4 ms·

Important to note that it's a i5 Y processor. Not a regular desktop, or even a mobile processor.

by en4bz 12y ago

Alupis 12y ago
Well then what is it? Please elaborate.
- hollerith 12y ago
  There's a concept called "max TDP" which essentially means how much heat the cooling system (fans, heat sinks, heat pipes and case) will need to dissipate in the worst realistic case. For the CPU in the base model 2013 Macbook Air (the Core i5-4250U), max TDP is 15 watts. For my 2011 Sandy Bridge base model Mac mini, max TDP is 35 watts. Most desktop gaming PCs have max TDPs over 100 watts if the heat generated by the discrete video card is included. Max TDP for the CPU in this Zotac box is even lower than the 15 watts on the 2013 MBA. To achieve such a low max TDP, the clock needs to run slower, the chip needs to use lower voltages and other compromises need to be made. My guess is that one place such a low TDP is desirable is in small tablets (or even smartphones??) where space considerations make cooling thing difficult even with a fan. And of course it is desirable in fanless applications. Having just one fan, like an Intel NUC has or a Mac mini has, greatly increases the amount of heat the system can dissipate. The 2011 Mac mini server edition, for example, has a CPU with a max TDP of 45 watts and just one fan. (The Mac mini's all-aluminum case really helps here.) But sometime even one fan is a bad idea: e.g., in boxes designed for dusty conditions, e.g., in a factory, or a remote location where it is difficult for someone to come by to clean out the insides of the system or to notice (by the noises it makes) when the fan is about to fail. Note that fanless systems with SSDs like this Zotac box have no moving parts, and that really helps with reliable un-attended operation -- and with being quiet. EDIT: "significantly less" changed to "even lower" to reflect the information in the reply.
  - MekaiGS 12y ago
    The chip they are using has max TDP of 11.5W. http://ark.intel.com/products/76611/Intel-Core-i5-4210Y-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-1_90-GHz http://ark.intel.com/products/76611/Intel-Core-i5-4210Y-Proc...
  - ericcumbee 12y ago
    Digital Signage would be a good example of this as well. Right now when I do a setup if it's one channel player feeding multiple panels the same content. We put the channel player which is really just a small form factor pc, in a data closet and use an Extron that sends video over CAT5. for instances where there is only 1 display or no data closet, it's an ultra small formfactor pc Velcro-ed to the back of the Panel. this would be ideal for that use case. Modern Digital Signage can be pretty taxing resource wise when your trying to display HD video on screen while having other dynamic content. Or at least that was the Way with Visix. Although Visix in general seemed to be pretty piggish when it came to resources.
  - yaeger 12y ago
    I was wondering while reading the article. It says that it is a "fanless chassis", so I was asking myself, "That thing still needs the have a CPU fan right?" I mean, I attempted to build an htpc with a fanless chassis, external PSU brick, SSD and just using the i5 with its integrated GPU. I figured the only thing in there that generates heat will be the CPU so I "only" need a CPU fan. And even that one is pretty audible if I playback some 1080p files. Of course, I just picked a regular i5. So I guess it is a desktop CPU with the higher TDP. Are you saying that this device will actually come with no fan whatsoever and that this Y i5 is giving of so little heat that no active cooling is required? I would be really interested in that. Looking forward to seeing some measurements of the thing in action. Especially how it fares with "summer temperatures". Would be pretty bad if it enters the dangerous temps during that time of year the room temperature is significantly higher than usual.

Important to note that it's a i5 Y processor. Not a regular desktop, or even a mobile processor.

by en4bz 12y ago

Important to note that it's a i5 Y processor. Not a regular desktop, or even a mobile processor.

Alupis 12y ago

Well then what is it? Please elaborate.

hollerith 12y ago
There's a concept called "max TDP" which essentially means how much heat the cooling system (fans, heat sinks, heat pipes and case) will need to dissipate in the worst realistic case. For the CPU in the base model 2013 Macbook Air (the Core i5-4250U), max TDP is 15 watts. For my 2011 Sandy Bridge base model Mac mini, max TDP is 35 watts. Most desktop gaming PCs have max TDPs over 100 watts if the heat generated by the discrete video card is included. Max TDP for the CPU in this Zotac box is even lower than the 15 watts on the 2013 MBA. To achieve such a low max TDP, the clock needs to run slower, the chip needs to use lower voltages and other compromises need to be made. My guess is that one place such a low TDP is desirable is in small tablets (or even smartphones??) where space considerations make cooling thing difficult even with a fan. And of course it is desirable in fanless applications. Having just one fan, like an Intel NUC has or a Mac mini has, greatly increases the amount of heat the system can dissipate. The 2011 Mac mini server edition, for example, has a CPU with a max TDP of 45 watts and just one fan. (The Mac mini's all-aluminum case really helps here.) But sometime even one fan is a bad idea: e.g., in boxes designed for dusty conditions, e.g., in a factory, or a remote location where it is difficult for someone to come by to clean out the insides of the system or to notice (by the noises it makes) when the fan is about to fail. Note that fanless systems with SSDs like this Zotac box have no moving parts, and that really helps with reliable un-attended operation -- and with being quiet. EDIT: "significantly less" changed to "even lower" to reflect the information in the reply.
- MekaiGS 12y ago
  The chip they are using has max TDP of 11.5W. http://ark.intel.com/products/76611/Intel-Core-i5-4210Y-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-1_90-GHz http://ark.intel.com/products/76611/Intel-Core-i5-4210Y-Proc...
- ericcumbee 12y ago
  Digital Signage would be a good example of this as well. Right now when I do a setup if it's one channel player feeding multiple panels the same content. We put the channel player which is really just a small form factor pc, in a data closet and use an Extron that sends video over CAT5. for instances where there is only 1 display or no data closet, it's an ultra small formfactor pc Velcro-ed to the back of the Panel. this would be ideal for that use case. Modern Digital Signage can be pretty taxing resource wise when your trying to display HD video on screen while having other dynamic content. Or at least that was the Way with Visix. Although Visix in general seemed to be pretty piggish when it came to resources.
- yaeger 12y ago
  I was wondering while reading the article. It says that it is a "fanless chassis", so I was asking myself, "That thing still needs the have a CPU fan right?" I mean, I attempted to build an htpc with a fanless chassis, external PSU brick, SSD and just using the i5 with its integrated GPU. I figured the only thing in there that generates heat will be the CPU so I "only" need a CPU fan. And even that one is pretty audible if I playback some 1080p files. Of course, I just picked a regular i5. So I guess it is a desktop CPU with the higher TDP. Are you saying that this device will actually come with no fan whatsoever and that this Y i5 is giving of so little heat that no active cooling is required? I would be really interested in that. Looking forward to seeing some measurements of the thing in action. Especially how it fares with "summer temperatures". Would be pretty bad if it enters the dangerous temps during that time of year the room temperature is significantly higher than usual.