Intel NUC overheating (hot), video stuttering

Question

I have an Intel NUC 7^* (NUC7i5BNH). Approx 1 year old.

Running watch sensors on Linux shows an operating temperature of 95 °C.
Windows shows 99 °C.

Many stalling issues, including: cannot play 4k video in YouTube, but 4k videos in VLC work fine.

After opening the NUC, inside the case looks perfectly clean – zero sign of dust.

Why is it overheating?
______________
^* Unlocked | (Newegg.com) says:

…  NUC is Intel’s designation for their ultra-small self-contained personal computers.  The acronym NUC stands for Next Unit of Computing, which perhaps purveys the idea that in the near future, home computers could become this small as a matter of standard. …

Solution 1

There is a non-obvious trap with the Intel NUC's, upon inspection the internals can look perfectly clean and dust-free...

However, there is a spot between the cooling fan and the cooling fins, where dust gets trapped and causes overheating. Unusually, this is not possible to see upon a normal inspection, even if you remove the motherboard from the chassis.

Solution:

1. Open the NUC, via the 4 screws at the bottom.
2. Remove ram/ssd, and all plugged wires - take a photo first so you know where to plug the wires back in later.
3. Carefully remove the mother board from the chassis - There are two screws holding the motherboard in on the NUC7.
4. On the back side of the motherboard, you will find the cooling fan and cooling fins/air intake. (these may look perfectly clean)
5. Unscrew the two screws holding the fan in, and remove the fan.
6. You may find a big clump of dust inside - blow out the cooling fins and the fan with a can of compressed air - (perhaps available at your local dollar store).

Credit to Stokanator: https://communities.intel.com/message/570261#570261

Solution 2

Thanks for the answer. I cannot post a picture but my NUC8i5 had fully blocking 2mm thick wall of dust in front of the entire copper exit. About 40 to 50 degrees less after removal, and no more crazy fan noise even at 5% CPU load.

Tip: I needed a youtube example to remove the motherboard, since the usb C connector is stuck below the metal of the case and you need to pull at the case (be gentle with the motherboard).

Comments

[Qian Chen]

I'm using exactly the same NUC as you are using. It seems 4k videos play well here. I'm using Arch Linux.

[wp78de]

Appreciated. However, cleaning the NUC7 as described is not recommended for unexperienced tinkerers.

[Tom]

I just tried removing the motherboard of my NUC7i5BNK (BNK, not BNH) but found it very nerve wrecking since the board is rammed in so tight. Gave up after I got it a bit out and had a hell of a time getting the board back in. Is there any video or description that explains it step by step?

[Alex M]

True, one should keep their components clean and dust-free, but OP specified zero dust, so I'm not sure this is a very helpful suggestion in this case.

[Tom]

Depends on what part of the system was actually opened. I am sure this is a very helpful suggestion for all those people that do not dare or simply cannot remove the motherboard

[Per Quested Aronsson]

This really helped! However, I skipped step 2, which wasn't necessary to remove the motherboard of my NUC, D53427RKE.

[Mtl Dev]

To be fair, yes mine had zero visible dust inside or outside. But it turns out there was plenty of "fluff" collected & caught inside on the sharp edges of the cooling fins. I'd call this a design fault. So yes a can of compressed air in the back would help dislodge the blockage - however, you would also be blowing most of that dust into the NUC...

[Vlax]

I've created a visual guide for this in the iFixIt website: ifixit.com/Guide/Fix+NUC8i7BEH+overheating/131345

[Nottingham Man]

youtube.com/watch?v=z4VQRN8nCpk&t=116s

[Nottingham Man]

youtube.com/watch?v=z4VQRN8nCpk&t=116s

[Greenonline]

Link to the youtube example? Please edit your answer and include any extra info