RetroPie forum home
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Home
    • Docs
    • Register
    • Login

    Best case for cooling a Pi 3?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Projects and Themes
    casecoolingpi3pi 3
    31 Posts 17 Posters 41.3k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • space cadetS
      space cadet
      last edited by

      I'm using a zebra case with heat sinks and a fan. Works great and fun to put together.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • DirtyRobD
        DirtyRob @enderandrew
        last edited by DirtyRob

        This post is deleted!
        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • H
          H-A-Z
          last edited by

          Hi, you many be interested in reviewing the results of the experiments conducted by MR-Bodger on open case design with USB fan attachment and the ceramic heat sink thermal dissipation performance:

          http://www.instructables.com/id/RPi-3-Cooling-Tests/?ALLSTEPS

          H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • H
            H-A-Z @H-A-Z
            last edited by

            @H-A-Z *may

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • edm203E
              edm203
              last edited by

              I have this wooden case, and it's terrible for keeping my pi cool.
              DecaPi Slider

              I bought a plastic case on ebay with a fan for about $6, and it's much better at keeping the temp down.

              Pi Model or other hardware: Pi3B
              Power Supply used: 2.5 amp power supply
              RetroPie Version Used: 4.2.10
              Built From: Premade from Retropie website
              USB Devices connected: 4x ibuffalo snes controllers

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • sergioadS
                sergioad
                last edited by

                An aluminium case enclosed in a flexible and breakable plastic shell to protect the internals

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • HurricaneFanH
                  HurricaneFan
                  last edited by

                  I have this aluminum case, no complaints:
                  https://flirc.tv/more/raspberry-pi-case

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • RionR
                    Rion
                    last edited by

                    alt text

                    It's relatively easy to modify a case to do the same.
                    You just need something to hold the heatsink in place.

                    FBNeo rom filtering
                    Mame2003 Arcade Bezels
                    Fba Arcade Bezels
                    Fba NeoGeo Bezels

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • RionR
                      Rion
                      last edited by Rion

                      Here are the results with a massive heatsink and a fan.

                      Here are one more and final test with overclocking using a massive heatsink.

                      This is by far the best results in have seen and that's using an Aluminum heatsink.

                      FBNeo rom filtering
                      Mame2003 Arcade Bezels
                      Fba Arcade Bezels
                      Fba NeoGeo Bezels

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • T
                        tekn0
                        last edited by

                        This case works as a heatsync and keeps temps in check. https://nostalgiatechs.com/heatsync-case-pi-amazon

                        edm203E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • edm203E
                          edm203 @tekn0
                          last edited by

                          @tekn0 That's a great case, but reviewers state it doesn't fit well for Pi 3.

                          Pi Model or other hardware: Pi3B
                          Power Supply used: 2.5 amp power supply
                          RetroPie Version Used: 4.2.10
                          Built From: Premade from Retropie website
                          USB Devices connected: 4x ibuffalo snes controllers

                          T 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • T
                            tekn0 @edm203
                            last edited by tekn0

                            @edm203 it fits mine fine, the only issue is that you need a paperclip to pull out the sd card. as it's flush with the metal. this case was a life saver for the price because my pi3 would overheat after about 5 mins of neogeo play, now it has no issues at all.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • N
                              nschloe
                              last edited by

                              I've created stressberry to create standardized temperature signatures; hopefully we'll be able to properly compare all solutions with it. I'm hoping to be able to add a few more graphs in the coming weeks. Perhaps other people would like to run stressberry as well.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • First post
                                Last post

                              Contributions to the project are always appreciated, so if you would like to support us with a donation you can do so here.

                              Hosting provided by Mythic-Beasts. See the Hosting Information page for more information.