# I want to install a fanless heatsink, but I’m having a hard time to find out the correct form factor from the specs of the one used in your board

**URL:** <https://community.solid-run.com/t/i-want-to-install-a-fanless-heatsink-but-i-m-having-a-hard-time-to-find-out-the-correct-form-factor-from-the-specs-of-the-one-used-in-your-board/86>\
**Category:** NXP LX2160\
**Created:** [June 22, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.solid-run.com/t/i-want-to-install-a-fanless-heatsink-but-i-m-having-a-hard-time-to-find-out-the-correct-form-factor-from-the-specs-of-the-one-used-in-your-board/86 "2021-06-22T15:46:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![AreYouLoco](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/community.solid-run.com/areyouloco/32/303_2.png) [@AreYouLoco](https://community.solid-run.com/u/AreYouLoco)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://community.solid-run.com/t/i-want-to-install-a-fanless-heatsink-but-i-m-having-a-hard-time-to-find-out-the-correct-form-factor-from-the-specs-of-the-one-used-in-your-board/86/21 "2025-05-02T11:40:38Z")

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> [@jnettlet](#):
>
> correct. I just took a dremel with a cut off wheel and zipped off the extra parts. But it worked wonderfully

Ok so I did the same and it went well. @jnettlet what metal is IHS of the LX2160 cpu made of? May I use liquid metal instead of thermal paste? Looks like some acid-resistant steel or nikel but wanted to be sure. Just confirm its not alu. Thanks.

Edit: No way its aluminium. Some nikel plated copper. Ok 1-2h leakage test and I will mount it.

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**Author:** ![AreYouLoco](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/community.solid-run.com/areyouloco/32/303_2.png) [@AreYouLoco](https://community.solid-run.com/u/AreYouLoco)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.solid-run.com/t/i-want-to-install-a-fanless-heatsink-but-i-m-having-a-hard-time-to-find-out-the-correct-form-factor-from-the-specs-of-the-one-used-in-your-board/86/22 "2025-05-02T16:40:00Z")

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Ok so here is how it looks like at the end:

 ![a1a1f4d5-9889-46ee-aab6-45ee72c0cd1c](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/solid_run/original/1X/bb391f42afe54da8cac03a92e09907bde59e0cb0.jpeg)

But I ran into power issue. PicoPSU 150W couldn’t supply enough power I guess on +12V rail. Connected old PC PSU and it booted (I had a heart attack moment that I shorted something and expensive server is gone😅)

Here are stats:

```auto
# sensors

acpitz-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
temp1: +41.0°C (crit = +95.0°C)
temp2: +41.0°C (crit = +95.0°C)
temp3: +41.0°C (crit = +95.0°C)
temp4: +40.0°C (crit = +95.0°C)
temp5: +41.0°C (crit = +95.0°C)
temp6: +40.0°C (crit = +95.0°C)
temp7: +41.0°C (crit = +95.0°C)
temp8: +41.0°C

nvme-pci-20100
Adapter: PCI adapter
Composite: +40.9°C (low = -273.1°C, high = +84.8°C) (crit = +84.8°C)
Sensor 1: +60.9°C (low = -273.1°C, high = +65261.8°C)
Sensor 2: +40.9°C (low = -273.1°C, high = +65261.8°C)

```

Around 38-40°C while idle. And 44-46°C running stress at 16 cores for 10mins.

I used liquid metal instead of thermal greese. Quite happy with the result. Now just stronger picoPSU or some flex ATX power supply and I am done with homelab server project.

Would I do it again? Hell no! So much stress and modifications to do. If someone is interested I can share BOM and instructions. Don’t do it at home.

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**Author:** ![jnettlet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/community.solid-run.com/jnettlet/32/62_2.png) [@jnettlet](https://community.solid-run.com/u/jnettlet)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 4:21am UTC](https://community.solid-run.com/t/i-want-to-install-a-fanless-heatsink-but-i-m-having-a-hard-time-to-find-out-the-correct-form-factor-from-the-specs-of-the-one-used-in-your-board/86/23 "2025-05-05T04:21:11Z")

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I have tested a few picoPSU’s and have found that their ratings are not very accurate. I don’t know what your budget is, but I am upgrading a few of my dev setups to new GaN PSUs. [HDPLEX 250W GaN Passive AIO ATX Power Supply](https://hdplex.com/hdplex-fanless-250w-gan-aio-atx-psu.html) There is also a 500W version available.

Overall pretty impressive build. I haven’t had a chance to test it, but I think I will be switching to using one of the new phase change thermal pads like [PhaseSheet PTM | 50 x 40 mm | S-TG-PS-50-40](https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/phasesheet-ptm/s-tg-ps-50-40) Just seems a bit less messy than liquid metal.

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**Author:** ![AreYouLoco](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/community.solid-run.com/areyouloco/32/303_2.png) [@AreYouLoco](https://community.solid-run.com/u/AreYouLoco)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:01am UTC](https://community.solid-run.com/t/i-want-to-install-a-fanless-heatsink-but-i-m-having-a-hard-time-to-find-out-the-correct-form-factor-from-the-specs-of-the-one-used-in-your-board/86/24 "2025-05-05T05:01:20Z")

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> [@jnettlet](#):
>
> new GaN PSUs. [HDPLEX 250W GaN Passive AIO ATX Power Supply](https://hdplex.com/hdplex-fanless-250w-gan-aio-atx-psu.html)

Yup I’ve seen those when looked for “passive Flex ATX” as well but ended up ordering FSP FlexGuru 300W locally for cheap that I will replace fan with Noctua’s if its still to loud then I think when my budget builds up a bit I will try the one you mentioned.

But PicoPSU (150W) was ok when I was powering only the board with one stock fan.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AreYouLoco](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/community.solid-run.com/areyouloco/32/303_2.png) [@AreYouLoco](https://community.solid-run.com/u/AreYouLoco)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:20am UTC](https://community.solid-run.com/t/i-want-to-install-a-fanless-heatsink-but-i-m-having-a-hard-time-to-find-out-the-correct-form-factor-from-the-specs-of-the-one-used-in-your-board/86/25 "2025-05-05T05:20:56Z")

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Now just need ask a friend to modify a bit for my chassis one of those I/O shields:

> **[Search Thingiverse - Thingiverse](https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=Solidrun%2Bhoneycomb&page=1)**
>
> Search and download free 3D printable objects for your projects, from prototypes to home improvements.

Then 3d print it and mount it.

Edit: Done could be black PET-G but whatever it pure cosmetics:

 ![IMG-20250517-WA0009](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/solid_run/original/1X/da5863b7fcc0feba4e907a953cee237bfc43568c.jpeg)

Here is modified 3D model:  
[shield-v002.stl.txt](https://community.solid-run.com/uploads/short-url/4eDew9ebWJR1GXLZcGGOdAPXLCr.txt) (63.2 KB)  
(stl.txt to bypass file extension limit) may be a good starting point for someone using 1U case as well.

Now heat disspation is a bit worse when I was checking out of rack and with chassis open.

But now temperature range is around 42-46°C when IDLE and running for hours and around 55-56°C when running `stress -c 32` so each core double pressured. Not bad at the end. Will se when summer comes.

[Previous page](https://community.solid-run.com/t/i-want-to-install-a-fanless-heatsink-but-i-m-having-a-hard-time-to-find-out-the-correct-form-factor-from-the-specs-of-the-one-used-in-your-board/86.md?page=1)