fit-IoT Users Forum

Hi,

For the Fitlet computers, is it possible in the bios to disable turbo boost so that your always running your fitlet at the fastest possible processor speed? Or will the system simply get too hot to run at full speed and start throttling down or something? Or maybe it's not even possible to disable this feature?

fitlet BIOS has an advanced control over CPU power profile.
fitlet is shipped with the CPU power limited to its stated TDP (4.5W). The user can change this limit in BIOS to allow higher performance. Temperature in this case depends on workload and the environment (ambient and airflow). If the CPU temperature reaches throttling threshold it will reduce its frequency until CPU temperature is below threshold.

Thanks for the reply! Is there any rule of thumb guides that people know from experience with using the product? Such as, as long as you keep ambient temprature below some number, you never need to worry about throttling?

I'm just kind of wondering how much of a problem this would be. Is it a very common occurance under normal household abient tempratures to have it throttle at full workload? Or is it a very rare edge case that only happens if your workspace is just too hot?

PS: The Fit-PC2's have a heat sink you can buy for them to increase cooling. Will one be sold for the fitlet eventually too?

With the default max TDP you should not worry about throttling. Performance would not vary. If you increase TDP setting and run continuously at high load then throttling is a possibility. Some kind of airflow is recommended. Currently we do not offer external heatsink for fitlet. We may have a better solution...

Ah I see. In the case of performance, would you recommend a Fit-PC4 Pro instead? I assume given the larger size and grill-like design, even at full load it has no problem with removing heat / avoiding throttling?

fit-PC4 Pro can dissipate more heat but it is also using a higher power CPU.
I think the important point to consider is that there are hundreds of thousands of fit-PC computers running in the field. Nearly all of them could be brought to thermal throttling if the user would specifically try to do that, but nearly none reaches throttling in practice. If you would consider your computer's workload and environment as normal then throttling should not be a concern with either fitlet or any other fit-PC. If they are extreme then maybe you should opt for the highest performance computer with the highest thermal headroom.
Among Compulab's offerings that would be uSVR: http://www.compulab.co.il/products/embedded-pcs/usvr/