4 ms·

Ask HN: Best fanless PC with high end CPU/GPU?

3 points by simonebrunozzi 2y ago

nullindividual 2y ago
Fanless Or High end CPU/GPU Pick one
- ku1ik 2y ago
  Unfortunately this is the correct answer.
entrepy123 2y ago
Anything water-cooled.
- solardev 2y ago
  Doesn't the GPU typically still have fans? Or are there setups where both the CPU and GPU are exclusively water-cooled?
  - entrepy123 2y ago
    According to [0], "One water block for the CPU, one for the GPU....First you have to inform yourself that the water block for your favorite GPU exists, looking at the part numbers, then you buy the GPU, then, and only then, after double-checking the part number on the box and on the website of the water block vendor, you buy the water block." [0] https://old.reddit.com/r/watercooling/comments/ubwjrc/i_know_water_cooled_gpu_are_rare_but_how_do_you/jinzvjp/ https://old.reddit.com/r/watercooling/comments/ubwjrc/i_know...
    - solardev 2y ago
      Hmm, seems like a relatively rare mod? Too bad, because typically the GPU is way noisier and hotter. I wish someone would make an eGPU water heater enclosure that you can just put in the garage, lol.
      - entrepy123 2y ago
        Go to https://www.metapcs.com/watercooled/ https://www.metapcs.com/watercooled/ and pick Intel or AMD. On the next page (core components) under "GPU Waterblock" click Edit, then switch to "Graphics Card Waterblock" from "Standard Aircooled". Then, configure the rest of the PC. Or, go here: https://www.metapcs.com/contact-us/ https://www.metapcs.com/contact-us/ and just talk to them about what you want and what is possible, etc. But I think this is basically what you want. I don't know of any prebuilts for your fanless with high end GPU (they could exist), but I do know that reputable firms do specialize in high-power low-noise PCs. So I think it can be done and is not too uncommon. Like this one, just for example.
        solardev 2y ago
        That's cool that those exist! And they're pretty. Expensive though (starts at $4000), and probably not self-upgradeable.
        talldayo 2y ago
        It's self-upgradable if you're brave! But even a configuration like this won't eliminate fans. The water-cooler on the GPU block still runs through a radiator circuit that is fan-cooled and shared with the CPU. Replacing the 400-odd watts of heat that system dissipates under load is extremely difficult with a passive system. You'd have to end up undervolting the components for stability's sake, at which point selecting such a powerful system starts to make less sense.
  - JonChesterfield 2y ago
    Can put water blocks on anything hot. Preferably excluding the power supply. You also don't need fans on the radiators. The pump makes some noise though.
solardev 2y ago
(Not an answer, but just a side note) In case anyone's primarily concerned about fan noise or heat while gaming, GeForce Now is a really amazing alternative to having to buy or maintain your own PC. It's a RTX 4080 in the cloud for $10/mo (currently on sale): https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce-now/ https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce-now/ The tech has gotten dramatically better since the Stadia days (and Nvidia has the first-party advantage here), and you can play many AAA games in 4k/120 fps with minimal latency. When I first tried it out, I thought it would be a neat addition for traveling or whatever. But it works so well, and is so much quieter & cooler compared to a local GPU, that I eventually sold my desktop altogether and just use this now. Not affiliated with them. Just an incredibly satisfied customer (who hopes Nvidia won't abandon the gaming segment for their AI money printing).
allears 2y ago
Puget Systems makes high quality quiet workstations if you don't want to roll your own.
JonChesterfield 2y ago
There's a fairly straightforward set of engineering tradeoffs at play here. As written, use a water pump or make the case surprisingly big are solutions, using a power supply sufficiently oversized that it doesn't bother spinning up the fan. You can still expect reduced lifespan of the motherboard and maybe memory, it all really expects some slight airflow. The good answer to "really fast computer I can't hear" is to put it somewhere else. Long HDMI cable or some variant on thin client and a network cable. An interesting answer is the fanless cases where heat pipes dump heat into the case, but you're probably still under 100W for those. I like a small x64 machine in the wire tray under the desk driving monitors and the real hardware somewhat far away.

nullindividual 2y ago

Fanless Or High end CPU/GPU Pick one

ku1ik 2y ago
Unfortunately this is the correct answer.

entrepy123 2y ago

Anything water-cooled.

solardev 2y ago
Doesn't the GPU typically still have fans? Or are there setups where both the CPU and GPU are exclusively water-cooled?
- entrepy123 2y ago
  According to [0], "One water block for the CPU, one for the GPU....First you have to inform yourself that the water block for your favorite GPU exists, looking at the part numbers, then you buy the GPU, then, and only then, after double-checking the part number on the box and on the website of the water block vendor, you buy the water block." [0] https://old.reddit.com/r/watercooling/comments/ubwjrc/i_know_water_cooled_gpu_are_rare_but_how_do_you/jinzvjp/ https://old.reddit.com/r/watercooling/comments/ubwjrc/i_know...
  - solardev 2y ago
    Hmm, seems like a relatively rare mod? Too bad, because typically the GPU is way noisier and hotter. I wish someone would make an eGPU water heater enclosure that you can just put in the garage, lol.
    - entrepy123 2y ago
      Go to https://www.metapcs.com/watercooled/ https://www.metapcs.com/watercooled/ and pick Intel or AMD. On the next page (core components) under "GPU Waterblock" click Edit, then switch to "Graphics Card Waterblock" from "Standard Aircooled". Then, configure the rest of the PC. Or, go here: https://www.metapcs.com/contact-us/ https://www.metapcs.com/contact-us/ and just talk to them about what you want and what is possible, etc. But I think this is basically what you want. I don't know of any prebuilts for your fanless with high end GPU (they could exist), but I do know that reputable firms do specialize in high-power low-noise PCs. So I think it can be done and is not too uncommon. Like this one, just for example.
      - solardev 2y ago
        That's cool that those exist! And they're pretty. Expensive though (starts at $4000), and probably not self-upgradeable.
        talldayo 2y ago
        It's self-upgradable if you're brave! But even a configuration like this won't eliminate fans. The water-cooler on the GPU block still runs through a radiator circuit that is fan-cooled and shared with the CPU. Replacing the 400-odd watts of heat that system dissipates under load is extremely difficult with a passive system. You'd have to end up undervolting the components for stability's sake, at which point selecting such a powerful system starts to make less sense.
- JonChesterfield 2y ago
  Can put water blocks on anything hot. Preferably excluding the power supply. You also don't need fans on the radiators. The pump makes some noise though.

solardev 2y ago

(Not an answer, but just a side note) In case anyone's primarily concerned about fan noise or heat while gaming, GeForce Now is a really amazing alternative to having to buy or maintain your own PC. It's a RTX 4080 in the cloud for $10/mo (currently on sale): https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce-now/ https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce-now/ The tech has gotten dramatically better since the Stadia days (and Nvidia has the first-party advantage here), and you can play many AAA games in 4k/120 fps with minimal latency. When I first tried it out, I thought it would be a neat addition for traveling or whatever. But it works so well, and is so much quieter & cooler compared to a local GPU, that I eventually sold my desktop altogether and just use this now. Not affiliated with them. Just an incredibly satisfied customer (who hopes Nvidia won't abandon the gaming segment for their AI money printing).

allears 2y ago

Puget Systems makes high quality quiet workstations if you don't want to roll your own.

JonChesterfield 2y ago

There's a fairly straightforward set of engineering tradeoffs at play here. As written, use a water pump or make the case surprisingly big are solutions, using a power supply sufficiently oversized that it doesn't bother spinning up the fan. You can still expect reduced lifespan of the motherboard and maybe memory, it all really expects some slight airflow. The good answer to "really fast computer I can't hear" is to put it somewhere else. Long HDMI cable or some variant on thin client and a network cable. An interesting answer is the fanless cases where heat pipes dump heat into the case, but you're probably still under 100W for those. I like a small x64 machine in the wire tray under the desk driving monitors and the real hardware somewhat far away.