A Chinese PC enthusiast created a custom PC case specifically to match the substantial Noctua NH-P1 passive cooler. Due to the self-imposed design constraint of using the Mini-ITX platform, ChipHell’s fresh cool We made a custom case that is only 30 x 20 x 20 cm (LWH), or about 12 x 8 x 8 inches.Results found by fanless techis a pleasantly compact passive system. Plus, it looks like a modern manufactured case, featuring modern design trappings like side windows, a good amount of ventilation, and a vertically barred front. Perhaps it was inspired by Fractal North.
What kind of heat load does this passive PC system have to deal with? The system’s main heat source is of course an Intel Core i7-12700 with Noctua NH-P1 installed. According to FreshCool, when the CPU is capped at 65W, testing never crossed the 50 degree Celsius range. The 100W limit meant the processor would run at his mid-70s temps. Finally, the translation isn’t great, but when power capping is lifted completely (140W), the 12700 seems to start throttling under load after 90 seconds. there is no.
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In search of a true fanless system, FreshCool Season Nick PX450 (opens in new tab)This is a fully modular 450W PSU that offers 80 Plus Platinum efficiency with an attractive 12-year warranty. Other key components in this build include a Maxsun H610 ITX motherboard, 32GB of RAM (Kingston 2x16GB), and a WD Blue SN570 M.2 SSD.
In further comments and replies on the ChipHell forum, FreshCool joked with other users about the case looking like a cookware. bottom. SilverStone Sugo 16, comparable in size but designed for active cooling. FreshCool decided not to use Sugo after deciding it was “not very efficient ventilation” to create a passive system. There is space for cards up to 147mm.
This custom case clearly won’t win any awards for gaming performance, as nothing beats the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770. This is good enough for streaming videos and playing Minecraft, but not even the slowest dedicated solutions we offer. I tested with GPU benchmark. Of course, very few graphics cards offer fanless solutions these days, which defeats the point of this build.
