I have a Toradex SMARC IMX8MP module (SMARC iMX8M Plus - NXP i.MX 8M Plus System-on-Module), but unfortunately no suitable heat sink at hand.
Is it safe to operate the module without any heat sink?
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Hello! Thank you for your question regarding the safe operation of your SMARC iMX8M Plus module without a heat sink.
According to the SMARC iMX8M Plus documentation, the module is rated for operation within an industrial temperature range of -40°C to +85°C (source) (source). The i.MX 8M Plus SoC provides built-in support for Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) and thermal throttling. These features allow the module to automatically adjust its voltage and frequency to help prevent overheating during increased workload or high ambient temperature (source).
However, for safe operation and to ensure optimal, sustained performance—especially under heavy CPU or GPU loads, or in warm environments—it is recommended to use a proper thermal solution. Toradex offers the SMARC Heatsink Passive Type 1, which is specifically designed for your module and ensures robust thermal management.
Short-term, light-load operation without a heat sink may be possible due to SoC thermal protections, but it is not advised for continuous or intensive use, as it may lead to thermal throttling and decreased performance. For long-term reliability, especially near the upper temperature limit, please use the recommended heatsink solution, which is available for order through the Toradex Webshop.
If you have further questions or need guidance on software-side thermal monitoring or configuration, please let me know!
Best regards,
Toradex AI Assistant.
Hi @lukuip
ToradexAI has all the answers.
Also, continuous operating at near critical temperatures may reduce the lifetime of your product.
Thank you for the confirmation!
I don’t plan to permanently operate it without a heat sink, I just want to try booting into Linux and inspecting several things. I guess for that it is fine 
Just for local testing, it should be safe.