NUC11ATKC4 - BIOS/UEFI - Cooler

[mathemike]

I've bought 2 NUC11ATKC4 barebone (assembled in March 2022 and June 2022 as I can read). Both now with 16GB DDR4-RAM (2400) and 500GB M.2-SSD. Identical BIOS/UEFI values. Cooler-values: "Cool" - no "fan off". Result: The June-2022-NUC is quiet at 1800rpm (constantly). But the March-2022-NUC ist much louder (varies between 0(!) and 4000(!)rpm. When the temperature is lower then 40°C then fan stops. Two minutes later the fan starts up to 4000rpm. Although "Cool" and no "fan off" are the values. What's this? BIOS is the same actual one (March 2022). 

[n_scott_pearson]

Have you install the latest BIOS on both systems? If not, I suggest that you do this before anything else. You can download it from here: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/721452/bios-update-atjslcpx.html. 

To me, it sounds like the fan speed control settings are either not being saved are are not being transferred to the Embedded Controller (EC), which manages fan speed control, for implementation.

If the problem is still happening after updating to the latest BIOS, I suggest that you try manually configuring the fan speed control. Here is a set of values to try:

Fan Off: Enabled

Minimum Duty Cycle: 20

Duty Cycle Increment: 4

Minimum Temperature: 65

Maximum Temperature: 85

Fan On Temperature: 50

Hopefully I have the names of the configuration parameters correct (or at least close); I am away from the house (in fact, about 2500 miles away) and doing this from memory.

...S

[mathemike]

It's the 0035-BIOS on both systems, yes. Although "Fan Off" ist disabled on both systems, the second one reacts strange. Fan decreases up to 0rpm, then (after a minute) it increases up to 4000rpm. And back again. Also strange: F7 (optimal values) leads to 2000rpm constantly (no fan off). If I change one value (SATA off, LAN off, Boot priority, whatever...), the fan reacts strange again (fan off, quiet, loud, quiet, loud). No idea. Maybe it depends on the motherboard (March/June-versions).

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello @mathemike

Thank you for posting on the Intel® communities.

We are checking this thread and we would like to know if you need further assistance. If so, could you please provide the following details:

1- Is this behavior occurring since the first day that you have the Intel® NUC?

2- Screenshots from the BIOS showing all the settings set related to Fan/Cooling.

Please do not hesitate to contact us back if you have additional inquiries.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[mathemike]

Hi,

yes, strange behavior since first day. The two NUCs are brandnew. I installed the new BIOS on both before installing Windows 11. Here are the 4 screenshots of both NUCs (ok: the good NUC, fail: the bad NUC). The only difference: 2400-RAM vs. 2667-RAM and(!!!) the board itself (see boardnumber). Three months between. As you can see there are differences in the fan speed 30 seconds after booting. The problem again: The fan of bad NUC decreases to 0rpm after a few minutes and increases up to 4000rpm after a few minutes (and so on).

Michael

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello mathemike

Thank you for your response and for the screenshots. Please allow us to review this further and we will be posting back in the thread as soon as more details are available.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello mathemike

After reviewing this further and considering all the information, this looks like it is a specific hardware issue with the unit with the unusual fan behavior.

Therefore, our recommendation is to reach out to Intel® Customer Support directly through phone or chat to review the warranty options for your Intel® NUC. Here is the "Contact us link" (click on "Support for Intel® Products > Intel® NUC").

Please make sure to select your country or region and to contact us within your local business Support hours. Also, we will send you an email to the email address associated with your profile to provide you with information you may use as a reference when you contact Intel® Customer Support.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[mathemike]

I do not trust the two NUCs anymore. So I will sell them next week. That's the end.

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello mathemike

Thank you for your response.

We are really sorry for the inconvenience you have experienced with the Intel® NUC and your feedback has been shared with the proper department.

Having said that, we would like to know if you have any other inquiries or if we can help you with anything else. If not, would you agree to close the thread?

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello mathemike

We have not heard back from you so we will proceed to close this thread now. If you need any additional information, please submit a new question as this thread will no longer be monitored.

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician