5 ms·
First mini-PC with solid-state active cooling system launches
- MVorlm 3y agoIf anyone wants a video of it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdD0yMS40a0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdD0yMS40a0 [Linus Tech Tips]
- wkat4242 3y agoInteresting. So it's not actually solid state. It uses piezo vibration to create airflow. It's still got moving parts. But it's much thinner than a traditional fan. Really solid state active cooling would be something like a peltier element which are really inefficient and could cause condensation. I don't think they have been used in off the shelf PCs for those reasons though hobbyists have certainly made builds with them.
- syntaxing 3y agoPiezo actuators are solid state devices, though the definition can get hazy. The biggest issue with heat pumps like TECs is that you’re always paying the entropy price so you need more energy to move energy. But you also need a thermal sink somewhere to remove the generated heat. Ends up being a vicious loop for electronics.
- wkat4242 3y agoThe actuator perhaps but the wiggling thing attached to it that moves the air? I don't think that's solid state? If it were you could even call a fan solid state.
- randyrand 3y agoEven SSD's have electrons in them that really do move. Gotta draw the line somewhere.
- goryramsy 3y agoThis in gaming phones when?
- Smoosh 3y agoThey need two coolers for a 7W chip?
- 0cf8612b2e1e 3y agoThis build uses a i3-N300, which is evidently a 7W chip. Is there a sense on how much cooling this provides? Could you strap it to a 30/45/65W CPU and otherwise be fanless?
- icegreentea2 3y agoThe manufacturer claims 4.25W of net cooling (5.25W cooling, 1W power consumption) for the Airjet Mini, and 8.75W (10.5W cooling, 1.75W power consumption) for the Airjet Pro.
- 0cf8612b2e1e 3y agoNuts. 5W of cooling might as well use a standard heat sink.
- hollerith 3y agoA heat sink of the same weight as this device might not be able to remove 5W of heat.
- someplaceguy 3y agoWhy is the weight important here?
- hollerith 3y agoI buy mini PCs, and I've rejected mini PCs in the past for being too heavy, particularly, the Akasa fanless cases for Intel NUCs where the entire case is made of aluminum and functions as a heat sink. (The weight matters because I commute with my mini PC.)
- paulkrush 3y agoIt's shocking how hot 5 watts can get a hunk of metal. As the airflow lowers more metal is needed.
- Havoc 3y agoSurprised it is commercially available already. Feels fast. Must admit the fact that it still moves air and thus accumulates dust kills the key benefit of fanless for me - set and forget
- wkat4242 3y agoAnd it's going to be much harder to get the dust back out than with a traditional fan due to the tight tolerances and enclosed design.
- hollerith 3y agoThey seem to have forseen that problem: the air intake has a filter over it.
- dharmab 3y agoEven with a filter some dust is going to get in.
- wkipling 3y agoI believe the filter is incredibly fine because it can generate very high suction. I think they claim its dust proof.
- Brian_K_White 3y agoAnd how does this filter not clog?
- hollerith 3y agoI don't know, but the filtration media that goes into consumer products that filter dust from indoor air last about 5 years before they need to be replaced. Many of those products use HEPA filters, which get all of the dust out of the air that passes through them, and even those last 5 years.
- entropicgravity 3y agoI've used earlier versons of this kind of thing from Zotac that were not bad but the Asus PN 5X series (entirely passively cooled) is enough better that I wouldn't go back. This new line would have to be somewhere south of $200 to make me think of using it in future builds.
- lencastre 3y agoI have two PN5x and I’m quite happy with it. I only opened it twice. Once to assemble and 1 year later to check how much dust accumulated inside. Surprisingly not much.
- someplaceguy 3y ago> that vibrate at ultrasonic frequency > the active cooling modules can only be heard if the user places an ear against the Zbox's housing. Tangential question, but is this going to annoy dogs?