Vilros Extreme Heat Sink for Raspberry Pi 5 Instructions

Watch the installation video

See the complete installation process in our instruction video:

The video demonstrates proper thermal pad application, heatsink positioning, and thermal performance verification.

Product overview

The Vilros Extreme Heat Sink for Raspberry Pi 5 provides maximum passive cooling to maintain optimal operating temperatures during sustained workloads. This large aluminum heatsink maximizes surface area for heat dissipation, helping prevent thermal throttling during intensive tasks.

Compatible with: Raspberry Pi 5

Includes: Extreme aluminum heatsink, thermal adhesive pads

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Before you start

What you'll need:

• Vilros Extreme Heat Sink for Raspberry Pi 5
• Raspberry Pi 5 board
• Isopropyl alcohol and lint-free cloth (for cleaning existing thermal compound, if applicable)

Important notes:

• Power off and disconnect your Raspberry Pi 5 before installation.
• If your Pi 5 already has thermal pads or compound applied, clean the chip surfaces with isopropyl alcohol before applying new thermal pads.
• Ensure the heatsink will not interfere with your case or HAT. The Extreme Heat Sink is large and may require a case designed for oversized cooling solutions.

Installation steps

1. Power down: Shut down your Raspberry Pi 5 completely and disconnect all cables.
2. Clean the chips: If any existing thermal material is present, gently clean the CPU and surrounding chips with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Allow to dry completely.
3. Apply thermal pads: Peel the protective backing from the included thermal adhesive pads. Apply pads to the main chips on the Pi 5 (CPU, power management IC, and other heat-generating components as directed).
4. Position the heatsink: Carefully align the Vilros Extreme Heat Sink over the Raspberry Pi 5, ensuring it contacts all thermal pads. The heatsink should sit flat and cover the primary heat sources.
5. Apply pressure: Press down firmly and evenly on the heatsink for 10-15 seconds to ensure good contact between the thermal pads and the chips.
6. Verify fit: Check that the heatsink is securely attached and does not obstruct any ports, GPIO pins, or mounting holes (depending on your case design).

Note: The Extreme Heat Sink is designed for passive cooling. For active cooling, consider pairing it with a compatible fan or using the official Raspberry Pi Active Cooler.

Verify thermal performance

After installation, reconnect power and boot your Raspberry Pi 5. Monitor temperatures to verify the heatsink is working effectively:

1. Open Terminal and run:

   vcgencmd measure_temp

   This reports the current CPU temperature.

2. Idle temperatures: With the Extreme Heat Sink, idle temperatures should typically be 35-45°C (depending on ambient temperature).
3. Load testing: Run a CPU stress test to verify cooling under load:

   sudo apt install stress stress --cpu 4 --timeout 60s

   Monitor temperature during the test. The Extreme Heat Sink should keep the Pi 5 below thermal throttling thresholds (approximately 80°C) under most conditions.

4. Thermal throttling check: Run:

   vcgencmd get_throttled

   A result of throttled=0x0 indicates no throttling has occurred. Any other value suggests thermal throttling happened; consider adding active cooling if your workload is sustained.