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.

[fan-man]

Can someone please have a look at this issue?

I only have a certain amount of time when I can return the unit to the store for a full refund if it turns out to be defective again.

[LeonWaksman]

Hi @fan-man 

1. Intel Support was informed about this problem. You will get an answer.

2. In order to get better information about your system, please download the Intel System Support Utility (SSU). Run the SSU scan and save the results. The .txt file with the results please attach to your post.
 3. Please download HWiNFO64 utility. Unzip the downloaded zip file and run the HWiNFO64.exe. Monitor the Cooling Blower RPM (in Sensors) and attach the results to your post.
Leon

[fan-man]

Hi,

Thanks for looking into this.

Attached are the logs you requested.

HWInfo logged about 10 minutes during which the computer was idle, after which I would expect the fan to slow down. During this time the log shows CPU [RPM] at around ~3700 even though the CPU Core Temps were just around the mid 30s (Celsius).

BIOS settings were unchanged for this log which are the same as in the screenshots of the first post.

Thanks.

[LeonWaksman]

Hi @fan-man 

1. I can only agree with you that the cooling blower RPM are to high (about 3700 RPM).  According to the BIOS settings where you set the Maximum Duty Cycle parameter to 25% and the Minimum Temperature to 75 Deg C for CPU and 55 Deg C for memory, the blower should rotate in less that 2000 RPM (about 1500 RPM). The measured CPU core temperature are about 37 Deg C only.

2. Please disable the Fan Off capability, and and set the VR as the Secondary Temperature Settings (instead of Memory). I would suggest to try the following settings: 75, 40, 3 and 55, 40, 3 respectively.

3. Hope that to day you will get some more help from Intel, however if the setting I've suggested will not help, you should RMA the second unit too.

Leon

[Chris_V_Intel]

Hi @fan-man 

@LeonWaksman notified me about this and I tried it. I didn't notice any amplitude difference between what was on the NUC previously, 0077, compared to 0081.

Can you shoot a video for us and post it here? That would be very helpful!

Thanks!

[LeonWaksman]

Hi @Chris_V_Intel 

@fan-man  send a HWinfo log showing that at low temperatures (around 36 Deg C) the Blower RPM is constant and high (about 3700 RPM). He attached the SSU report and images showing BIOS Cooling settings. On the BIOS image you can see the same low temperatures and high RPM. Since BIOS indication is independent from O.S. I presume that the second NUC is failed too. The only thing that is may be worth to try is to perform BIOS recovery?

Leon

[fan-man]

Thanks @LeonWaksman for also looking into this. I was thinking of doing BIOS recovery but not sure what the steps for it are and if that could further damage the unit. In which case I may lose the right to RMA if the further damage was caused by me.
I also tried the settings you suggested with Fan Off capability and the values. I don't seem to have VR as the secondary temp setting, only Memory and Motherboard. In the link below is a screenshot of these settings. Unfortunately it didn't help either

@Chris_V_Intel , all the info/diagnostics has been attached in my previous posts as Leon mentioned. But if it's a video you want, then a video you shall have

I hope you are allowed to open links from sync.com where I placed the video (105 MB) and the screenshot of Leon's suggested settings.

https://ln2.sync.com/dl/a32515750/mnte84ft-i5msqpig-dn2qt8qb-k37gas53

The sound in the vid is the fan noise which is pretty audible.

[LeonWaksman]

Hi @fan-man 

1. I saw the image and the video clip attached to your post. No doubt that your NUC is not working as suppose.  So, before opening ticket for RMA, please try BIOS recovery using Power Button Menu method. In case that your NUC will be bricked, you will not loose warranty. Recovering BIOS is valid procedure. Follow my instructions: 

2. Prepare USB stick fully formatted to FAT32 with Bios file BE0081.bio . Format your USB with Quick Format option unchecked. Do not format your USB in MAC (OS) or Linux machine. Use Windows. Insert  this USB stick it into front USB slot with amber color (NUC shall be OFF). You may use also one of the rear USB ports (do not use front blue USB port, since sometime the USB stick is not recognized during boot process). 

3. Press and hold Power Button for about 3 seconds. Count 1001, 1002, 1003,1004. Release the Power Button. NUC should reboot into Power Button Menu. You should release the Power Button before 4-sec shut down override or when the Power Button LED changes color from blue to amber.

4. Press F4 and the recovery shall start (it can take up to 30 seconds for messages to appear on the screen).

5. When the recovery finishes, press on Power Button and hold it, until NUC switches OFF. Pull out the power cord. Remove the USB stick.

6. Replace the power cord and press Power Button to switch the computer to ON.

7. Enter Bios setting by pressing F2 during boot process.

8. Press F9(followed by "Y"), to set Bios to default settings. Press F10 (followed by "Y"), to save the settings and exit to O.S. Let the NUC fully reboot.

9. If before update, you have customized bios settings, you can enter again to Bios setting to change the necessary settings.  For example, in your case, disable the Turbo Boost and set the Cooling Setting as on the last attached image, except that as a secondary Temperature Sensor , chose the Memory Sensor.

Leon

[fan-man]

Thanks @LeonWaksman for the detailed steps.

I performed the recovery successfully (attached are screenshots of the process), applied the Cooling settings as in your earlier post. Unfortunately, the same results.

I also attached a couple of minutes worth of HWInfo log after the whole process.

I guess this means RMA again?

Should I risk the "Third time's a charm" rule and get yet another new one?

Nah, I think I've had enough of NUCs for now, and I'm worried that the store will begin to suspect something if I end up RMA-ing a third unit

[LeonWaksman]

Hi @fan-man 

1. When you got the replacement NUC, was it given to you in sealed box? Are you sure that it was a new unit? What is clear to me that this unit should be returned.

2. I don't have NUC8i5BEH, but I have other NUCs. I'm participating in this forum for 4 years and I don't remember that I saw constant high RPM for Cooling Blower. So, it is up to you if you want to try a third unit. Please read this review, there is a part dealing with the Cooling Blower performance (however there is no data for RPM). Any way you may read it and compare the generated noise. 

3. Can you test the Blower RPM at the computer shop? You need only SO DIMM installed and you may boot  into BIOS and check the RPM? 

Good Luck

Leon

[fan-man]

1. Yes, it was completely sealed, brand new. The serial number is also different (I have the old one in the first RMA form).

2. Yeah, I also read good reviews for the NUCs and this model also, that's why I decided to give it another try with the second unit, thinking I was just unlucky with the first one. I'll ask for a full refund and either try a different NUC or different brand altogether.

3. Unfortunately, when I RMA the product, I need to send it by mail to another city where they check it. So no option for me to be present.

I will be RMA-ing this one and asking for a full refund.

Again, thank you for all the help and assistance.

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi @fan-man

I am really sorry to hear that you are having these issues with one of our products.

I have been looking into this issue and trying to replicate with no success so I just captured the board S/A number from your SSU.txt as reference for any other customer reporting the same behavior and then we could conduct an internal investigation if more cases are reported.

I agree with either have this unit replaced or process a refund for it, please let me know if you need any help with it and again, I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your understanding

Regards,

Ronny G

[fan-man]

Hi all,

Me again

Just wanted to report back on the end result.

So I returned the second faulty unit and bought a new one, but this time went with the BOXNUC8i5BEK2 model, which is basically an identical one (in regards to the electronic components).

There's a reason why "Third time's a charm" is a saying, because this one turned out ok

The fan is working correctly, only speeds a bit up under high load/temp.

Thank you again to all for your support.

[LeonWaksman]

I'm glad that the third unit is OK. 

Leon

[Andi]

Hey guys,

I am experiencing the exact same thing with my NUC8i5BEH. I have another one and a couple of i7 models but none of them behave this way. Right out of the box, plugged in and started, fan went to ~3600 RPM and stays there. Nothing I did changed that.

The box was sealed so it was brand new and already had the latest BIOS. I did a RMA and a replacement is on it's way from Amazon but should I expect the same from the next one? Is this a general issue as I see more than one case? Does this have anything to do with BIOS version as my older one works perfectly and was not upgraded.

Thanks,

Andi

[Chris_V_Intel]

Hi @Andi 

Please use this link to open a support ticket: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/contact-support.html 

Select, Intel NUC, then choose your method of contact.

This is a known issue and we're investigating the root cause.

[Andi]

Hello all,

I have opened a support case with Intel now and waiting to get the replacement tomorrow. If that one does the same, I guess it's a general thing that might have something to do with the BIOS as my other NUC8i5BEH does not perform that way but has an older BIOS version. Will keep you posted after I test tomorrow.

Thanks.

[Andi]

Hello all,

The replacement arrived today but it's behaving the exact same way. It had BIOS version 0077, I upgraded to 0088 but the same result. No matter what setting I choose for the FAN, it still goes full power the moment I start the NUC, at ~3700 RPM.

Question is what should I do now? Wait for a fix or RMA the second one as well? I really need it for my home lab so I'm expecting a fix soon. Is this a hardware issue or is it coming from the software?

Thanks,

Andi

[fan-man]

Hi @Andi ,

I was in the same position as you. Two exact same units with the same fan issue.

Maybe RMA this one also, ask for a full refund and go with the BOXNUC8i5BEK2 model which is the same without the option to install a 2.5" disk. In my case this model didn't have the fan issue and is working ok so far after about 2 months.

[Andi]

I will for sure RMA the item as the sound it does is much too high and cannot work with it. I have 4 other NUC boxes, i5 and i7 and none of them behave the way these 2 did so I guess it might be something hardware related with this batch.

The fact is I really need this unit and would put up with a lot of stuff but the noise is too much as I keep it on my desk I will send the 2.5 SSD back as well and will try to order the slim version :))

Thanks,

Andi