SG-1000 temperatures

[moikerz]

Hiya,
Just got my SG-1000 powered up today, with the base 2.4.0 beta loaded. No WAN configured yet, but I've configured a couple of VLANs and appropriate firewall rules and DHCP service on each. An openVPN client configuration is present, but disabled. And I've done a few reboots.

Sitting on the dashboard, the CPU is spiking to 100% (load avg 0.97, 0.90, 0.79 at time of writing this), with a temp of 64C. This is above the warning level configured at 60C.

Connecting the WAN and establishing internet access with a single device, CPU has settled slightly (0.85, 0.88, 0.79) but is up to 68C.

Should I be concerned at these temperatures, or is the warning just set too low?

[moikerz]

Minor update: reduced the CPU usage to (0.34, 0.36, 0.49) by removing the "Interface Statistics" widget from the dashboard. Seems to take a [comparative] load of CPU work to display that!

However, CPU temp is still steady at 69C. Still wondering whether to be concerned or not.

[A Former User]

Hi

Most CPUs will operate quite happy up to 90 degrees, or even 100 degrees, and fan-less systems generally run hot, and when they run hot, cooling efficiency is actually improved, i.e the ability to remove heat from the CPU is improved as there is a bigger temperature difference between it and it's environment.

Also CPUs tend to report their temperature from the hottest part right on the silicon.

So nothing to worry about.

Regards

Phil

[doktornotor]

Appears pretty normal with ARM CPUs. E.g., the UBNT switches we have are 70-80°C all the time.

[dreamslacker]

@moikerz:

Minor update: reduced the CPU usage to (0.34, 0.36, 0.49) by removing the "Interface Statistics" widget from the dashboard. Seems to take a [comparative] load of CPU work to display that!

However, CPU temp is still steady at 69C. Still wondering whether to be concerned or not.

The SoC used is rated to operate at up to 90'C for the non-industrial or extended temperature variants so it shouldn't be a problem.

[moikerz]

No problem then - thanks all. Yes, I'm familiar with hot x86 CPUs (back when my AMD Duron ended up with a scorch mark) sitting comfortable at 80-ish. Just not familiar with ARM temps.

Perhaps a suggestion that ARM-based installations have their thermal thresholds in pfSense moved up? (example, 80C instead of 60C for warning, 95C instead of 70C for critical)?

[stephenw10]

Just to confirm that's within the expected operating range. The one I have here runs at 65-70C on my desk in ~20C ambient.

Steve

[harryjohnsonab]

I am having the same crazy CPU temps at 78C.  Its in a cabinet that is around 22C room temperature.
I guess there is no reason to be concerned (after reading the previous posts), but it does seem pretty warm to me.

Anyone else getting CPU usage spikes that ranges from lowest to highest constantly?  ???

[stephenw10]

If you upgrade to a recent snapshot you'll see that we removed the temperature reporting.

The value returned by the on board device is very inaccurate (+/- 10C) and it was causing far more concern than providing useful info. You can still read the value via the sysctl if required.

Steve

[Gil]

I will be pushing temperature limits on an SG-1000, is the status page now more accurate ?
Just testing some boundaries to establish if I need to add some heatsinking.

[ivor]

How do you intend to do that? It already has heatsink and the case is made like that so air flow is optimal.

[moikerz]

I've found that removing / not-attaching the little rubber feet, and cable-strapping it down against a metal rack shelf, helps dissipate the heat a bit better.

In another location I have one sitting a couple of feet behind a server exhaust fan (which doesn't run hot) for additional airflow ;)

Glad this thing isn't PoE-powered! 5V is easier to cool than 48V.

[ivor]

Good tip :) You could add a small fan to it, just put it over the case grill and it will help too!

[Gil]

Pretty much along the same lines as I was thinking. moikerz
I have several installed remotely in small boxes, screwed to aluminium plates. The fan is the next option if heat proves to be too much.
The question is: How much heat is too much? I have generally had temps of 76 on the Status page.
Is there another method of measuring and logging temps?

[ivor]

Status page or command line will show temp. 76C is within acceptable range.

[jimp]

Don't try this at home, kids.

dev.am335x_scm.0.temperature: 51.0C

[moikerz]

@jimp:

Don't try this at home, kids.

dev.am335x_scm.0.temperature: 51.0C

Cant' believe you didn't use a peltier heatsink. Geez..  ;)

[Gil]

Are you tellin' me this sucker is nuclear?