[raymw]

[quote='raymw' pid='2013979' dateline='1432713445']
Those dual core 520 boxes get hot already so by default they are now usually set to 1.2 Ghz and that IMHO is plenty fast enough so it is a good think if setting it faster than 1.3 Ghz is disabled. I live in a hot climate and even consider slowing my old 520 box down a little but it does seem to just about be okay if getting a little close to critically hot. 1.5 Ghz is a no no unless your TV room is running well below 20C or even less IMHO. Turn the box upside down and the heat can more easily dissipate of course though does not look so good

Thanks for posting that tip as indeed it is a good on for readers here to see. I do already use one though for the past year xbmcdoc so know their benefits in hot places like here. I got hold of a quite small one that is more in size to fit under my ATV1200 box and cost me about 200 Thai Baht (£4). The ATV520 box though is very much smaller than the ATV1200 so I doubt I could find a suitable USB fan small enough to be practical. But I mainly use my ATV1200 as it is a superior box that also supports WiFi with Gotham and Helix of course.

Too bad the ATV1200 isn't in production any more. It was a good box.

Interesting enough pushing cooler air from under the box is more efficient than fanning from the top. The ATV1200 has a fan plug inside too. I think it is a 2-pin plug. I tried a little fan inside the box once but it was loud and didn't have time to install a switch in between (turn it on only when needed).

Yes it was a good box xbmcdoc but so is the ATV1220T which is basically the same box inside with the addition of a DVB -T (NOTE not T2 so not a lot of use to a lot of us and anyway only works with Android so not worth using it if you could) I believe they made a none DVB-T model too but I only seem to be able to get the 1220T model now but at the same special price to me as the 1200 boxes.

Yes sure always best to push the cooler air up form below of course, basic physics. But many do not have a fan so the upside down trick does help the 520 box owners until they get a fan. Never thought of fitting a small internal Northbridge / Southbridge type small fan over the ATV1200 box cpu heatsink, but to be honest never had one fail with heat yet and that is even here in very hot Thailand. I also have no real need or desire to want to over-clock them to 1.3 to 1.5 GHz anyway as the 1200 and 1220 boxes are nigh on perfect as they are at 1.2 GHz IMHO so no need to take any even slight risk of frying the cpu.