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Computers

First mini-PC with solid-state active cooling system launches

By Paul Ridden
October 19, 2023
First mini-PC with solid-state active cooling system launches
The Zbox PI430AJ is billed as "the world's first solid-state active-cooled mini-PC"
The Zbox PI430AJ is billed as "the world's first solid-state active-cooled mini-PC"
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The Zbox PI430AJ is billed as "the world's first solid-state active-cooled mini-PC"
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The Zbox PI430AJ is billed as "the world's first solid-state active-cooled mini-PC"
The Zbox PI430AJ is about the size of a pack of cards, yet packs in an Intel Core-i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, a M.2 SSD storage slot, and wired/wireless connectivity
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The Zbox PI430AJ is about the size of a pack of cards, yet packs in an Intel Core-i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, a M.2 SSD storage slot, and wired/wireless connectivity
"The solid-state design of the system also implies minimal wear and tear over time, further increasing its stability, reliability, and robustness," said Zotac
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"The solid-state design of the system also implies minimal wear and tear over time, further increasing its stability, reliability, and robustness," said Zotac
View gallery - 3 images

Back in late 2022, a company called Frore Systems emerged from stealth with two solid-state active cooling chips for computers called the AirJet Pro and AirJet Mini. Now Chinese multinational Zotac has announced the rollout of the first mini-PC built around the latter.

The harder processing brains in computer systems are pushed, the more heat they generate. This can be drawn away by mechanical fans or cooling liquid, but Frore noted at the launch of its AirJet solutions that "while the latest processors promise higher performance, only 50% or less is realized because the thermal solutions are still the same, old, passive or fan-based systems that are inadequate, noisy, and bulky."

The AirJet tech is described as a self-contained active heat sink featuring membranes inside that vibrate at ultrasonic frequency, generating "a powerful flow of air" that's pushed through vents at the top of the unit. These "high-velocity pulsating jets" remove heat from the processor and push it out through an integrated spout.

Back at Computex 2023 in May, Zotac's new Zbox mini-PC was announced as the first recipient of Frore's cooling technology, in the shape of two near-silent AirJet Minis. Now The Zbox PI430AJ has launched to "select regions." Zotac reckons that the active cooling modules can only be heard if the user places an ear against the Zbox's housing.

The Zbox PI430AJ is about the size of a pack of cards, yet packs in an Intel Core-i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, a M.2 SSD storage slot, and wired/wireless connectivity
The Zbox PI430AJ is about the size of a pack of cards, yet packs in an Intel Core-i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, a M.2 SSD storage slot, and wired/wireless connectivity

The processor of choice for this "world's first" device is an Intel Core i3-N300 octacore chip that can clock up to 3.8 GHz. This features integrated UHD graphics, and is supported by 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The Windows flavor comes with 512 GB of SSD storage, while users who opt for the barebones version will need to install their own.

The 114.8 x 76 x 23.8-mm (4.52 x 2.99 x 0.95-in) mini-PC sports two USB 3.2 Type-A ports plus one USB-C, HDMI and DisplayPort, Ethernet LAN and a combo headphone/microphone jack. Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 are cooked in for wireless needs.

"Until AirJet, thermal was the only aspect of modern-day technology that hadn’t changed in decades," said founder and CEO of Frore Systems, Dr. Seshu Madhavapeddy. "Zotac’s fanless mini-PC with AirJet, with the world’s highest performing mobile CPU and 8 GB of LPDDR5 memory upgrade, is a game changer. Consumers can now get the high performance mini-PC they want, in an incredibly small, silent, cool and fanless device."

The Zbox PI430AJ is on sale now, though we've no word on US availability or pricing as of writing.

Source: Zotac

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Tags

ComputersMini-PCCoolingSolid-state
2 comments
Paul Ridden
Paul Ridden
While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe.

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2 comments
Marco McClean
If solid state is implied to be solid and still, I expected a peltier-junction, a motionless heat pump for actual heat and not a pump for a flow of cooling medium. A pump made of "vibrating membranes" is just a different kind of fan --maybe smaller than a spinning fan, but a fan. I wonder how cats and dogs and bats react to the ultrasonics.

You can buy an ultrasonic mist generator for mini fountains and terrariums. I imagine placing the CPU in the mist path. Think how neat that would look, too. The motherboard would be in a lucite box with vents, with a source of water (so /not/ solid), and maybe add moss, pipe-cleaner trees, gauze ghosts, mouse skeletons, and spooky lighting. And/or coat the chips with video screen material, or project video on them, to symbolically reflect in color and level of activity, from moment to moment, the type and intensity of processes going on inside them.
Jose Gros-Aymerich
'Advanced Cooling Technologies' has Heat Pipes expertise and products helping in cooling electronic devices.
Perhaps Heat Pipes could take away extreme heat from bigger bodies, as an 'Space Shuttle', Dornier had Heat Pipes installed in a satellite, with very good results.
Blessings +