Netgear ReadyNAS 524X CPU running alarmingly hot

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StephenB wrote:

Did you request an RMA or just ask for support?

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Well, neither apparently :/

I was just trying to get with support (though RMAing is likely where that'll go)...and this leaves me with further questions; if you can answer them, or at least share your thoughts, I'd be *incredibly* appreciative. Contrariwise, if you have no response (or time to respond) I fully understand, and please accept my thanks for what you've said so far.

Just from the few threads I could find here referencing the 524 & CPU temps, it sounds as if instead of proper thermal grease, a (sub-par) thermal pad was used, so...I'm forced to wonder if even an RMA would just be exchanging one lemon for another lemon (or potential lemon, at least). That said...I then wonder if I wouldn't be better off returning this one entirely, and upgrading to (say) a 526* model -- at which point, my question is mostly the same: is the entire line cursed with poor CPU heatsinking or the like?

Any thoughts or information you care to share with me would not fall upon deaf ears, and I'd be eternally grateful for your commentary (as well as that of anyone else who feels like weighing in), and I would like to get this resolved ASAP, as I've already spent enough hours on it to have covered the cost of having bought a much nicer NAS (no joke - kicking myself I didn't just bite the bullet & pay 2-3X the amount of the 524X).

-=(Feel free to skip what follows, as I'm aware you didn't ask for my Curriculum Vitae)=-

While I've only got a handful of devices registered under my 'personal' account here (a few switches, smart & dumb, stuff like that), I've been working in IT/IS long enough to be considered 'Senior' (ha!), and I *do* have plenty of experience with Netgear's products, mostly networking, I admit, and for SOHO/SMB-level stuff, I can honestly say they've seldom if ever really disappointed, with their products working as advertised, and being robust enough that I can recommend them in good conscience. In short, I'm not hating on Netgear or their products, as this is literally the second time I've had any issues with something made by them at *all* (and given the variety of gear I've worked with, that's saying something, as even with the best, given adequate volume, there are *always* some fails, as I'm sure you're well aware).

Having not used anything in their Storage/NAS line before, it *does* make me a trifle leery of their NASs, so...as a first experience...not so great.

TLDR: I'm not averse to their products by any stretch, and am hardly a newbie (despite my recent presence on this forum) when it comes to IT, networking, RAIDs, or the like (again, not like you asked for my CV, so you can take my word for it or not; my point is, I do have a reasonably extensive tech background; I guess...my due diligence wasn't diligent enough when it came to researching this model).

Again, thanks, and I'll await your feedback, though I'm going to resubmit my previous request to them, as the first clearly failed to go through (I never did receive any followup email, and was logged onto their site when I sent it, so...huh).

Take care,

~J