Why you should go fanless

Going fanless is a bit like switching from a gas car to an electric one: you don’t realize how much background noise you were putting up with until it’s suddenly gone. The most immediate benefit is the noise level is immersive work. Perfect for writers, programmers, or anyone who finds the whir of a fan distracting. By the way, in a traditional PC, the fan is usually the first component to fail. Fans act like tiny vacuum cleaners, pulling dust, pet hair, and debris into the sensitive internal components. No Intake means no clogging, and total peace of mind.

Image source: reddit 

Factor 100 Series by OnLogic

Not every edge AI deployment requires a heavy-duty server; many need a reliable, compact system that can process data in real time at the point of collection. The Factor 100 Series is built for those specific, high-value applications like defect detection, localized monitoring, and sensor fusion. With its small form factor and power-efficient Qualcomm processing, the Factor 100 Series makes it possible to embed intelligence directly into your machinery or enclosures, providing the targeted performance needed for modern machine vision and autonomy.

The Factor 100 Series is built to deliver consistent operation in challenging industrial settings while using as little space, and energy, as possible.

• Fanless design: Fanless cooling technology drastically reduces the risk of dust and particulate ingress, ensuring long-term reliability and reduced maintenance, even in inhospitable environments.

• 0 to 50°C temperature range: Designed for the rigors of edge deployment, the Factor 100 Series provides resilient performance wherever it's needed.

• Low power draw: The 7 W TDP allows for high-density deployments without the need for intensive cooling infrastructure.

• Industrial-grade reliability: Long-lifecycle components and a 15-year chip availability provide reliable, long-term project stability.

https://www.onlogic.com/store/fr101/

The Swiss Army knife PC

This industrial mini PC is a rugged, fanless powerhouse driven by an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, capable of reaching speeds up to 4.7GHz for demanding edge computing tasks. It comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro and features 16GB DDR4 RAM paired with a 256GB SSD. Designed for specialized connectivity, the unit boasts dual 2.5G LAN ports and six RS232 COM ports, making it an ideal hub for legacy equipment and high-speed networking. The fanless chassis ensures silent, dust-resistant operation in harsh environments, and supports dual 4K@60Hz video output via VGA and HDMI. It's available now for $589.

Acer Chromebox Mini review

"The Acer Chromebox Mini CXM1 is a VESA-mountable mini PC that runs Chrome OS and has a modest set of internals. Having a low-power CPU is a net benefit here, as the CXM1 is passively cooled and therefore silent when used. It comes with a bracket and Velcro strips to mount it out of the way, keeping the external power brick out of the way as well.

You also get an excellent selection of ports, including five USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, two HDMI 1.4b outputs, USB-C, and an audio combo jack. The USB-C port also supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, bringing the total to three displays. And you'll be able to get by if you limit yourself to a single web app at a time, or maybe a couple of browser tabs for research."

The Acer Chromebox Mini CXM1 is not a powerful device. I know I keep saying it, but if I don't, someone will pick one up and be disappointed by what it can't do. Not having 4K60 support due to HDMI 1.4b limitations is the most disappointing thing here, although most browser-based streaming services will be limited to 1080p on Chrome OS anyway."

Source: XDA 

Works better than it looks

This is a textbook example of "extreme DIY engineering." What you’re looking at is a GMKtec NucBox (Ryzen 7 7825U) that has been completely stripped of its original chassis and cooling fan to accommodate a massive, passive desktop CPU cooler. These mini PCs usually rely on a small, high-RPM laptop-style fan that can get quite whiny under load. It looks absurd, and those exposed components are one static shock away from retirement, but honestly? We’re obsessed with it.

Source: reddit

Build a $65 retro gaming console

Courtesy of Chase Brogan

The Steam (punk) Machine

This strikingly beautiful build integrates a massive Victorian-era cast iron radiator as its primary cooling component. The PC - featuring the RTX 5080 and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D - is mounted directly to the base of the 80kg radiator. Because of the massive thermal mass, it takes about one hour for the loop to reach temperature equilibrium. This build does feature a couple of fans but can run completely passively.

Source: reddit

Lenovo ThinkEdge Solutions teased

ThinkEdge SE10n Gen 2, a compact intelligent gateway that provides reliable mobile management where needed. Built for connectivity, data capture and lightweight edge analytics, the fanless nano gateway is easy to deploy and delivers essential performance for customers of all sizes without the commitment of large investments.

ThinkEdge SE30n Gen 2, a versatile AI-ready gateway that turns data into decisions with real-time inferencing right next to the equipment. A rugged yet compact device built for real-world edge conditions, the fanless gateway optimizes the Intel Core processor to streamline device orchestration and fleet-level manageability for complex edge deployments.

ThinkEdge SE60n Gen 2, a high-performance edge computer solution with AI capability that supports multi-camera vision, predictive analysis and autonomous workflows across industry and enterprise edge deployments. Powered by Intel Core Ultra processors with integrated AI accelerators delivering up to 97 TOPS, the device brings reliable edge AI to the most demanding conditions, including industry automation, commercial autonomous robots, smart retail, healthcare, transportation, and more.

These new solutions are scheduled for release in H2 2026, stay tuned. Special thanks to Pedro Chen over at Lenovo for the hi-res pictures. 

Akasa Euler CMX unboxing

Learn more about the mini-ITX case here.

Akasa Euler CMX launched

Unlike previous Euler models - compatible with Thin mini-ITX motherboards only - this new fanless case supports standard mini-ITX motherboards, and comes with an internal 220W DC-to-DC converter. The compact 4-liter case supports 35W desktop Intel CPUs up to the Core Ultra 9 285T. The Euler CMX is available today from Quiet PC as a standalone product or as a complete PC. The definitive best fanless PC of 2026 has officially arrived.

Case: https://www.quietpc.com/akasa-euler-cmx

PC: https://www.quietpc.com/sys-euler-cmx-i18