Heatsinks are works of art (part 2)

By assembling a landscape from components that are often hidden away inside PCs and server racks, or discarded as e-waste, the sculpture reminds us that the digital world is built on a massive physical infrastructure, which may currently be spinning out of control. 

Source: Kristian Kragelund

Heatsinks are works of art (part 1)

It turns out we're not crazy after all. Heatsinks are beautiful, and artist Kristian Kragelund agrees. This artwork uses discarded heatsinks to provoke thought on some of our biggest modern challenges: the footprint of technology, ecology, and the rapid rise of AI.

Source: Kristian Kragelund 

Finally, a truly unique design

The XSR Spire is a rugged, high-performance mission computer launched by Spectra Defense Technologies. Designed for tactical edge computing, the mean-looking PC targets space-constrained and harsh environments including vehicles, aircraft, maritime vessels, and unmanned systems. The XSR Spire features an IP67-rated enclosure, providing complete protection against extreme vibration, dust ingress, and even water submersion. The system is powered by the 45W Intel Xeon-W-11865MRE processor and can be configured with up to 96GB of RAM and 16TB of NVMe storage. The price is currently unknown, but expect a hefty price tag.

Source: Spectra Defense Technologies

A flawless execution

Why do SSD enclosures look better than actual fanless mini PCs from major brands? Rather than engineering a chassis optimized for passive cooling from the ground up, manufacturers often take the lazy approach: they take a standard, cramped mini PC chassis, remove the internal fan, slap a basic heatsink onto the processor, and hope for the best. This UGREEN 80Gbps SSD enclosure utilizes a thick, CNC-machined aluminum alloy, creating a premium piece of desktop jewelry. Expecting decent passive cooling on a mini PC shouldn't be a big ask, especially for a mere 6W CPU.

Our needs are simple

Cooler Master Q300L V3 launched

The Cooler Master Q300L V3 is the next-generation iteration of Cooler Master’s highly popular, budget compact microATX case (which also supports mini-ITX motherboards). The convection-friendly case now features a premium tempered glass side panel to showcase components, and by components we mean the Noctua NH-P1. The Q300L V3 is available for $44.99.

Source: TechPowerUp

The Wildcat Lake era begins

ZOTAC was surprisingly quiet at COMPUTEX this year. No loud press releases, no over-promised vaporware, you actually had to hunt around their booth to find their upcoming fanless PCs. Two models are on the horizon, and both are powered by the 15W Core 3 processor 304. The consumer-oriented ZBOX CI471 and the industrial ZP-S35W3. Wildcat Lake is not a direct successor to the N100/N150 series. It's a step up in both power and price. A new spot between entry-level chips, and the high-end Core Ultra CPUs.

Source: heise

Waterproof Ryzen PC now available

If you need a rig that survives the most extreme conditions, this waterproof Ryzen PC is made for you. Because open vent holes and water don't mix, this machine is built like an actual vault: Featuring an IP65 rating, the Akasa Pascal case is completely sealed against dust and water. CPU options include the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X. The system is fully configurable with up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of SSD storage, starting at $3,350.

https://silentpc.com/fanless-pcs/waterproof-pc

Fanless MSI Cubi NUC available

The N150-powered mini PC is now available for $249 as a barebone unit or $449 as a complete Windows 11 Pro PC (8GB / 128GB). Connectivity is excellent with two USB 10Gbps Type-A ports, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, and an audio combo jack on the front panel. The rear I/O features one USB 10Gbps Type-C port, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, dual RJ45 LAN (2.5G and 1G), and two HDMI 2.1 outputs. Cooling is another story. There’s no sign of a deliberate passive cooling strategy here. The fan was simply removed. We’ll be skipping this one.

Core Ultra X7 358H in action

The Core Ultra X7 358H is at the heart of the Kubb Fanless