CWWK/Topton/... Nxxx quad NIC router

[spongi]

Just read through this or any of the other 'fanless' box threads

The QC is not so great so some boxes they need some minor adjustments to ensure the CPU to heat spreader surfaces have zero space between them. Using a better and adequate amount of thermal paste is also recommended.

I have already read through most of the pages here Reapplied the thermal paste and if the CPU is not doing much I have temps around 30° C. The case itself was so hot, that if I would touch it for a longer duration it would start to hurt. So it seems that the case is conducting the heat fine, but the whole system gets too hot (without a fan which is cooling the case).

 

[AnthonyUK]

Where is the heat coming from? Are you able to read the sensors?

 

[spongi]

Where is the heat coming from? Are you able to read the sensors?

According to my logging, the two NVMEs were around 65° C and the CPU 72° C under load (made a Backup). Don't know why it freezes with these temperatures, which are absolutely fine, I would say. But I was able to reproduce it every time. Maybe some other component is overheating, like the RAM, but I don't have a temperature reading from it.

 

[alexw1982]

According to my logging, the two NVMEs were around 65° C and the CPU 72° C under load (made a Backup). Don't know why it freezes with these temperatures, which are absolutely fine, I would say. But I was able to reproduce it every time. Maybe some other component is overheating, like the RAM, but I don't have a temperature reading from it.

memtest from passmark is able to read out the ram temperature ... but with regular use I would assume it is unlikely that the RAM overheats (e.g. doing a backup)

 

[keithm]

memtest from passmark is able to read out the ram temperature ... but with regular use I would assume it is unlikely that the RAM overheats (e.g. doing a backup)

One suggestion as a debug approach is to stand the unit up on its side with the bottom plate removed and run it that way. This may help any trapped hot air escape. The case is likely to get cooler if the heat is generated by some component on the top side of the board that is not directly (thermally) connected to the case (it did for me). You could also try blowing some air on the board directly when the base plate is removed. I had a RAM board that was defective and generating a lot of trapped heat. Swapping the RAM fixed it.

 

[spongi]

In the meantime I have found out that the freezes were not occurring because of the heat. It seams that I'm somehow triggering a kernel panic during backup of my VMs. I can reproduce this every time I make a backup of my VMs to my external USB3 HDD via Proxmox Backup Server.

 

[Stovar]

This is probably debatable but imo no such thing as fanless

Squashing in already hot ram and nvme sticks surrounded by a CPU that could probably boil an egg into a tiny dinky metal box was always asking for trouble, imo everything needs a bit of active cooling its probably why cwwk chucked in the free fan with my unit, probably didn't want any overheating or return issues lol

Another issue is Summer time or when the central heating goes on during Winter...

I always recommend putting on a fan onto these type of mini router boxes be it the internal ones or usb powered ones, doesn't have to be fancy but
these mini routers need some active cooling imo.

 

[Stovar]

Some new Mini forum boards coming out soon

Minisforum BD795i SE Motherboard

AMD Ryzen™ 7 7940HX & AMD Radeon™ 610M, 16 Cores/32 Threads(32M Cache, up to 5.4 GHz),DDR5 Dual channel(SODIMM Slots×2, up to 5200 MT/s, Max 64GB),2×M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD Slots,PCIe 4.0 X16 connector ×1,

store.minisforum.uk

Minisforum AD650I

Minisforum AD650I- Intel® Core™ i7-12650H&Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® DDR4 Dual channel (SODIMM Slots×2, up to 3200 MT/s, Max 64GB)

store.minisforum.com

Look like they might make good desktop PC replacements or good NAS boxes

 

[spongi]

This is probably debatable but imo no such thing as fanless

Squashing in already hot ram and nvme sticks surrounded by a CPU that could probably boil an egg into a tiny dinky metal box was always asking for trouble, imo everything needs a bit of active cooling its probably why cwwk chucked in the free fan with my unit, probably didn't want any overheating or return issues lol

Another issue is Summer time or when the central heating goes on during Winter...

I always recommend putting on a fan onto these type of mini router boxes be it the internal ones or usb powered ones, doesn't have to be fancy but
these mini routers need some active cooling imo.

If this is a reply to me; I have a 120 mm Noctua Fan sitting on the fins and with the standard bios settings it is enough cooled and the fan is not noticeable.

 

[MemeScreen]

Reading though this thread I'm getting mixed messages about these routers. Are people generally happy with the performance out of the box or do most routers require tinkering and modification to run acceptably due to bad QC?

 

[gregg098]

Reading though this thread I'm getting mixed messages about these routers. Are people generally happy with the performance out of the box or do most routers require tinkering and modification to run acceptably due to bad QC?

The complaints and overall tweaking is definitely the minority. I bought the CWWK N100 version, installed storage, RAM, and Proxmox and it has just worked ever since. Running OPNsense virtualized as my main router for a few months now. No freezes, crashes, temperature, issues, etc.

 

[metlrise]

small question for everybody:

From where the CWWK N100/N305 units were bought?

 

[splifingate]

small question for everybody:

From where the CWWK N100/N305 units were bought?

7-days in from my purchase of the tall-fin n305 from cwwk dot net . . . ~300USD all-in . . . still no update on shipment/traversal.

It has been an exciting, semi-anxious waitng-game

 

[Minitwo]

7-days in from my purchase of the tall-fin n305 from cwwk dot net . . . ~300USD all-in . . . still no update on shipment/traversal.

It has been an exciting, semi-anxious waitng-game

Why not just buy from aliexpress? They are all roughly the same right?

 

[splifingate]

Why not just buy from aliexpress? They are all roughly the same right?

I have no idea as to similarity.

On one hand, it made some sense--to me--that I purchase a chang-wang product directly from CWWK.

On the other hand, good communication on CWWK's part (with the direct addition of accessory parts) heartened me

On the gripping hand, I have had great success with purchases from Ali (shipped to USA), so no deprecation on that front!

 

[metlrise]

No tracking number?

 

[splifingate]

No tracking number?

Not yet

 

[metlrise]

Why not just buy from aliexpress? They are all roughly the same right?

The main problem is the price, on cwwk(dot)net you have:

Welcome to the CWWK store. Get discounts when you buy from us, plus free shipping and tax! ! !

on aliexpress, if the destination is E.U. (my case), aliexpress automatically adds the V.A.T (to the total price). The V.A.T can be as low as 19% or even greater, depending on the destination.

Later edit: even without the V.A.T, the price is greater on aliexpress compared with cwwk(dot)net

Not yet

not good, check the Shipping Policy page and send them an email, if no result you will have to contact PayPal

 

[Becks0815]

Reading though this thread I'm getting mixed messages about these routers. Are people generally happy with the performance out of the box or do most routers require tinkering and modification to run acceptably due to bad QC?

This picture should answer the question:



I knew from the N51xx series that there are issues with CPU gaps, so I ordered a pack of shims (which I didn't use in the end), repasted the N100 with good thermal paste, and I ordered from CWWK (best on Aliexpress) and the version with the best case.

I can't complain, I am happy with the machine. All I would change now is to install a 2 TB NVME drive and try 32 GB RAM, so I can run more VMs on it beside Opnsense.

 

[AnthonyUK]

No issues here either.
I recently removed the bottom cover and temps are much better.

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0:  +33.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 0:        +33.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 1:        +33.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 2:        +33.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 3:        +33.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)

nvme-pci-0600
Adapter: PCI adapter
Composite:    +34.9°C  (low  = -273.1°C, high = +84.8°C)
                       (crit = +84.8°C)
Sensor 1:     +34.9°C  (low  = -273.1°C, high = +65261.8°C)
Sensor 2:     +33.9°C  (low  = -273.1°C, high = +65261.8°C)

BTW - The Topton one I have is also a CWWK model.

System Information
        Manufacturer: CWWK
        Product Name: CW-AD4L-N V1
        Version: Default string
        Serial Number: Default string
        UUID: 0xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
        Wake-up Type: Power Switch
        SKU Number: Default string
        Family: Default string