Advice on AMlogic "TV stick/dongle" hardware

Quote from RvVNL

My question is whether anyone has successfully run LibreElec on such AMlogic 'stick/dongle' hardware and if it worked stably or had any power/thermal/wifi issues?

I purchased the H96Pro S905X NOT S912.

Link #2,273
I power it via USB HDD input on my tv with no issues. Cable required.

My tv powers it off completely and when TV is turned on it powers it up. Cold Bootup.

Crap 2.4g wifi. Apart from that it runs LE from kszaq's latest 8.2.3.1 perfectly.

The HDMI Extender KILLS CEC .

Also the wifi on mine is not realtek

LibreELEC (community): 8.2.3.1 (S905.arm)
LibreELEC:~ # udevadm info /sys/bus/sdio/devices/sdio*
P: /devices/d0070000.sdio/mmc_host/sdio/sdio:0001/sdio:0001:1
E: DEVPATH=/devices/d0070000.sdio/mmc_host/sdio/sdio:0001/sdio:0001:1
E: DRIVER=bcmsdh_sdmmc
E: MODALIAS=sdio:c00v02D0d4334
E: SDIO_CLASS=00
E: SDIO_ID=02D0:4334
E: SUBSYSTEM=sdio
E: SYSTEMD_WANTS=brcmfmac_sdio-firmware-aml.service
E: TAGS=:systemd:
E: USEC_INITIALIZED=25053290

The best thing you can do for these cheap S905X or S912 boxes and dongles is run them for a while and then open them up and twist or remove the heatsink off the SoC. Then clean up the SoC and heatsink with something that does not leave a greasy residue, like electrical Contact Cleaner.

Most heatsinks look like they are just fixed on with some sort of Silicon which makes for pretty bad heat transfer.

Then simply get some 30% Silver (or better) thermal paste, you only need tiny amounts and use this Sandwich Wrap method for applying the paste:

How to Apply Thermal Paste - iFixit

Just did this yesterday to a MECOOL S905X that would get pretty hot, especially when using Android and it now runs 10 - 20 Degrees C cooler as a result AND I can increase the GPU Mhz for a snappier, smoother LE Kodi user interface !

Some LE Temp monitoring tips:

SSH Login and....

echo "cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp" > temp 
chmod +x temp 
watch ./temp

and I use this for the GPU:

echo "echo 2 > /sys/class/mpgpu/scale_mode" >> /storage/.config/autostart.sh

W.

Hi there,

where to get the geniatech devices at all?

Quote from RvVNL

Too bad about the wifi, though; did it have issues straight out of the box, or only after running LE?

Had issues before LE. I'm running LE via SD Card by the way.

It has the same issues in Android.

Very good speed via 5.8 Ghz.

I ordered an ethernet adapter with Asix Chip. See what happens when i get it.

The Freaktab link is not really a guide for my version H96Pro S905x as the wifi chip is different as well.

I only paid US $34.00 for the dongle and mainly for travelling.

It runs off my Phone Charger as well.

Quote from kostaman

I ordered an ethernet adapter with Asix Chip.

Why only fast ethernet ?

Quote from Tim_Taylor

Why only fast ethernet ?

Sorry Tim , not sure what you're asking ?

I don't like wifi for media streaming for obvious reasons.

Whilst the ac Wifi on this Dongle works i still prefer ethernet.

That's why i ordered the adapter.

Quote from kostaman

Sorry Tim , not sure what you're asking ?

I asked about the ethernet speed.

Only fast ethernet = 100MBit -> asisx 88772 chipset

Why not gigabit ethernet adapter based on asix ax88178 chipset ?

Quote from Tim_Taylor

Why not gigabit ethernet adapter

My home is Cat5 wired.

I have a 70 inch Full HD 1080p TV which is 4.7 metres away from viewing.

High Bitrate 1080p video files at that viewing distance is more than adequate. ( I wont go into the 4k distance to view quality thing )

In Australia there is no Free to Air televised in anything higher than 1080i

Highest internet speed available to my home is 35 Mbps.

Quote from wrxtasy

The best thing you can do for these cheap S905X or S912 boxes and dongles is run them for a while and then open them up and twist or remove the heatsink off the SoC. Then clean up the SoC and heatsink with something that does not leave a greasy residue, like electrical Contact Cleaner.

Most heatsinks look like they are just fixed on with some sort of Silicon which makes for pretty bad heat transfer.

Then simply get some 30% Silver (or better) thermal paste, you only need tiny amounts and use this Sandwich Wrap method for applying the paste:

How to Apply Thermal Paste - iFixit

Just did this yesterday to a MECOOL S905X that would get pretty hot, especially when using Android and it now runs 10 - 20 Degrees C cooler as a result AND I can increase the GPU Mhz for a snappier, smoother LE Kodi user interface !

Some LE Temp monitoring tips:

SSH Login and....

Code

echo "cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp" > temp 
chmod +x temp 
watch ./temp

and I use this for the GPU:

Code

echo "echo 2 > /sys/class/mpgpu/scale_mode" >> /storage/.config/autostart.sh

W.

Display More

I was thinking about re-applying the thermal paste on my Mecool M8S Pro+ but the heatsink seems to be a glued.

Can I just remove it of will I break stuff?

Also can you explain what the GPU command does exactly?

Quote from Tim_Taylor

Why not gigabit ethernet adapter based on asix ax88178 chipset ?

I've been looking into this today and the Ugreen USB3 > Gigabit adapters and/or Hubs have the AMLogic compatible ASIX chipsets in them.

The Ugreen on store on Ebay have them (click)

Once you get into high bitrate 4K HDR REMUX playback - Gigabit ethernet is really needed.

Quote from Panja

I was thinking about re-applying the thermal paste on my Mecool M8S Pro+ but the heatsink seems to be a glued.

Can I just remove it of will I break stuff?

Run the device for a while to get it nice and warm, then open the Lid and twist clockwise and anticlockwise until the Heatsink comes off.

The GPU command cranks up the GPU clock from 500to 666 MHz for a slightly quicker Kodi user interface.

You need to keep an eye on SoC Temps - which should be stable after Thermal paste sets properly after 24 hrs.

Wicked! Sounds cool to me.

Gonna give it a go. Tnx for the help once again.

Is it ok that the M8S Pro+ does not have a proper heatsink "clip" to keep the heatsink in place?

I'm a bit worried if I apply new paste it will no stick properly without something holding the heatsink?

The 30% silver paste I uses set and cured just fine, the heatsink weighs bugger all anyway. You do not need great pressure on the Heatsink to attach it to the paste, just wiggle it a bit.

Be careful, because Silver conducts electricity - you do not want that stuff everywhere, use small amounts - about a match head worth of paste or less.

Ok, cool.

I have some Noctua NT-H1 lying around here.

Would that be good to apply?

Btw what temps did you have before and after you applied the paste?

At the moment I'm running a x265 file (1080p) from USB stick and I'm around 46 Celcius (without applying new paste).

Hello wrxtasy,

bought 1 gram kryonaut grizzly thermal paste to replace my shitty (silicon) dip on the H96Pro +, will re-use the existing heatsink. Thing is - will the heatsink still stay in place after mounting it with the new paste? I have installed many fans/heatsinks but on PCs, where there was always a clip to the motherboard, so I am wondering if the paste enough will keep the heatsink attached to the CPU, especially if it runs for 24 hours to fix it

Tnx!

Use a bit of superglue, in amount of pin head, on four ends of the chip.

In the center - put the proper amount of thermal grease.

If you intend to use the box closed - think of something on the cover to push down the heatsink further.

And drill more holes. Consider using (external) USB fan, attached to one of the box USB ports...

Otherwise - it will be pointless.