As Raspberry Pi boards have increased in power, so has the importance of keeping them cool to maintain performance.
Thermal throttling occurs when the Raspberry Pi reaches its thermal threshold, causing the system to reduce clock speeds which impacts performance.
There are various cooling methods, including passive, active and combined approaches.
Combining heatsinks with a fan is the most efficient method and affords users the benefit of both silent operation found in passive solutions, as well as the significantly increased cooling performance provided by active solutions.
Water cooling is suitable for those requiring extreme cooling solutions.
Optimising ambient conditions can also improve cooling performance and the right cooling method should be chosen based on factors including raspberry pi model and usage patterns.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to Raspberry Pi cooling methods in 2025, to ensure optimal performance, system stability and longevity of the device.