Best Raspberry Pi Heatsink in 2022
A heat sink is hands-down one of the least expensive and easiest upgrades you can make to the Raspberry Pi. It’s a cost-effective way to ward off thermal throttling and prolong the longevity of a Raspberry Pi. There’s little out there in the way of near-effortless upgrades that produce such a tangible improvement to performance.
The Pi runs hot, dangerously so when used for resource-hungry applications, to the point that the system features an integrated temperature sensor that will downclock the CPU to avoid overheating damage when the Pi creeps above 82-degrees. For short, heavy loads, this may not be an issue, but the problem really comes into focus for projects subjecting the Raspberry Pi to prolonged loads. In these cases, the thermal throttling can kick in and effectively handicap the Pi’s processing potential, which can have serious implications for performance.
If you’re battling high temperatures or simply want to prepare for all eventualities, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re diving headfirst in the world of Raspberry Pi heat sinks, paddling cautiously past the useless duds to find the very best currently on the market. Let’s dive in.
Products at a Glance
Best Raspberry Pi Heatsink in 2022
- Embedded aluminum heatsink design
- Active and passive cooling
- Low profile fan
- Sits flush with the Pi
- Full access to GPIO
- Only compatible with Raspberry Pi 4
- Case form factor heatsink
- Quality construction
- Dual fans
- Quiet
- Access to GPIO, connectors, and ports
- SD Card slot is covered once assembled
- Only compatible with Raspberry Pi 4
- 100 piece kit
- Variety of sizes
- Both aluminum and copper heatsinks
- Pre-applied high-performance thermal tape
- Reasonably-priced
- Overkill for single Pi projects
- Four piece heatsink kit
- Good Raspberry Pi version compatibility
- Pre-applied thermal adhesive
- Low cost
- Requires a fan to handle the heaviest loads
Best Raspberry Pi Heatsink in 2022
Our Verdict
If you’re plagued by indecision at the sheer breadth of choice out there, the Geekworm Raspberry Pi Embedded Heatsink with Fan is a complete active and passive cooling solution aptly tooled to handle even the heaviest loads. The low profile should please those that want a small form factor solution. Limited Raspberry Pi 4 compatibility excludes other Pi versions, though.
For those that want a heatsink that conveniently doubles as a compact, stylish case, the MazerPi Armor Heatsink & Dual Fan ticks all the boxes. Expect excellent cooling performance, quality construction, and quiet operation thanks to two CNC aluminum heatsinks and a pair of high-quality fans. Good access to the GPIO and connectors scores points, especially for projects that incorporate HATs and favor expansion.
With 100 pieces, the Pastall Heatsink Kit features all the types and sizes of heatsink you’ll ever need to equip dozens of Raspberry Pi boards with the right tools to keep temperatures well away from the thermal throttling cap. One for tinkerers juggling multiple Pi projects that need backup heatsinks.
Finally, the Easycargo Raspberry Pi 4 Heatsink Kit reminds us that there’s no need to spend too much on Raspberry Pi heatsinks. The four-piece kit has everything you need to easily install a robust cooling solution, simply remember to incorporate a fan if you’re dabbling with heavy, persistent loads.
Any pressing questions or concerns? Drop us a line in the comments section below.