# Effective CM5 Cooling Solution **URL:** \ **Category:** uConsole\ **Created:** [June 23, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180 "2025-06-23T12:58:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bgav](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/bgav/32/12416_2.png) [@bgav](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/bgav)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/1 "2025-06-23T12:58:49Z")
2 layers of this thermal tape on the CM5 SOC: > **[Amazon.com: ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad, 100 x 100 x 0.5 mm...](https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-TP-3-Performance-Conduction-Installation/dp/B09V53W559)** > > ARCTIC, a leading manufacturer of low-noise PC coolers and components, initiated and continues to shape the trend towards quiet cooling systems. In addition to an extensive range of CPU coolers and fans, ARCTIC produces high-quality monitor arms,... Attach one of these heatsinks using 1” wide double sided thermal tape: > **[Amazon.com: Easycargo 100mm Heatsink Aluminium Radiator Cooler Heat sink for...](https://www.amazon.com/Easycargo-Heatsink-Aluminium-Amplifier-100mmx25mmx10mm/dp/B08LQ74KFS)** > > 6 Pieces (100mmx25mmx10mm/ 4" x 1" x 0.4") aluminum cooler heat sink. This heat sink can be used for passive heat dissipation of various DC converter circuit boards, LED, Power IC and Transistors, etc Drops temps on average ~10C. I was at ~60C under load and now I’m at low 40’s at idle and ~51C under load. ![IMG_1672](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/e/eaabfaff7e4d9372fb4c2ca84b541533fe6383d6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![white-round-square](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/white-round-square/32/10385_2.png) [@white-round-square](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/white-round-square)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/2 "2025-06-23T13:43:27Z")
> [@Fixed my CM5 overheating problem with a riser and a thin thermal pad](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/fixed-my-cm5-overheating-problem-with-a-riser-and-a-thin-thermal-pad/15872): > > We all know that the uconsole dissipates heat from the back of the handheld by going through a super thick thermal pad. I knew that the thermal pad was a bad idea but didn’t know how much (or how to solve it.) I found a device called a “CM4 Adapter, Interface Protection Adapter Board for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 Lite/eMMC, Physical Protection for Frequent Plugging and Unplugging of CM4 Socket” (that’s the listing name on amazon) or " Protection Adapter Board for Raspberry Pi CM4, for frequ… ---
**Author:** ![bgav](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/bgav/32/12416_2.png) [@bgav](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/bgav)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/3 "2025-06-23T17:41:44Z")
Saw that, wanted to start a separate thread for those who choose not to go with the internal riser. This keeps the back shell of the uconsole cooler as well and more comfortable to hold due to the external heatsink. ---
**Author:** ![L\_Huddy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/l_huddy/32/13087_2.png) [@L\_Huddy](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/L_Huddy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/4 "2025-07-18T16:41:28Z")
Thanks to an initial suggestion by Rex (thank you!!), I reseated the thermal pads on my CM5 after having constant issues with huge heat spikes up to 80 degrees. Having a small pad on each chip separated by a small gap sorted it. He also mentioned using an M2 heatsink on the rear cover and bgav pointed me to this thread. My heat issues are fixed with these two suggestions. I placed one M2 heatsink centrally, just above the middle screw on the rear cover (see pic) and ran cpuburn for 10 minutes. This terminal run app takes the CPU to 100% constantly, giving you the chance to monitor the temps. In the 10 minutes, with one M2 heatsink on the rear, the temp of the CPU hit 59 once and stayed at 57-58 throughout. As there are four in the pack, I added another heatsink just above the first and ran the test again after letting the uConsole cool down. This time the temp stayed at a max of 58 throughout the 10 minutes. Much better than the 80 degrees I was seeing before! I haven’t tried underclocking and if the temps stay lower than 60 degrees, I’ll happily leave things as they are. Thanks Rex and bgav 😁 Here’s a piccy of the rear cover with the heatsink box for reference. Available on Amazon for £8: [M2 Heatsink](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KXSK13F?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1) ![Heatsink](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/2/2c12279546170f05b45bfd0cb986a8d23b502fbe.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![bgav](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/bgav/32/12416_2.png) [@bgav](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/bgav)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/5 "2025-07-19T00:56:47Z")
@L_Huddy, glad it’s working for you, and thanks for providing the results of your testing. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_Wong](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/andy_wong/32/14971_2.png) [@Andy\_Wong](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Andy_Wong)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/6 "2025-12-06T11:44:55Z")
what is the vertical height between cm5 and the back panel? slightly thinner copper riser and thermal compound would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Harris](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/darryl_harris/32/15076_2.png) [@Darryl\_Harris](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Darryl_Harris)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/7 "2026-05-09T18:17:30Z")
How did you attach the heat sink? ---
**Author:** ![trinity](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/trinity/32/16167_2.png) [@trinity](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/trinity)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 3:43am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/8 "2026-05-12T03:43:16Z")
See the top post and the following quoted section. > [@bgav](#): > > Attach one of these heatsinks using 1” wide double sided thermal tape: ---
**Author:** ![Lanthar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/lanthar/32/11106_2.png) [@Lanthar](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Lanthar)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 8:15am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/9 "2026-05-25T08:15:19Z")
![151932_113_356](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/3X/1/2/12fed86cf084162b32834bff2bb4e8e4b9f3ce71.jpeg) ![161617_114_356](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/3X/d/1/d1a61e6aed455aeceb7a4e5fb4cc1f79d5086ee0.jpeg) Last year, after I got my uConsole, I adopted this method and also installed a solid copper plate inside the case. With the CM5, the temperature hovers around 40-45°C at idle, and stays between 50-60°C under medium-to-heavy load, basically never exceeding 65°C. It’s a very aesthetic and practical cooling solution. However, I sometimes forget the uConsole in my backpack, and the heat soak from passive cooling becomes severe. Once, the temperature hit 67°C, and the entire case was scorching hot to the touch. So, I’ve decided to make an active cooling backplate. I’ve purchased the Hackergadgets CM5 adapter board, which supports a PWM fan for the CM5, and I’m hoping it will successfully exhaust the heat. The fan size I’m aiming for is 3004. I used an existing fan last month just to eyeball the dimensions, but I haven’t installed it yet. Hackergadgets actually recommends the official Raspberry Pi CM5 heatsink/fan. Although it’s a bit thick, it runs on 5V 0.15A. From both an aesthetic and performance standpoint, it’s probably the best choice. ---
**Author:** ![barry99705](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/barry99705/32/6771_2.png) [@barry99705](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/barry99705)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/effective-cm5-cooling-solution/18180/10 "2026-05-27T14:27:05Z")
Where are you going to cut the holes for the exhaust?