We talked about ASRock Mini-STX boards recently, and here we have another interesting product. They’ve released a new version of DeskMini barebone with Mini-STX. However, this time it’s a real change. DeskMini GTX or RX is no longer dependant on integrated graphics but has its own GPU. Read more “New barebones from ASRock: Mini-STX with GPU”
We like small computers, so we are delighted with the Mini-STX format which represents boards that are even smaller than Mini-ITX but still with “full-fledged“ processors. Mini-STX does not allow the use of external graphics cards, making AMD processors with their relatively strong iGPU an interesting choice. Mini-STX boards have not been produced for them yet, but it looks like ASRock is about to change that. Read more “ASRock Mini-STX boards for AMD processors?”
HDPLEX cases have a pretty good reputation among supporters of completely silent passive PCs. For several years, this company has been producing various solid aluminum cases in which cooling is based on the heat transfer from CPU or GPU to the outer casing that disperses it around. Now HDPLEX has released an interesting piece: H3 V2 for Mini-ITX configurations. Read more “HDPLEX H3 V3: a small Mini-ITX case that can cool 80 W passively”
AMD has released the first Ryzen desktop processors with iGPU this week. APU Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G could be attractive for compact computers because it’s easier to cool a single heat source than to cool both CPU and GPU, and the integrated graphics cards of these processors should have performance equal to GeForce GT 1030. However, it also means that the old enemy has returned, thermal compounds. Read more “Ryzen iGPU and the return of thermal compounds”
Basically everything in your computer can be now cooled not only by air but also by a liquid – there are blocks for CPU, graphics cards, memory modules, and even SSD. Only power supplies stood out for a long time as components which must have a fan. Times are about to change. The company FSP is releasing a power supply that can be cooled trough a liquid cooling circuit. Read more “FSP power supply with a liquid cooling: fanless up to 700 W”
There is something appealing about the possibility of taking the fastest hardware that exists in the PC world and putting it in the smallest case possible rather than using conventional tower case. We have seen this with X299E-ITX/ac mini-ITX board for Skylake-X processors. We probably won’t witness a similar scenario for Ryzen Threadripper, because of the size of the socket, but there is a new MicroATX model at least. Read more “There is no Mini-ITX for Threadripper, but there is MicroATX already”
Fractal Design cases are very popular, so the release of the new type is in some way an event. Computer case is a passive component and it is not that much of a concern for some, but if you consider low noise and extra comfort main priorities, this might interest you. The Swedish company is now releasing a new improved version of the Define case that will offer new features. Read more “Fractal Design Define R6: New generation of superpopular cases”
Efficient and quiet cooling in combination with small fans is usually just a utopic wish. But it looks like that they don’t give up easy. We just discussed Evga board with two 30mm fans which are supposed to cool the power supply circuit, and here appears another similar case – M.2 SSD active cooling. Read more “Fans that are even smaller and faster: 16 500 rpm for M.2 SSD”
Several years ago, small coolers with 40mm fans were quite common for chipsets instead of heatsinks. Often so noisy that modding was practically necessary. After a couple of years, this trend was fortunately defeated, but recently, rotors with blades are back on high-end boards. Evga presented X299 Dark which even stands out: it has three fans. Read more “A high-end board from Evga has three fans”
Active cooling – commonly known as fans – is the eternal enemy of silence, but still a necessity if your computer is to perform properly. It looks like fans, and literally cooling, moved from hardware to a furniture area. Companies producing various game accessories have already started to sell gaming chairs (formerly called office chairs), and one of them now even has its “active cooling”. Read more “Fans have conquered the land of users”
PC coolers have made a big progress over past ten years. But chips that are meant to be cooled also “improved” – TDP grows and temperatures are worsened by compounds under heatspreaders. The good news is that cooling these “hungry“ chips is a problem for the entire industry, so research teams of universities are trying to find a solution. Read more “New means to cool 1000 W of heat”
This summer, Intel and AMD introduced processors with significantly higher power consumption and heat output: Threadripper with 180W TDP and Skylake-X that does not fall behind. After OC, both can consume over 300W (and Core i9-7980XE even more). These are new challenges for cooling, but maybe they are not the final “boss”. It looks like OC possibilities will now open for the latest generation of Xeon servers with 28 cores. Read more “New challenge: OC of Xeon on a Asus board with 2× LGA 3647”
Mini-ITX boards are great when you want to have the smallest computer possible. They were originally meant for economical low-profile PCs, but today they are also used in gaming computers. However, small size can also be practical on a workstation, so it’s nice to have Intel Skylake-X processors with 18 cores available with ITX format now. It will be possible to buy a Mini-ITX board with the LGA 2066 socket. Read more “Mini-ITX board for Skylake-X processors and a water block for it”
Intel’s new processors have once again come to market with a not very efficient paste. It is odd that the company still does not have any special brazed editions because the demand for better solutions is obvious and Intel is creating good business for other people and companies this way. With Coffee Lake processors, it seems that the “commercial“ delid will be a full hit and will bring a pretty expensive and extravagant innovation. Read more “New way to lower processor temperatures: a silver heatspreader”
Heat and consumption are enemies of computers. But even this bad master can be turned into a good servant. Have you ever been kidding about heating your room with your computer in the winter? It does not have to be a joke anymore because there have been attempts in the world to commercialize this use of computing power. Read more “Companies offer servers that will heat your home”
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