NUC8i5BEH high fan speed regardless of BIOS settings or CPU temp.

[fan-man]

Hi,

So about 2 weeks ago I bought a new NUC8i5BEH, bought a 16 GB RAM stick and an SSD to it.

I install the parts and start it up. I notice that the fan is quite loud. I tried tinkering with the Cooling settings in the BIOS, tried updating the BIOS to the latest one (0081). Disabled Intel turbo boost. Nothing helped. I even tried setting Fan Control Mode in the BIOS to Fanless. Still nothing.

I started looking in these forums and found the same model with the same issue:

https://community.intel.com/t5/Intel-NUCs/NUC8i5BEH-fan-constantly-around-3650rpm/m-p/1191582

Since that person's problem got solved by replacing the unit, I tried the same.

I RMAd the unit at the store I bought it in, they accepted and wanted to refund me. But I thought that maybe I just got a faulty unit and can try with a new one. So instead of the money, they sent me a brand new one (same model).

SURPRISE!! The same issue with the fan again!

Is something wrong with the BIOS 0081 or did I seriously get another faulty unit? Do I need to downgrade to an older BIOS. In a different thread, someone suggested that 0078 works fine.

Any help would be appreciated

Attached are some screenshots of the BIOS, the interior (with and without the SSD) and HWmonitor.

[robcowart]

Yes the did. Same BIOS on both.

[ALand]

Thanks! Very useful

[Chris_V_Intel · Accepted solution]

Hi all,

As promised, here's the BIOS (version 0085) that should fix this issue!

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/29959/BIOS-Update-BECFL357-86A

We really appreciate your patience on this and please reply back if you have any issues!

[Paulo]

Works like a charm. Now my NUC running Debian is fully silent when idling.

Thanks a lot!

[ALand]

Thanks.

[Niemitz]

Which model do you have? 

Mine is still spinning like crazy even after update...

[Niemitz]

Hi all!

Same problem here. I am very annoyed by the fan noise. Using noise-cancelling headphones most of the time.

I bought NUC8i5BEH about 2 years ago. I bought it specifically because it had "Fanless Mode" in BIOS which I was hoping to get. Since I received the unit the fan had been spinning at around 3600 rpm as soon as I turn on/wake up the computer. After multiple BIOS updates, the problem is still there. I tried several recommended BIOS adjustments Quiet mode, Custom mode, Low power mode, Turn off Turbo boost - there is no any noticeable change. It really feels like the BIOS graphic interface is just a fake and doesn't do anything...

As suggested in this thread I RMA'd my unit and requested NUC8i3BEH unit - hoping for lower power consumption/heat production/fan noise. 

I turned on the replacement product, it went through the BIOS initiation, etc. It was quiet initially, but half-way through the process the same fan blower noise came back again and stayed. I tried BIOS tweaks again ....  Same results... The fan keeps spinning.

BTW, replacement unit I received was the "S" model NUC8i3BEHS with Intel® Core™ i3-8140U Processor, Intel® UHD Graphics 620, and TDP of 15W - so theoretically it should had been much less power hungry, more cool and more quiet  ....   But, no .... still the same annoying fan noise

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/199008/intel-nuc-kit-nuc8i3behs.html

So I requested another replacement unit. This time they will send me NUC8i5BEH. So it looks like I will need to continue to do exchanges until one day (hopefully) I receive a quiet unit...

Or until a real BIOS update is released to fix this problem once and for all.

Any suggestions are welcome!

Thank you!

[Chris_V_Intel]

Hi @Niemitz  & @Rinkel,

Would you be able to provide your unit's serial number for me so I can investigate this further? 

If you don't want to post it publicly, please PM me.

Thanks!

[Niemitz]

BOXNUC8i5BEH1  S/N:G6BE843000AH

BOXNUC8i3BEHS  S/N:G6BE01200LB7

[Chris_V_Intel]

Thanks @Niemitz 

I'll get back to you.

Another request though. Can you send me the case number of when we replaced your first unit(s)? I'd like to see those serial numbers as well.

Thank you!

[Chris_V_Intel]

Hi @Niemitz,

Were you able to get those case numbers?

[Sherwinn]

Hi there, I’m having the exact issue with a NUC10I3FNK. The fan stays at 4500 rpm and I updated the bios to no avail. The issue is that I can’t modify fan speeds through the BIOS, any modification I make in the bios is not recognized and the speeds stay at 4500 regardless

[Chris_V_Intel]

Hi @Sherwinn,

Please open a case so we can work with you individually.

You can use this link: https://supporttickets.intel.com/?lang=en-US 

[ThomasMüh]

Same Problem here, 06/2020 Production Date

NUC8i5BEK2

Windows update let me do a firmware update to version 86

Monday nuc goes back to dealer by DHL

[Chris_V_Intel]

Thanks for sharing @ThomasMüh.

An investigation is in process.

Can you let me know your case number? You can PM me if you don't want to post it.

Thank you.

[ThomasMüh]

I sent it back to the dealer, but Serial number is on Microsoft.com

• EditionWindows 10 Professional
• Betriebssystembuild10.0.19042.746
• Seriennummer G6BE02300STV

I hope new PC is better.

[Niemitz]

Not to be a buzzkiller, but I wouldn't keep your hopes up. I did several exchanges/RMAs and they all had almost identical fan noise with default bios settings.

Only after changing to above-mentioned settings in BIOS I got the fan noise level down to a reasonable level.

Primary Temperature Sensor: Processor

Minimum Temperature: 65 

Minimum Duty Cycle: 20% 

Duty Cycle Increment: 1

Hyperthreading: Disabled

Max Performance Enabled: Checked

Package Power Limit 1 (Sustained): 25

Package Power Limit 2 (Burst Mode): 25

Package Power  Time Limit (Tau) : 0

[Niemitz]

I was able to reduce the noise level from annoying/disturbing whistle to a whisper.

I didn't make sense to me to uncheck "Fan off capability" in BIOS for me, but eventually I gave it a try. I also set the following value, as suggested by others:

Primary Temperature Sensor: Processor

Minimum Temperature: 65 

Minimum Duty Cycle: 20% 

Duty Cycle Increment: 1

Hyperthreading: Disabled

Max Performance Enabled: Checked

Package Power Limit 1 (Sustained): 25

Package Power Limit 2 (Burst Mode): 25

Package Power  Time Limit (Tau) : 0

Using those settings the noise is down to tolerable whisper.

It still doesn't make sense to my why I have to "Fan off capability" for than not to accelerate.

Give it a try! It might work for you as well!

My fan currently spins at 1990's  RPMs. No completely silent, but tolerable. Temp is in lower 40's.

I will probably end up getting a fanless case for completely silent operation (such as Akasa Touring)

Secondary Temperature Sensor: Motherboard ambient

Minimum Temperature: 76 

Minimum Duty Cycle: 20% 

Duty Cycle Increment: 1

[Andi]

Hello all,

I have installed the new bios and I can also confirm it's now working perfectly!

Thank you for the update and the work on this issue @Chris_V_Intel !!! I think it was worth the wait as this model is the perfect balance between power and size.

Have a nice day all,

Andi

[Chris_V_Intel]

Glad to hear and thanks for the patience!

[Akira108]

Hello all!

After the update my NUC workes just fine.

Thank you @Chris_V_Intel for great job! And thanks all for support )))

Good luck all.

Peace!

Kirill