FYI: The recently launched Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is the fastest Pi member till the date. It comes with a quad-core 1.4GHz 64-bit processor. While the most specifications are matching with its predecessor Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, the upgraded version has a slight high processing power and faster USB Ethernet and Bluetooth/WiFi functionality.
Today, I am going to provide a guide to solving the issue of Raspberry Pi 3 overheating while you are doing some serious coding on it.
There is a series of topics on various forums and Q & A sites related to the overheating issues of the Pi 3 processor. Though the Raspberry Pi Foundation already provided solutions like with offering a firmware fix to many over temperature problems, there are still a few questions on the causes of the Raspberry Pi 3 temperature overheating the solutions the users can do for it. So, I decided to make a tutorial post on the concern. Without a further ado, let me explain the fixing of the Pi 3 board over temperature problem.
Raspberry Pi 3 Overheating: Fixed
Solution-1: Install a Cooling Fan
One of the only few drawbacks of the Raspberry Pi board is that it does not come with an inbuilt fan. This results in overheating problems when you use the circuit board for extended periods. Thanks to the inbuilt functionality of the Raspberry Pi 3, if the temperature is going past 290 C, then either it will shut down the system or prevent overclocking. But, this may end up of your Raspberry Pi use for some time which in some cases becomes annoying.
So, the safest solution for avoiding such scenario is to mount a cooling fan on your Raspberry Pi 3 board through the GPIO. You can buy the fan online/offline and can set it up on your Pi 3 board quite easily.
Solution-2: Use Heatsink
A compatible Raspberry Pi heatsink is the best solution to prevent the overheating problem on your Pi 3 device. It will help to cool down the processor and also allow you to avoid using the noisy cooling fan for your system setup.
Installing the Raspberry Pi heatsink is an easy process which you can complete in a few quick steps. Though the heatsink cannot cool down your Pi board as effectively as the active cooling fan does, it certainly can add an extra protective layer to reduce the risk of over-temperature conditions.
Solution-3: Get the help of an External USB Powered Fan
An additional USB powered fan can also provide a great help in Raspberry Pi 3 cooling. If you do not want to install a CPU fan or a heatsink on your Pi 3, then you can purchase an external USB fan which is available at cheap price online.
You just need to attach it to the USB port of your Pi board. Remember to point the fan towards the processor area of your device.
How to Prevent Overheating of Pi
One of the main reasons for the high Raspberry Pi temperature is the Pi overclocking that we do for some extra performance from the board.
To avoid excessive temperature and overheating issues on Pi, you can first try not to overclock the Raspberry Pi 3. Don’t give too much load on the CPU and GPU of the board and you may be successful in eliminating the problem.
Sometimes, using a good protective case for the Pi setup also helps in avoiding such scenarios. Many users protect their Raspberry Pi 3 board in a plastic or wooden case to avoid any accidental damage. This is a good thing, but if you don’t use a quality Pi case which doesn’t have a good airflow system within it, then it may play a significant role in Pi overheating. So, always use a branded and well-designed protective case for your beloved Pi device.
Your Thoughts
I hope the above solutions will help you to cool down your Pi 3 processor at the time of overheating. Let me know your suggestions and ideas on this issue. Take a visit to the comment section below and provide your thoughts on this guide. Also if you know any other reliable method for preventing the overheating issue on Pi, then also it will be a great help to the Raspberry Pi community.
Cool Down!
