Is the Active Cooler worth it for a Raspberry Pi 5?

Yes, if you run sustained loads like compiling, emulation or servers. It is the official low-cost way to avoid throttling. For light desktop use a passive heatsink may be enough.

Does it fit older Raspberry Pi models?

No. It is designed for the Raspberry Pi 5 and its dedicated fan connector. Pi 4 and earlier boards need a different cooler.

How is it powered and controlled?

It plugs into the Pi 5's four-pin fan header and is controlled by the board's firmware. No separate power supply or GPIO wiring is needed.

Will it fit with a HAT or in my case?

It sits close to the board and can block HATs and low-clearance cases. Check your case's clearance above the Pi 5 before buying.

The fan is audible under heavy load but quiet at idle. If you need silence, use a large passive heatsink instead.

The cooler unit with its built-in fan and heatsink. It mounts directly to the Pi 5; no screws or thermal paste are required.

Raspberry Pi

Active Cooler

Last price we saw

$14.99at Walmart, last seen Nov 1

Prices change often: ask the agent below to check today's price at every store.

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Our take on the Active Cooler

The Raspberry Pi Active Cooler is the official fan-and-heatsink add-on for the Raspberry Pi 5. It clips onto the board and combines a blower-style fan with an aluminum heatsink, replacing the passive cooling a bare Pi 5 relies on. It is the cheapest way to stop a Pi 5 from thermal throttling under sustained load. No price was given for this listing, so compare it against the Pi 5's other cooling options before buying.

Best forRaspberry Pi 5 owners running sustained CPU loadsBuilds that throttle without active coolingCompact cases with room for the low-profile coolerBuyers who want the official, plug-and-play part

Pros

Official Raspberry Pi part, model SC1160, made for the Pi 5
Fan and heatsink in one unit; mounts with the board's dedicated cooler connector
Keeps a Pi 5 from throttling in long CPU-heavy jobs
Low profile and black, so it fits many standard cases
No tools or separate power wiring needed

Cons

Active Cooler prices at every store

WalmartCheck price at Walmart

Active Cooler price history

Lowest price we've seen: $14.99 on Nov 1 at Walmart. Tracked across 1 store since Nov 1.

What reviewers say

Owners of the Pi 5 treat the Active Cooler as the default cooling fix. Reports say it holds clock speeds up during long compiles and stress tests, at the cost of audible fan noise.

Pros

Noticeably reduces thermal throttling on the Pi 5
Simple clip-on install with no extra wiring
Cheap compared with third-party cooler kits

Cons

Fan is audible when the Pi 5 is pushed
Can conflict with HATs and tight cases
Not silent, unlike a passive heatsink

Specifications

Computer cooling type: Case FansSource

Questions and answers

Is the Active Cooler worth it for a Raspberry Pi 5?: Yes, if you run sustained loads like compiling, emulation or servers. It is the official low-cost way to avoid throttling. For light desktop use a passive heatsink may be enough.
Does it fit older Raspberry Pi models?: No. It is designed for the Raspberry Pi 5 and its dedicated fan connector. Pi 4 and earlier boards need a different cooler.
How is it powered and controlled?: It plugs into the Pi 5's four-pin fan header and is controlled by the board's firmware. No separate power supply or GPIO wiring is needed.
Will it fit with a HAT or in my case?: It sits close to the board and can block HATs and low-clearance cases. Check your case's clearance above the Pi 5 before buying.
Is it noisy?: The fan is audible under heavy load but quiet at idle. If you need silence, use a large passive heatsink instead.
What is in the box?: The cooler unit with its built-in fan and heatsink. It mounts directly to the Pi 5; no screws or thermal paste are required.