Cooling a Haswell NUC.

b0redom · 20 Dec 2023 at 21:46

Hi All,
Many moons ago I bought a Haswell NUC (d54250wykh).

I stuffed it in a passive case and at the end of its useful life put it in a cupboard and forgot about it. I'm now building an arcade cabinet, and want to use it. Unfortunately I didn't keep the original heatsink and fan. Does anyone have any idea what I could use to cool it? Pics are below. I think the CPU is under the large black block (which made contact with the metal passive case to dissipate the heat).

TIA b0redom....

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nade · 22 Dec 2023 at 16:13

Yep that does appear to be the CPU. I think it depends how much money/effort you want to goto for you cabinet.

Don't think there will be a huge amount of choice in coolers for NUCs. You could look at a passive case such as one of the Akasa's, but as this is an older NUC, might have some luck on the bay and find one there.

ANDARIAL · 22 Dec 2023 at 17:37

As above look on the bay for something like a 60mm heatsink and fan maybe?
Or maybe a rectangle heat sink and bodge/stick 2x40mm fans etc.If you cannot get the holes to line up thermal adhesive MIXED with thermal compound will work
IMPORTANT to mix as just adhesive will NEVER come off

Donnie Fisher · 22 Dec 2023 at 23:12

I assume there is a fan header and you want something active ?

A easy combo I can think of is a wraith stealth cooler. It’s essentially has flat bottomed solid centre which would sit flush on and could be stuck on what’s there already. Not crazy massive in height and would likely fit the size of that board .

Or just buy a big passive aluminium finned block and whack it on.

robinbanks · 26 Dec 2023 at 00:19

Well that's frustrating. One week earlier and I could have saved you a few we scrapped at work.