Official Raspberry Pi 5 Active Cooler - Heatsink & PWM Fan

Specifications

• Type: Active Cooling (Heatsink + Blower Fan).

• Material: Single-piece anodised aluminium heatsink.

• Fan: Temperature-controlled PWM Blower.

• Mounting: Spring-loaded push pins (Tool-free).

• Connector: 4-pin JST (Dedicated 'FAN' header).

• Airflow: Lateral (blows air across the fins).

• Compatibility: Exclusive to Raspberry Pi 5.

• Thermal Interface: Pre-applied high-performance thermal pads.

Key Applications & Projects

• Overclocking: Push your Pi 5 beyond stock speeds safely with massive thermal headroom.

• Continuous Integration (CI) Servers: Keep build times short by preventing thermal throttling during long compile jobs.

• Retro Gaming Emulation: Run demanding consoles (GameCube/PSP) without frame drops caused by heat.

• AI & Machine Learning: Essential for keeping the NPU/CPU cool while running models like TensorFlow Lite or YOLO.

Project Evolution

• The Bottleneck: A naked Raspberry Pi 5 will hit 85°C and throttle within seconds of a full-core stress test, dropping performance by up to 50%.

• The Upgrade: This cooler unlocks Sustained Turbo. You can run all 4 cores at 2.4GHz for days without dipping below max speed.

• Effort Level: Intermediate. Requires careful alignment of the push pins. Our Probots™ Lab Verified ???? guide below ensures you don't crack the board during installation.

Virtual Technician & Installation Guide

• ⚠️ Installation Force: Align the push pins with the two mounting holes on the Pi 5. Press down firmly until you hear a "click." Support the underside of the board to prevent bending!

• Fan Connection: Connect the 4-pin cable to the header labelled 'FAN'. It is keyed, so it only fits one way.

• Pad Covers: Crucial: Remove the plastic film covers from the three thermal pads on the underside before installing. Failing to do this will insulate the chips and cause overheating!

Accessories & Compatibility

• Included: 1x Active Cooler (Heatsink/Fan assembly) with pre-applied thermal pads.

• Required: Raspberry Pi 5 Board.

Frequently Asked Questions (Technical SEO)

• Can I use this inside the Official Case? No, the Active Cooler is too bulky to fit inside the official closed case. It is designed for users who want maximum cooling without a lid.
• Is the fan always on? No, the fan is PWM-controlled. It stays off when the Pi is idle (under ~50°C) and ramps up speed as the temperature rises.
• Does it cool the PMIC too? Yes, the heatsink has specific contact points (with thermal pads) for the Power Management IC and the WiFi chip, not just the CPU.
• Is it difficult to install? It uses a snap-fit mechanism. While no tools are needed, it requires firm pressure to click the pins through the board holes.
• Does it require thermal paste? No, it comes with high-quality thermal pads pre-applied. Do not add paste, as it can be messy and unnecessary.
• How loud is the fan at full speed? It is audible at full speed (heavy load) but is generally quiet during normal desktop use.
• Can I control the fan speed manually? Yes, the fan speed can be defined in the /boot/config.txt file or controlled via Python scripts accessing the hardware PWM.
• Will this fit a Raspberry Pi 4? No, the mounting holes and the dedicated fan header are specific to the Raspberry Pi 5 layout.
• Does it block the GPIO pins? No, the cooler is low-profile enough near the header to allow access to GPIO pins, though some bulky HATs might touch it.
• What happens if I forget to remove the plastic from the pads? Your Pi will overheat almost immediately because the plastic acts as an insulator, blocking heat transfer.
• Is this better than a passive heatsink? Yes, significantly. Passive heatsinks eventually heat-soak; this active cooler continuously moves heat away, handling much higher loads.
• Can I replace the fan if it fails? The fan is integrated into the aluminum shroud. It is difficult to replace individually; replacing the whole unit is recommended.
• Does it consume a lot of power? No, it consumes a negligible amount of power, powered directly from the Pi's onboard regulator.
• Is it safe to touch while running? The heatsink can get hot to the touch during stress tests—this means it's working! Be careful.
• Can I use this with a PoE HAT? It depends on the HAT. The official PoE+ HAT for Pi 5 has its own fan and layout, likely conflicting with this cooler.
• Why are there springs on the pins? The springs ensure constant, even downward pressure on the chips for optimal thermal conductivity.
• Does it come with a warranty? Yes, official Raspberry Pi accessories typically carry a warranty against manufacturing defects.
• Will it work with the M.2 HAT? Yes, the M.2 HAT mounts over the Pi. The Active Cooler is low enough to fit underneath most top-mounted HATs using standoffs.
• Is the fan blowing up or down? It is a blower-style fan that pulls air in from the top and pushes it laterally through the fins.
• Why is this more expensive than a generic fan? It is a custom-molded single-piece aluminium unit with specific cutouts for Pi 5 components, offering far superior cooling than generic adhesive heatsinks.