made the temperatures drop about 10 degrees C (about 18 degrees F if I remember correctly). This should improve the wifi range as well.

When I got my AX88U I also put it on the wall ;-)

 

[immi803]

One thing is for sure that i need external cooling solution, guys I'm still unanswered on air blowing in or sucking out part? Any recommendations on this? Read first post please

 

[Ola Malmstrom]

Why not just put it on the wall until you have a fan? My AX88U is running at 70C (CPU) / 50C (radios) but my environment is about 22C.

 

[tekrich]

Why not just put it on the wall until you have a fan? My AX88U is running at 70C (CPU) / 50C (radios) but my environment is about 22C.

Both my AX88U and AC88U are mounted on the wall. Creates a natural air flow through the unit.

24'C ambient where the AX88U is located and its running 2.4 GHz: 47°C - 5 GHz: 48°C - CPU: 63°C

 

[Bodin Praphanthongchai]

I put this under my AX88U.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XDLYH8N/?tag=snbforums-20

 

[thecheapseats]

One thing is for sure that i need external cooling solution, guys I'm still unanswered on air blowing in or sucking out part? Any recommendations on this? Read first post please

on ac/ax 88 form factors - I found that 'push' from the bottom works best - I tried both push and pull (from above) on both ac and ax 88s... in theory the case is supposed to act as a chimney- and maybe a vertical wall-mount enhances that, but mounting fans on a vertical wall-mount gets odd real fast... good luck...

 

[Treadler]

Why not just put it on the wall until you have a fan? My AX88U is running at 70C (CPU) / 50C (radios) but my environment is about 22C.

I get about the same as you, just sitting on a flat surface though, not on a wall.

 

[Makaveli]

Can't go wrong with the laptop cooling pad for these routers.

Been using one for a year now works great blowing air up into the router.

I'm on a a1 unit so these are my normal summer temps here in Canada ambient temp is 21c today



And with CpuWait on

 

[immi803]

Can't go wrong with the laptop cooling pad for these routers.

Been using one for a year now works great blowing air up into the router.

I'm on a a1 unit so these are my normal summer temps here in Canada ambient temp is 20c today



And with CpuWait on

you didn't encounter dust problem as its been an year you're using cooling pad for the purpose
by the way, koooooooooool temperatures