Beginners • Re: Did I buy the wrong fan?

Hey folks, I have Pi 4 model B (4GB with LineageOS 22.2 Konstakang flashed) and bought this fan with it (it was recommended on the website where I bought the Pi) but it is way bigger than the CPU, as you can see here
side by side with the Pi just by itself. So I was wondering if I bought the correct one or not and a few questions popped in my mind with that:

• Can I still use it with heatsink as is? If yes, how? As in the photo previously showed (centered on the CPU), as in this photo or this photo covering a bit of the RAM - in which case, should I put a thermal padto have a contact with the heatsink?
• Could I buy/build a heat disipator to have every chip refreshed?
• Should I ditch this fan, keep it for another project and just buy another refreshment system?

I've rarely needed to use/used a fan with any of my P4B's although those in "heavier" use are in "heatsink cases" :
https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... ction.html

TBH it depends upon what the ambient temperatures are in your location and what you're using the P4B for - if it gets too warm it will slow down which may or may not be "an issue". I also have a P400 (and are currently posting from) which has a "built-in" heat-sink and the CPU temp. is ~38 C (ambient 26.5 C). Re-visiting one of the screenshots linked to above a P4B w/o a heatsink was sitting at 56 C which dropped to 49 C with the heatsink. (No fans involved) YMMV

Trev.

Statistics: Posted by loujkar — Sat Jul 19, 2025 6:57 pm