Vilros Pi 5 Aluminum Alloy Case with Passive & Active Cooling Instructions

Watch the instruction video

Follow our comprehensive installation guide for the aluminum case:

The video demonstrates assembly, cooling configuration, and optimal setup for your Raspberry Pi 5.

Case overview

The Vilros Aluminum Alloy Case for Raspberry Pi 5 combines sleek design with dual cooling capabilities - passive heatsink cooling and optional active fan cooling for demanding workloads.

Key features:

Premium aluminum alloy construction
Passive cooling via aluminum heatsink contact
Active cooling option with integrated fan
Full port access (USB, HDMI, Ethernet, GPIO, power, microSD)
Durable, professional appearance

Compatible with: Raspberry Pi 5 only

Assembly steps

Prepare components: Remove the aluminum case parts from packaging. Peel any protective film from the aluminum surfaces.
Apply thermal pads: If included, apply thermal pads to the Raspberry Pi 5's main chips. These ensure good heat transfer to the aluminum case.
Mount the Pi 5: Place the Raspberry Pi 5 into the aluminum case base, ensuring thermal pads make contact with the aluminum. Align all ports with case openings.
Secure the Pi: Use the provided screws to secure the Pi 5 to the case.
Install fan (optional active cooling): If your case includes a fan, mount it to the designated fan location (typically top or side). Connect the fan to the Pi 5's fan header for PWM control.
Close the case: Attach the top aluminum cover or remaining case sections. Secure with screws.

Cooling modes

Passive cooling:

The aluminum case acts as a large heatsink, drawing heat away from the Pi 5 and dissipating it through the aluminum body. Effective for:

Standard desktop use
Coding and development
Media playback
Light to moderate workloads

Active cooling (with fan):

Adding the optional fan provides forced-air cooling for intensive tasks. The Pi 5 automatically controls fan speed via PWM:

Idle/low temp: Fan off or low speed (silent)
Moderate load: Fan ramps up gradually
Heavy load: Fan at maximum speed

Hybrid approach: The combination of passive (aluminum heatsink) and active (fan) cooling provides excellent thermal performance for all workloads, from idle to sustained high-load scenarios.

Temperature monitoring: Check Pi 5 temperature:

vcgencmd measure_temp

Typical temps: Idle 40-50°C, moderate load 50-65°C, heavy load 65-75°C (aluminum case + fan).