[ROM] Mecool M8S PRO+ TVStock Nexus ROM (Android TV 7.1)

[Joelpr1234]

Hello, any kernel with overclock capability? I see this box is limited to 1.5GHz but the S905X is capable to 2.0GHz

nice rom by the way, thanks.

[Jancales]

Hello, any kernel with overclock capability? I see this box is limited to 1.5GHz but the S905X is capable to 2.0GHz

nice rom by the way, thanks.

They limit it to 1.5GHz to reduce the risk of over heating, and even then it runs hot, so what you think will happen at 2.0GHz?

[spaceship9876]

They limit it to 1.5GHz to reduce the risk of over heating, and even then it runs hot, so what you think will happen at 2.0GHz?

replacing the thermal pad with thermal paste would solve that problem. I read somewhere that someone replaced the pad with paste on an S912 clocked at 2.0ghz and the temp reduced from 80c to 60c.

[Joelpr1234]

They limit it to 1.5GHz to reduce the risk of over heating, and even then it runs hot, so what you think will happen at 2.0GHz?

My plan is to replace the thermal pad plus a fan.

[Jancales]

replacing the thermal pad with thermal paste would solve that problem. I read somewhere that someone replaced the pad with paste on an S912 clocked at 2.0ghz and the temp reduced from 80c to 60c.

That are dreamers.

First of all the Mecool boxes don't come with thermal pad, the heat sinks are installed with paste.

I have replaced probably 100 heat sinks in the past 6 months on S905X and S912 processors.

For the Mecool boxes I use 40x40x11 heat sinks, as that is about the biggest size that fits without issues, and I'm happy if I can get them in the lower seventies with Kodi running a 1080p stream for 90 minutes at least.

Of course I can also let it run for 15 minutes, just to get a good result, but I prefer not to lie to myself.

If you want to do a real heat test download StressCPU apk, and let it run for 30 minutes, then you know how much you reduced the temperature.

FYI with the heat sinks replaced I haven't had a single Mecool S905X or S912 box that didn't reach 80°C before it start to reduce the CPU speed to stabilize the temperature.

The good news is that with the factory heat sink it doesn't stop at 80°C, but goes easily 5 degrees higher in Kodi at which point the frame rate will drop significantly or the box will stop working completely.

Usually most of the current boxes with stock firmware crash at 85°C

I also have Beelink M18 boxes with a S905 processor, and factory heat sinks which are 25x25x5 and even running a 1080p stream in Kodi for half a day will not get them above 65°C. That should tell you something.

[Joelpr1234]

That are dreamers.

First of all the Mecool boxes don't come with thermal pad, the heat sinks are installed with paste.

I have replaced probably 100 heat sinks in the past 6 months on S905X and S912 processors.

For the Mecool boxes I use 40x40x11 heat sinks, as that is about the biggest size that fits without issues, and I'm happy if I can get them in the lower seventies with Kodi running a 1080p stream for 90 minutes at least.

Of course I can also let it run for 15 minutes, just to get a good result, but I prefer not to lie to myself.

If you want to do a real heat test download StressCPU apk, and let it run for 30 minutes, then you know how much you reduced the temperature.

FYI with the heat sinks replaced I haven't had a single Mecool S905X or S912 box that didn't reach 80°C before it start to reduce the CPU speed to stabilize the temperature.

The good news is that with the factory heat sink it doesn't stop at 80°C, but goes easily 5 degrees higher in Kodi at which point the frame rate will drop significantly or the box will stop working completely.

Usually most of the current boxes with stock firmware crash at 85°C

I also have Beelink M18 boxes with a S905 processor, and factory heat sinks which are 25x25x5 and even running a 1080p stream in Kodi for half a day will not get them above 65°C. That should tell you something.

Nice post, do you know how to overclock this mecool?

[Jancales]

Nice post, do you know how to overclock this mecool?

No mate, I don't know, as i don't have any interest in increasing the CPU performance.

For me it's more important to run at the coolest temperature without losing performance.

I even tried to run a cpu limiter to let it run at only 1.2GHz maximum, but it didn't have any advantage in temperatures reached.

[P.X]

That are dreamers.

First of all the Mecool boxes don't come with thermal pad, the heat sinks are installed with paste.

I have replaced probably 100 heat sinks in the past 6 months on S905X and S912 processors.

For the Mecool boxes I use 40x40x11 heat sinks, as that is about the biggest size that fits without issues, and I'm happy if I can get them in the lower seventies with Kodi running a 1080p stream for 90 minutes at least.

Of course I can also let it run for 15 minutes, just to get a good result, but I prefer not to lie to myself.

If you want to do a real heat test download StressCPU apk, and let it run for 30 minutes, then you know how much you reduced the temperature.

FYI with the heat sinks replaced I haven't had a single Mecool S905X or S912 box that didn't reach 80°C before it start to reduce the CPU speed to stabilize the temperature.

The good news is that with the factory heat sink it doesn't stop at 80°C, but goes easily 5 degrees higher in Kodi at which point the frame rate will drop significantly or the box will stop working completely.

Usually most of the current boxes with stock firmware crash at 85°C

I also have Beelink M18 boxes with a S905 processor, and factory heat sinks which are 25x25x5 and even running a 1080p stream in Kodi for half a day will not get them above 65°C. That should tell you something.

Hi Jancales,

I have done some further testing - probably about the same as your findings (you have no doubt done many more tests than me)

Stock HS + Stock Glue (thicker application) + Kodi HD File = 80+°C (Some Slows or Crashes)
22x22x16 HS + Thin Glue + StressCPU = 80°C (some brief clock limiting)
22x22x16 HS + Thin Glue + Kodi HD File = 70/72°C
22x22x16 HS + Thin Glue + Kodi 4K File = 78°C (just below limiting)

-

How does the Beelink M18 FW manage to be so much more efficient ????

[Jancales]

Hi Jancales,

I have done some further testing - probably about the same as your findings (you have no doubt done many more tests than me)

Stock HS + Stock Glue (thicker application) + Kodi HD File = 80+°C (Some Slows or Crashes)
22x22x16 HS + Thin Glue + StressCPU = 80°C (some brief clock limiting)
22x22x16 HS + Thin Glue + Kodi HD File = 70/72°C
22x22x16 HS + Thin Glue + Kodi 4K File = 78°C (just below limiting)

-

How does the Beelink M18 FW manage to be so much more efficient ????

You should use the Stress CPU app to test your box and let it run for 30 minutes minimum, it is the only real life test, and it will also show you in real time how the CPU speed is reduced and increased again to prevent over heating.

Why the Beelink M18 is so much more efficient?

First of all it's S905, not S905X, which is know to run hotter as it is a cheaper version of the former one.

Secondly it has a metal housing, where the underside of the processor is connected by a thermal pad to the bottom plate.

Remove the thermal pad or bottom plate and the box will run 10°C hotter straight away.

Edit : I also notice you use a 16mm heat sink, which means you can't properly close the top lid. Remove the top lid completely and your box will not run hot, even with stock heat sink.

[P.X]

You should use the Stress CPU app to test your box, it is the only real life test, and it will also show you in real time how the CPU speed is reduced to prevent over heating.

Why the Beelink M18 is so much more efficient?

First of all it's S905, not S905X, which is know to run hotter as it is a cheaper version of the former one.

Secondly it has a metal housing, where the underside of the processor is connected by a thermal pad to the bottom plate.

Remove the thermal pad or bottom plate and the box will run 10°C hotter straight away.

Beelink has much better case design then, as well as cooler chip version. Guess that explains it then.

Thanks,

I used StressCPU as listed above with the 22x22x16 HS - Limits at 80°C using brief occasional speed drops

[Jancales]

Beelink has much better case design then, as well as cooler chip version. Guess that explains it then.

Thanks,

I used StressCPU as listed above with the 22x22x16 HS - Limits at 80°C using brief occasional speed drops

Yes, but take note the M18 has not a single ventilation hole.

If one could add a metal bottom plate to the Mecool and press a thermal pad between PCB and metal plate, I'm sure it will also run much cooler.

With custom firmware the Stress CPU will limit to around 80°C, with stock firmware it will get straight over it until it crashes.

[P.X]

Yes, but take note the M18 has not a single ventilation hole.

If one could add a metal bottom plate to the Mecool and press a thermal pad between PCB and metal plate, I'm sure it will also run much cooler.

With custom firmware the Stress CPU will limit to around 80°C, with stock firmware it will get straight over it until it crashes.

Someone posted a base thermal pad mod I believe (Trebor ?)
Good addition for passive solution.

16mm HS lifts lid 2mm but looks normal. No lid is a bit ::::: But no doubt cooler.

[Joelpr1234]

Nice info guys, you really gave me a couple of ideas, thanks

[P.X]

Has anyone got a link for the previous release?
20171210
? M8S_PRO+-V0619_TVStock-20171210
zip and img ???

[Jancales]

Someone posted a base thermal pad mod I believe (Trebor ?)
Good addition for passive solution.

16mm HS lifts lid 2mm but looks normal. No lid is a bit ::::: But no doubt cooler.

A bottom plate is definitely the way to go, as then it can dissipate the heat from 2 sites and also the size of the plate can be much larger than a heat sink.

I'm not an engineer but I'm afraid it will be a difficult task with the Mecool because the space between PCB and bottom of the housing is too small.

The beelink has a 2mm thermal pad between, if you use smaller than that you risk a short circuit, and i think the total space available with mecool is not more than 2mm.