# Thermal testing and results
This section contains a description of the test environment, test cases, and results for the RB3 Gen 2 Development Kit with QCS6490. Note that the RB3 Gen 2 Development Kit provides significant capabilities and can get hot under load. It is not meant to be held for extended periods of time. The baseplate may reach temperatures up to 50-55℃, which is a generally accepted industry standard for non-handheld devices. Click [here](https://www.boydcorp.com/blog/maximum-touch-temperature.html) for more information on maximum touch temperatures.
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> **Figure: Temperature warning stickers on baseplate**
## Test environment
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> **Figure: Thermal test setup**
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> **Figure: Setup 1: Heatsink – only baseplate**
SOM + interposer can support up to 7.45W at 95C Tj limit with above design.
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> **Figure: Setup 2: Heatsink – baseplate with fan**
SOM + interposer can support up to 11W at 95C Tj limit with above design.
## Test scenario - example 1
- Power supply: 4.2v for SOM and interposer, 12v for others
- Power measure : SOM power and interposer power
- Ta setting : 25C with a temperature chamber
- vML for GPU and HTP is running Tflite+QNN
- v5Camera is 3xIMX577 720p30fps preview + recording，2xOV9282 720p30fps RDI dump
## Test case
Sample use cases for test case example 1.
| Area | Test cases |
| --- | --- |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | IMX577 [camera1_720p@30fps_preview+recording](mailto:camera1_720p%4030fps_preview+recording) |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | IMX577 [camera2_720p@30fps_preview+recording](mailto:camera2_720p%4030fps_preview+recording) |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | IMX577 [camera3_720p@30fps_preview+recording](mailto:camera3_720p%4030fps_preview+recording) |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | OV9282 [Camera1_720p@30fps](mailto:Camera1_720p%4030fps) RDI\_dump |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | OV9282 [Camera2_720p@30fps](mailto:Camera2_720p%4030fps) RDI\_dump |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | 2ML QNN running on HTP(Benchmark) |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | GPU run with Weston sample |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | Iperf3 1Gbps via ethernet |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | HDMI with Weston launch |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | BT paired |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | WLAN connected and Ping |
| Case1 (5camera+2 AI + Iperf3+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | Audio playback over speaker |
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| Area | Test cases |
| --- | --- |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | IMX577 [camera1_720p@30fps_preview+recording](mailto:camera1_720p%4030fps_preview+recording) |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | IMX577 [camera2_720p@30fps_preview+recording](mailto:camera2_720p%4030fps_preview+recording) |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | IMX577 [camera3_720p@30fps_preview+recording](mailto:camera3_720p%4030fps_preview+recording) |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | OV9282 [Camera1_720p@30fps](mailto:Camera1_720p%4030fps) RDI\_dump |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | OV9282 [Camera2_720p@30fps](mailto:Camera2_720p%4030fps) RDI\_dump |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | 1ML QNN running on HTP(Benchmark) |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | GPU run with Weston sample |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | HDMI with Weston launch |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | BT paired |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | WLAN connected and Ping |
| Case2 (5camera+1 AI +GPU GPU+Display+BT+wlan wlan+Audio) | Audio playback over speaker |
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### Thermal profile summary – test case example 1
Setup-1: Only baseplate heatsink thermal solution
| Case | SOM Power (W) | Interposer Power (W) | Tj\_Avg (℃) | quiet-therm-usr (℃) | Comment |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CPU drystone 30%+1GPU +1HTP +5camera | 4.87 | 2.04 | 78.75 | 68.89 | No trigger LMH |
| CPU drystone 45%+1GPU +1HTP +5camera | 5.31 | 2.03 | 84.48 | 72.60 | No trigger LMH |
| CPU drystone 60%+1GPU +1HTP +5camera | 5.39 | 2.06 | 86.33 | 73.91 | No trigger LMH |
Setup-2 : Baseplate with fan thermal solution
| Case | SOM power (W) | Interposer power (W) | Tj\_Avg (℃) | quiet-therm-usr (℃) | Comment |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CPU drystone 30%+1GPU +1HTP +5camera | 4.31 | 2.03 | 52.6 | 44.50 | No trigger LMH |
| CPU drystone 45%+1GPU +1HTP +5camera | 4.6 | 2.03 | 55.27 | 45.87 | No trigger LMH |
| CPU drystone 60%+1GPU +1HTP +5camera | 5.77 | 2.02 | 64.37 | 48.83 | No trigger LMH |
Note:
- SOM power includes: SoC, PMICs, memory (RAM+FLASH), Wifi, GNSS (if used)
- Interposer power includes: QPS615 PCIE bridge chip, PCIE to USB bridge chip, Ethernet PHY chips for2.5GbE/10GbE (if used)
### Thermal profile summary – test case example 2
| SOM @4.2 V(in W) | Interp oser@ 4.2V(in W) | Ta | Tj start | last5m in\_Tj\_Av gr(℃) | Tj\_Max(℃) | LMH | cdsp loading | GPU loading | CPU loading | Comment |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5Camera (3xlMX577 720p30fps preview + recording,2x OV9282 720p30fps RDI dump) | 6.12 | 2.07 | 26.20 | 33.90 | 91.49 | 95.0 | Yes (Triggered five times during last 5 mins and then recovered) | 97.22% | 91.08% | Total CPU Util: 64.67%
CPUO\_Util: 83.87%
CPU4\_Util: 54.23%
CPU7 Util:20.52%
1.Test duration: ~40 min |
| 2 QNN run on HTP | 6.12 | 2.07 | 26.20 | 33.90 | 91.49 | 95.0 | Yes (Triggered five times during last 5 mins and then recovered) | 97.22% | 91.08% | Total CPU Util: 64.67%
CPUO\_Util: 83.87%
CPU4\_Util: 54.23%
CPU7 Util:20.52%
1.Test duration: ~40 min |
| 1 QNN run on GPU | 6.12 | 2.07 | 26.20 | 33.90 | 91.49 | 95.0 | Yes (Triggered five times during last 5 mins and then recovered) | 97.22% | 91.08% | Total CPU Util: 64.67%
CPUO\_Util: 83.87%
CPU4\_Util: 54.23%
CPU7 Util:20.52%
1.Test duration: ~40 min |
| Cpu Drystone 95% | 6.12 | 2.07 | 26.20 | 33.90 | 91.49 | 95.0 | Yes (Triggered five times during last 5 mins and then recovered) | 97.22% | 91.08% | Total CPU Util: 64.67%
CPUO\_Util: 83.87%
CPU4\_Util: 54.23%
CPU7 Util:20.52%
1.Test duration: ~40 min |
| BT paired | 6.12 | 2.07 | 26.20 | 33.90 | 91.49 | 95.0 | Yes (Triggered five times during last 5 mins and then recovered) | 97.22% | 91.08% | Total CPU Util: 64.67%
CPUO\_Util: 83.87%
CPU4\_Util: 54.23%
CPU7 Util:20.52%
1.Test duration: ~40 min |
| Audio playback | 6.12 | 2.07 | 26.20 | 33.90 | 91.49 | 95.0 | Yes (Triggered five times during last 5 mins and then recovered) | 97.22% | 91.08% | Total CPU Util: 64.67%
CPUO\_Util: 83.87%
CPU4\_Util: 54.23%
CPU7 Util:20.52%
1.Test duration: ~40 min |
| lperf3 100M bps via wifi | 6.12 | 2.07 | 26.20 | 33.90 | 91.49 | 95.0 | Yes (Triggered five times during last 5 mins and then recovered) | 97.22% | 91.08% | Total CPU Util: 64.67%
CPUO\_Util: 83.87%
CPU4\_Util: 54.23%
CPU7 Util:20.52%
1.Test duration: ~40 min |
| lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | lperf3 1Gbps via ethernet |
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| Case | SOM @4.2V (in W) | interposer @4.2V (in W) | Ta | Tj start | last 5min\_Tj\_Avg (℃) | Tj\_Max (℃) | LMH | cdsp loading | GPU loading | CPU loading | Comment |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5Camera (3xlMX577 720p30fps preview + recording,2x OV9282 720p30fps RDI dump) | 8.56 | 2.31 | 26.00 | 33.60 | 81.30 | 85.30 | No | 99.21% | 97.39% | Total CPU Util - 99.13%
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> CPUO\_Util:99.97%
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> CPU4\_Util: 98.69%
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> CPU7 Util:98.70% | wifi ipref throughout limited to ~65~85Mbps
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> Iperf3 via ethernet throughput limited to 500~650Mbps
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> Test duration ~40 min |
| 4ML QNN run on HTP | 8.56 | 2.31 | 26.00 | 33.60 | 81.30 | 85.30 | No | 99.21% | 97.39% | Total CPU Util - 99.13%
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> CPUO\_Util:99.97%
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> CPU4\_Util: 98.69%
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> CPU7 Util:98.70% | wifi ipref throughout limited to ~65~85Mbps
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> Iperf3 via ethernet throughput limited to 500~650Mbps
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> Test duration ~40 min |
| 2 QNN run on GPU | 8.56 | 2.31 | 26.00 | 33.60 | 81.30 | 85.30 | No | 99.21% | 97.39% | Total CPU Util - 99.13%
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> CPUO\_Util:99.97%
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> CPU4\_Util: 98.69%
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> CPU7 Util:98.70% | wifi ipref throughout limited to ~65~85Mbps
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> Iperf3 via ethernet throughput limited to 500~650Mbps
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> Test duration ~40 min |
| Cpu drystone 95% | 8.56 | 2.31 | 26.00 | 33.60 | 81.30 | 85.30 | No | 99.21% | 97.39% | Total CPU Util - 99.13%
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> CPUO\_Util:99.97%
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> CPU4\_Util: 98.69%
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> CPU7 Util:98.70% | wifi ipref throughout limited to ~65~85Mbps
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> Iperf3 via ethernet throughput limited to 500~650Mbps
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> Test duration ~40 min |
| BT paired | 8.56 | 2.31 | 26.00 | 33.60 | 81.30 | 85.30 | No | 99.21% | 97.39% | Total CPU Util - 99.13%
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> CPUO\_Util:99.97%
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> CPU4\_Util: 98.69%
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> CPU7 Util:98.70% | wifi ipref throughout limited to ~65~85Mbps
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> Iperf3 via ethernet throughput limited to 500~650Mbps
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> Test duration ~40 min |
| Audio playback | 8.56 | 2.31 | 26.00 | 33.60 | 81.30 | 85.30 | No | 99.21% | 97.39% | Total CPU Util - 99.13%
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> CPUO\_Util:99.97%
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> CPU4\_Util: 98.69%
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> CPU7 Util:98.70% | wifi ipref throughout limited to ~65~85Mbps
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> Iperf3 via ethernet throughput limited to 500~650Mbps
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> Test duration ~40 min |
| Iperf3 100Mbps via wifi | 8.56 | 2.31 | 26.00 | 33.60 | 81.30 | 85.30 | No | 99.21% | 97.39% | Total CPU Util - 99.13%
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> CPUO\_Util:99.97%
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> CPU4\_Util: 98.69%
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> CPU7 Util:98.70% | wifi ipref throughout limited to ~65~85Mbps
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> Iperf3 via ethernet throughput limited to 500~650Mbps
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> Test duration ~40 min |
| Iperf3 1Gbps via ethernet | 8.56 | 2.31 | 26.00 | 33.60 | 81.30 | 85.30 | No | 99.21% | 97.39% | Total CPU Util - 99.13%
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> CPUO\_Util:99.97%
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> CPU4\_Util: 98.69%
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> CPU7 Util:98.70% | wifi ipref throughout limited to ~65~85Mbps
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> Iperf3 via ethernet throughput limited to 500~650Mbps
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> Test duration ~40 min |
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Test results subject to change with different design and total system power.
Note:
- SOM power includes: SoC, PMICs, memory (RAM+FLASH), Wifi, GNSS (if used)
- Interposer power includes: QPS615 PCIE bridge chip, PCIE to USB bridge chip, Ethernet PHY chips for2.5GbE/10GbE (if used)
### Test case example 1 and 2: detailed summary table
Internal thermal test results on QCS6490 RB3 Gen 2 platform
| Iterations | Use case | System Power SOM+Interposer (W) | SOM power SOC+PMIC+DDR +wifi+Gnss(If used) (W) | Thermal solutions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Case 1 | vML for GPU and HTP is running Tflite + QNN
v5 camera is 3xIMX577
720p30fps preview +recording, 2xOV9282 720p30fps RDI dump)
CPU drystone 30%+1GPU+1HTP +5camera | 4.87+2.04 = 6.91 | 4.87 | Baseplate heatsink |
| Case 2 | vML for GPU and HTP is running Tflite + QNN
v5 camera is 3xIMX577
720p30fps preview +recording, 2xOV9282 720p30fps RDI dump)
CPU drystone 45%+1GPU+1HTP +5camera | 5.31+2.03=7.34 | 5.31 | Baseplate heatsink |
| Case 3 | vML for GPU and HTP is running Tflite + QNN
v5 camera is 3xIMX577
720p30fps preview +recording, 2xOV9282 720p30fps RDI dump)
CPU drystone 60%+1GPU+1HTP +5camera | 5.39+2.06=7.45 | 5.39 | Baseplate heatsink |
| Case 4 | 5Camera(3xIMX577
720p30fps preview + recording,2xOV9282 720p30fps RDI dump)
2 QNN run on HTP
1 QNN run on GPU
CPU drystone 60% | 6.12+2.07 = 8.19 | 6.12 | Baseplate heatsink |
| Case 5 | vML for GPU and HTP is running Tflite + QNN
v5 camera is 3xIMX577
720p30fps preview +recording, 2xOV9282 720p30fps RDI dump)
CPU drystone 30%+1GPU+1HTP +5camera | 4.31+2.03 =6.34 | 4.31 | Baseplate Heatsink + |
| Case 6 | vML for GPU and HTP is running Tflite + QNN
v5 camera is 3xIMX577
720p30fps preview +recording, 2xOV9282 720p30fps RDI dump)
CPU drystone 60%+1GPU+1HTP +5camera | 4.6+2.03 = 6.63 | 4.6 | Baseplate Heatsink + |
| Case 7 | vML for GPU and HTP is running Tflite + QNN
v5 camera is 3xIMX577
720p30fps preview +recording, 2xOV9282 720p30fps RDI dump)
CPU drystone 80%+1GPU+1HTP +5camera | 5.77+2.02 = 7.79 | 5.77 | Baseplate Heatsink + |
| Case 8 | 5Camera(3xIMX577
720p30fps preview + recording,2xOV9282 720p30fps RDI dump)
4ML QNN run on HTP
2QNN run on GPU
CPU drystone 95%
BT paired
Audio playback
Iperf3 100Mbps via wifi
Iperf 3 1Gbps via ethernet | 8.56+2.31 = 10.87 | 8.56 | Baseplate Heatsink + |
## FAQs
**How to assign power in thermal model of chipset?**
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> For all Qualcomm chipsets, thermal models are available in Icepak(.tzr) and flotherm(pdml) format. Assign the power to the heat source in the thermal model. The dimension of the heat source changes with thermal model.
**What are the use cases that need to be considered for QCS6490?**
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> See the thermal power projection table in *QCM6490 and QCS6490, QCM5430 and QCS5430 Technical Reference Manual* (80-20659-5) for all the high-power use cases. CPU intensive (Drystone) is the worst-case scenario.
Last Published: Feb 07, 2025
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Source: [https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70015-251/topic/thermal_testing.html](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70015-251/topic/thermal_testing.html)