Vintage GRiDCASE 1520 retrofitted with Logic Supply's CL100

"This started as a “what if” project. I’m a collector of old Grid laptops, after getting my first one when I first went to work of CompuServe in San Francisco in 1986. It was new and only cost CompuServe $8,000. When I left the company in 1997 to join IBM, I bought the Grid from them and still have it today. It also still works. I have since collected a total of 14 that include the first “clam shell” laptop ever produced, the Grid Compass 1101, from 1982. Some fun facts include:

-The case is made of magnesium alloy and fanless. The case acts as one big heat sink (one of the reasons the CL100 is a good fit)
-It was the first “football” for the nuclear codes during the Reagan administration
-Can take a shock up to 80 G’s … the original Toughbook
-First laptop on the Shuttle. After the Challenger accident, two grids were recovered from the ocean floor, dried out, turned on and they both still worked
-Over 300,000 were produced and sold mainly to government and corporations
-Because the case is made of magnesium, all final grinding and shaping of the case was done underwater

The prototype in the pictures, took about a year to build. The biggest problem was interfacing the proprietary keyboard to the CL100. There is a separate processor attached under the keyboard that translates key strokes. That took us better than 6 months to get it working and was written in C under Linux. We replaced the plasma display with a modern 10 inch display. The laptop is running Window’s 10 and has an additional 500 Gb SSD. Above the keyboard is a small door which is where you could plug in eprom chips loaded with software. It now hides a 4 port USB hub. All of the other ports (2 3.0 USB, Audio and RJ45) are located where the 3.5 inch floppy was. On the second and third units we have also located one of the wireless antennas that came with the CL100. The CL100 is attached to a custom fabricated plate made of 12 gage aluminum so that any heat generated by the CL100 is dissipated to the magnesium case. This works great. We can run the Grid for a week and longer and the outside case is barely warm to the touch.

In terms of the CL100, I was looking for something that was around 4”x4”x1.25” and the CL100 was the ticket! The next criteria was fanless and the number and types of ports available. The CL100 turned out to be the only product that filled all of my requirements. It has been flawless in our prototype, which I’ve been running pretty much straight since the first of the year.

I have no plans to sell these units at this time. It has been a private project, but Grids can still be found on ebay, most not working, but then all we need is the case and keyboard. The prototype has gotten an incredible response at tech conferences I have attended with it. It can’t be called a light weight laptop, as it weighs in at 15 LBs."

More info about the fanless computer can be found here: https://www.onlogic.com/cl100/

35W Athlon 300GE in the wild

The fanless-friendly Athlon 200GE, 220GE, and 240GE are affordable and surprisingly capable options for entry-level desktops and HTPCs. Unlike Intel's 35W offering, they are widely available and sold in elegant retail boxes too. With samples spotted in China, the release of the rumored 3.4GHz 300GE and 3.5GHz 320GE is imminent.

Source: Chiphell via @momomo_us

Use liquid metal with caution

Friendly reminder: do not use liquid metal thermal compound in the Akasa Turing, or with aluminum coolers like the Alpine 12 Passive. Gallium "melts" aluminum. Technically, the reaction is called Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) or intergranular penetration.

Source: reddit

Raijintek's cryptic tweet

The @RaijintekCoLtd MORPHEUS is a strong contender to replace the Accelero S3. pic.twitter.com/HTXo6L5Cb1

— FanlessTech (@FanlessTech) August 26, 2019

We are currently working on something!!!

— Raijintek Co. Ltd. (@RaijintekCoLtd) August 27, 2019

Following the Arctic Accelero S3 discontinuation and our interest in the Raijintek MORPHEUS as a passive GPU cooler, the German manufacturer tweeted to us that something was, indeed, in the works. Are you excited for a Raijintek fanless GPU cooler?

New Karbon 700 High-Performance Edge Computer from Logic Supply

Global industrial and IoT computer hardware manufacturer, Logic Supply (www.logicsupply.com) has unveiled the Karbon 700 high-performance rugged computer. Designed for reliability in challenging environments, Karbon 700 is intended for use as a data logger, NVR or edge device in heavy industrial, in-vehicle or remote installations in the manufacturing, physical security and energy management industries.

"The Edge continues to expand further out from the data center, placing increasingly challenging environmental demands on hardware," says Murat Erdogan, Logic Supply VP of Products. "Engineers and Project Managers creating solutions that require both significant computing power and extreme durability are frequently faced with tough decisions in trying to balance cost, features, performance, and reliability. We created Karbon 700 to address these challenges and bring tremendous power to the edge, without sacrificing features or durability."

To help ensure reliability in extreme conditions, Karbon 700 has been tested to MIL-STD-810G standards to resist damage from prolonged vibration and shock up to 50G. The system also meets automotive power immunity according to the requirements of E-mark (UNECE Reg. 10), and EN50155 rolling stock standards, features an operating temperature range of -40°~70°C, and includes a user-configurable intelligent automotive power management system with remote power monitoring capabilities. The system's voltage input has a range of 9~48 VDC and a suite of power protections including transient voltage suppression, over, under, and reverse-voltage and over-current protection. All other I/O is ESD-rated to 15kV, making the system compatible with medical 60601-1 4th edition standards. Karbon 700's onboard user-programmable Micro Control Unit (MCU) provides additional functionality and power management flexibility.

Karbon 700 can be configured with a range of 9th generation Intel® processors, including Core i7 or Xeon CPUs. Optional discrete GPU capabilities provide advanced graphics processing, while integrated CAN bus and customizable DIO give the system a range of interface and control capabilities. The system supports up to 6 PoE ports, while wireless connectivity is available via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, CAT M1 or 4G LTE. Additional expansion, VPU capabilities via Intel Movidius, or optional I/O can be added using Logic Supply's proprietary ModBay™, which enables flexible expandability to meet specific application requirements.

"No two IoT deployments are the same. ModBay gives us the ability to adapt Karbon 700 to any application," says Maxx Garrison, Logic Supply Product Manager in charge of the company's Rugged product line. "We developed this technology to give us the flexibility to design solutions to both current, and future client challenges. By combining ModBay with our own motherboard design, Karbon 700 is able to leverage impressive computing power, installation flexibility and a suite of onboard and optional features to help power innovation wherever it's happening."

Two models of Karbon 700 are available. The standard model K700-SE, and the K700-X2, which adds dual PCIe slots and support for a range of full size dedicated graphics cards.

In addition to a wide range of hardware configuration options, Karbon 700 can also be customized via Logic Supply's suite of OEM services. The system can be custom branded or pre-installed with client software. If required, additional application specific testing is available, and the company's fulfilment services provide options for drop shipping and white boxing for OEMs and software companies looking to provide a full product solution to their customers.

Full specs, configuration options and pricing, are available by visiting www.logicsupply.com/k700-se/ or www.logicsupply.com/k700-x2/. To discuss customization options, project details, or additional OEM services, contact a Logic Supply Solution Specialist at info@logicsupply.com, or call +1 802 861 1590 in the US or +31 88 5200 700 in the EU.

Karbon 700 will make its public debut at the Global Security Exchange show, September 8-12, where it will be demonstrated running Intelligent Video Analytics Recorder (IVAR™) software from Gorilla Technology. Karbon 700 will also be demonstrated at the Inductive Automation Ignition Community Conference, September 17-19.

ARCTIC Accelero S3 discontinued

Sad news today. The only effective fanless GPU cooler is EOL (end of life) with no replacement in sight yet. ARCTIC's Robert Philipp tells FanlessTech: "No, unfortunately we don’t have any fanless GPU cooler at the moment. Neither I heard any news about any fanless GPU being designed right now".

Source: ARCTIC

Can you passively cool a 12-Core Ryzen 9 3900X?

Courtesy of Paul's Hardware

Why the discrepancies?

Why drastically different approaches between industrial and commercial products? In other words, why crappy cooling for mainstream fanless mini PCs? Most of them are failures due to horrible thermals, and things need to change.

The upcoming ZBOX Edge is a first step in the right direction. Cooling fins shouldn't be hidden, because it impedes cooling efficiency, but also because they look great.

Comet Lake is here

Intel introduces eight new low power 10th Gen processors, including the impressive i7-10710U, the first 6-core U-series SoC. Also on our radar : the 7W i7-10510Y, i5-10310Y, i5-10210Y, and i3-10110Y that could power fanless mini PCs later this year / early 2020. Interestingly, Comet Lake was 9th Gen as of last year (allegedly).

Also, is the upcoming Frost Canyon NUC back to 15W TDP?

Source: Intel

Custom fanless gaming PC

Check out this passive build featuring AMD's Ryzen 2700, an Nvidia 1080 GPU, and Seasonic's PRIME 600 Titanium Fanless. We're not sure how hand-cut heat pipes perform, but the end result is definitely one-of-a-kind.

Source: imgur

Introducing the Whiskey Lake ML100

"The ML100G-51 features the latest Intel Whisky Lake processing, bringing an impressive cost-to-performance ratio to the fanless NUC family. Available with the Quad-Core multi-threaded Whisky Lake i5-8265U processor and up to 32GB of DDR4 memory, the ML100G-51 provides plenty of power for heavy multitasking workloads and applications its flexible I/O connects to.

The ML100G-51 industrial fanless NUC is protected by our own Hardshell™ Fanless technology. Optimized for efficient, reliable cooling, the ML100G-51’s fanless construction and solid-state storage mean no moving parts, extending the lifespan of the system considerably. Its sealed design prevents dust, debris, chemical, and moisture ingress, making the ML100G-51 capable of withstanding the most challenging industrial environments. Versatile mounting capabilities coupled with its small footprint allow the ML100G-51 to fit into many space-constrained applications.

The ML100G-51 brings several exciting features to the fanless industrial NUC with dual LAN ports, fast M.2 storage, and support for triple independent displays. The system also has flexible configuration options with DIO, terminal block power, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and 4G LTE wireless connectivity."

https://www.onlogic.com/ml100g-51/
https://www.onlogic.com/ml100g-52/

Rare hardware

This Q370 ASRock motherboard features THREE DisplayPorts and onboard power (19V DC-in jack).

The Jetway JBC501F697 features the 35W i5-7500T, 8GB RAM, a 128GB SSD and two Intel Gigabit LAN.

The Akasa Galileo 1U is a Thin mini-ITX case with two internal 2.5" bays and two hot-swap drive bays.

A whopping 64GB of RAM in a NUC is possible, thanks to Samsung's 10nm-class 32GB DDR4 SoDIMMs.

Build your own fanless solution with this massive aluminum heat sink.

Our kind of art exhibition

We love heat sinks, and we're not alone. This artist captures their austere, solemn, monolithic beauty. Interesting to say the least.

Source: Instagram

Now is the time

Now is the perfect time to experience silent computing. Building a passively-cooled computer has never been so easy. You'll just need the Akasa Euler chassis, an 8th Gen NUC, reliable memory, solid-state storage, and an hour or two of your time. Fans are noisy and prone to failure. Just get rid of them, and never look back.

Update: The Akasa Turing is flying off the shelves, buy it on eBay, Newegg, Performance PC's, Quiet PC, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Caseking, or Scan.co.uk.

The Ryzen Embedded MMDPC is back in stock (in limited quantities)

AMD enthusiasts, unite! Tranquil's Ryzen-powered Mini Multi Display PC is back in stock for £630. It's also available as a fully configurable PC (shipping to 90 countries).

"Tranquil’s industrial and completely fanless chassis is optimised for efficient cooling and durability. The barebone system is designed to withstand both industrial and environmental hazards. The proficiency of their fanless design means it is protected from dust, floating debris, and moisture that would naturally damage a typical industrial mini PC. With the elimination of the fan and the use of solid-state drives, there are no moving parts in the system allowing for a silent operation service, a significantly improved start up speed, and resistance to vibrations and shocks, allowing for a longer expected lifespan.

The Mini Multi display PC provides powerful performance thanks to the supplied embedded AMD Ryzen motherboard from Sapphire Tech. The FS-FP5V incorporates an AMD Ryzen V1605B APU (Advanced Processing Unit) which features four cores and eight threads running at a base speed of 2.0GHz and a up to 3.6GHz turbo speed. A maximum of 32GB of SODIMM memory can be installed as well as a single M.2 SSD from 120GB to 2Tb, allowing for optimum enhancements. Furthermore, AMD APU features a Vega 8 GPU with a maximum memory share of 2048MB which gives good performance if it is intended to use the PC for light gaming.

In addition, users can choose between Windows 10 Home, Pro or Linux as their operating software. The system comes with a two Gigabit ethernet port (Realtek RTL8111G) and allows the option to include a Dual Band Wireless AC 7265 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card. There are a wide range of I/O ports, including a Line-Out, USB 3.1 Type C, USB 2.0, Mic-In, power/reset switch on the front. While on the rear is a RS232 (serial port), two ethernet ports, two USB 2.0 and four DisplayPort 1.2 ports and of course a DC-In 12 ~ 19v. Weighing at 1.8kg, this durable, yet sleek system creates the optimum balance of quality, efficiency and connectivity.

This unit is ideal for scenarios where multiple displays are required boasting four DisplayPorts each capable of 4K output. With no moving parts and a rugged design, it can be embedded in any dry environment. It’s ideal for high resolution embedded applications such as electronic gaming machines, medical imaging, interactive digital signage, thin clients, POS terminals and more. Alternatively, if you are looking for a very small silent home or office PC the MMDPC is ideal.

This rugged computer is the perfect tool for professional, industrial or home users. With its IP50 level protection, it can be used in constrained or severe environments. The milled and well-designed aluminium structure makes this chassis unique. Its conception proved its reliability in extended operating temperatures of between 0°C to 40°C."

Source: Quiet PC

Pico-ITX motherboards (that are actually available for purchase)

While GIGABYTE's pico motherboards are still nowhere to be found, Logic Supply's own tiny boards are launching today and shipping right now. Featuring 6W Apollo Lake processors, these 100 x 72 mm motherboards are full-fledged mini PCs once eMMC storage or an mSATA SSD is added. Each motherboard comes with a sizable heat sink that should guarantee excellent cooling.

✓ EPM160 (Celeron N3350, 1GB RAM, 1 mini-DP, 1 GbE)
✓ EPM161 (Celeron N3350, 2GB RAM, 8GB eMMC, 1 mini-DP, 1 GbE)
✓ EPM162 (Celeron N3350, 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, 2 mini-DP, 2 GbE)
✓ EPM163 (Pentium N4200, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, 2 mini-DP, 2 GbE)

Shuttle's Whiskey Lake offering

Shuttle's Kaby Lake-powered DS77U, DS77U3, DS77U5 and DS77U7 were released more than 2 years ago, basically an eternity in terms of computer hardware. Four new models will be available in September: the DS10U (Celeron 4205U) DS10U3 (i3-8145U) DS10U5 (i5-8265U) and DS10U7 (i7-8565U). While the overall design remains the same, HDMI 2.0a and USB 3.1 Gen2 are now included. Shuttle also heard our cries and finally removed the COM ports from the front panel.

✓ 15W Whiskey Lake CPUs
✓ 2 x SO-DIMM slots (32GB max)
✓ M.2 slot
✓ 2.5" bay
✓ SD card reader
✓ 4 x USB 3.1 Gen2 ports
✓ 4 x USB 2.0 ports
✓ 1 x HDMI 2.0a
✓ 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
✓ 1 x VGA port
✓ 1 x COM port
✓ 2 x Gigabit Ethernet (Intel)
✓ 200 x 39.5 x 165 mm

Source: Shuttle

The 2021 gaming NUC is already in the works

OK, so let's recap everything we've learned so far.

Fall 2019: Frost Canyon is your regular 4x4" NUC, powered by 25W Comet Lake-U chips (Intel UHD graphics). An updated Akasa Turing is a given.

2019-2020: The gaming-oriented Ghost Canyon is the successor to the current Hades Canyon, with the 45W i9-9980HK onboard. The Quartz Canyon NUC is Intel's smallest workstation yet, featuring the 45W Xeon E-2286M or i7-9850H. Both Ghost and Quartz feature a PCIe slot for high-end GPUs.

2020-2021: Phantom Canyon is in the VERY early stage of development. TDP is back to 28W with Tiger Lake-U processors. Connectivity is stellar with PCIe Gen4, HDMI 2.1, WiFi6, Bluetooth 5, USB 3.1 Gen2, Thunderbolt 3, and more.

Source: Chiphell via @momomo_us

Coffee Lake refreshed

The high-end cirrus7 nimbus is now shipping with the latest and greatest 35W processors. Options include the i3-9100T, i5-9400T and i7-9700T CPUs, the ASUS H310T, FUJITSU D3674-B, and ASRock IMB-1213 motherboards, as well as Standard, Extended, and Extreme cooling editions (pro tip: get the Extreme edition for the ultimate cooling and the aesthetics of the case).

Source: cirrus7

The very first Xeon NUC

Quartz Canyon is Intel's upcoming diminutive NUC workstation. Powered by either a Xeon E or an i7 vPro processor this turbocharged NUC features a PCIe x16 slot for a discrete graphics card. The case itself is very similar (identical?) to the more consumer-oriented Ghost Canyon NUC that we previewed last year. Quartz Canyon is actively-cooled, but passive solutions are always possible.

✓ 8-Core Intel® Xeon® E and 9th Gen Core™ i7 vPro processor
✓ Supports High-End Desktop Graphics Cards
✓ Game-Changing Compact Size
✓ Uncompromised Performance and Configurability
✓ Dual Thunderbolt™, Dual Ethernet, Optane™ & ECC Support
✓ 2.4Gbps Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX200
✓ Internal 500W Power Supply

Source: softline.ru (PDF)

Update: The Ghost / Quartz Canyon NUCs in the wild.

Update #2: According to the always reliable @momomo_us Ghost Canyon will feature the 45W i9-9980HK while Quartz Canyon will rock the 45W Xeon E-2286M or i7-9850H.