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Need new Raspberry Pi 4 case recommendation

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Posted on November 8, 2021 at 18:32:49
raingerz
Audiophile

Posts: 547
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: July 20, 2013
 Hey, folks, I'm getting tired of my c4labs case because the fan makes a very loud whirring noise and attracts a lot of dust. I am looking for a recommendation for a case that can run comfortably without a fan, probably a design that uses a heat sink. I will be buying on Amazon.

I'm under the impression that piCoreplayer does not tax the CPU of the RPI 4 so much that the processor's temperature comes into play.

Any comments, suggestions, diatribes, personal attacks welcome.

 

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RE: Need new Raspberry Pi 4 case recommendation, posted on November 8, 2021 at 23:10:28
Daveslater
Audiophile

Posts: 1044
Location: UK
Joined: June 11, 2003
 This aluminum case with heat sink compound for the processor does a great job of passively cooling a Pi 4

 

RE: Need new Raspberry Pi 4 case recommendation, posted on November 9, 2021 at 02:00:38
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 Not that I always been saying forget these crappy and IMO useless "nois2y"
RPI4 cases. ;)

I am happily running the Argon Neo case. It stays below 50

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Just shut the fan off - It will run cool enough.......nt, posted on November 9, 2021 at 04:43:26
Cut-Throat
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Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 nt



 

RE: Need new Raspberry Pi 4 case recommendation, posted on November 9, 2021 at 06:54:55
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46306
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 The Argon ONE V2 case (not to be confused with the NEO or M.2 case) brings all RPi4 connections to the back so you don't have wires sticking out the side. It has a fan but just leave it disabled or yank it out. The heat sink pads provide thermal coupling to the case for a couple key chips including the CPU and everything runs nice and cool.

Argon ONE V2 case:

Argon ONE V2 case brings all connections to the back:

Running mine as a Roon Bridge network streaming end-point:

Runs cool w/o fan:

As Cut-Throat says, if you want to use your existing case just disconnect the fan. It will run fine and not over heat provided the case is in the open and not tucked in a closed AV cabinet. If you want a new case the Argon ONE V2 shown above is about $25 on Amazon. The other nice case is the FLIRC case (search Amazon) but the Argon is the only one that I know of that brings all the port connections to the back so no wires are hanging out the side of the case.

The Argon ONE V2 case has option settings for the power button, IR port, and few other goodies. I leave these disabled and unused to keep things simple. I leave mine powered ON 24/7.


 

RE: Need new Raspberry Pi 4 case recommendation, posted on November 9, 2021 at 15:34:23
kh6idf
Audiophile

Posts: 1474
Location: Texas
Joined: May 2, 2001
 I use that FLIRC case with a RPi 4 running PiCorePlayer, and I removed the plastic top, exposing the metal underneath. Runs a few degrees cooler that way.

There is no fan and I run it for hours. Gets warm on the top but that's what its supposed to do and I have never had it shut down because of temperature.

 

Getting the FLIRC, posted on November 9, 2021 at 18:44:17
raingerz
Audiophile

Posts: 547
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: July 20, 2013
 I need the power supply USB port to be on the side rather than the back, so the Argon is ruled out.

Thanks for the input, everyone!

 

Good choice, posted on November 10, 2021 at 22:51:45
Daveslater
Audiophile

Posts: 1044
Location: UK
Joined: June 11, 2003
 Great function and clean elegant look

 

Installed in the FLIRC, posted on November 14, 2021 at 22:48:26
raingerz
Audiophile

Posts: 547
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: July 20, 2013
 Had a devil of a time getting the streamer back on the network. I must have rebooted the modem, router, and Raspberry Pi several times. Part of me thinks it sounds less involving now, but I think it's all in my head.

I'm curious to see whether I can keep this thing on 24/7. I'll be monitoring the heat put out by the RPi.

 

RE: Installed in the FLIRC, posted on November 15, 2021 at 12:13:19
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46306
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 The FLIRC case is a popular choice for the RPi4 but it will definitely run warmer than a fan cooled case. It really doesn't matter though for most audio applications as these are very light workloads for the RPi4.

Does your software allow you to lower the clock speed on your RPi? This will also help with cooling as there's no need to run it a full-clock speed for typical audio applications.

My RPi runs 600-MHz. It will throttle up the clock automatically if necessary but I've never seen it do this while streaming my usual mix of music at various resolutions.

My FLIRC case [left] maintains about 50-Deg. My Smraza case [right] with fan runs about 36-Deg C.


Argon ONE V2 aluminum case w/o fan maintains around 40-Deg C.


My Argon ONE V2 case w/o fan is consistently around 40-Deg C vs around 50-Deg C for the
FLIRC case. This is due to the greater aluminum surface area of the Argon ONE V2 case.

CPU typically running 600-MHz but can throttle up to 1500-MHz.

* Note: The RPi4 temperature will vary a bit depending on room ambient temperature and whether the device is out in the open or inside an AV cabinet. My RPi4 is pretty much in the open on a shelf with a room ambient temp in the basement between about 21C to 24C throughout the year.

 

RE: Installed in the FLIRC, posted on November 15, 2021 at 14:27:08
raingerz
Audiophile

Posts: 547
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: July 20, 2013
 I'm not sure whether I can control the clock speed of the processor. I run piCoreplayer; maybe there is such a setting within that?

Also, I have the RPi in a Salamander rack, but it's pretty much out in the open air.

Thanks for your post.

 

RE: Installed in the FLIRC, posted on November 15, 2021 at 15:11:41
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46306
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
I have my RPi4 on a shelf in a Salamander rack.



 

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