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Geek Culture / Passive cooling an i3 for a custom rig?

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Phaelax
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Posted: 20th Mar 2013 03:17
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If anyone remembers an old design I did awhile back for a case:
http://zimnox.com/neptune/case_mini_white.png

I'm back at it again but with a few changes. Originally, that tiny case was designed for an Atom cpu. But I think mini-itx has progressed enough I could put a more usable desktop inside it.

I chose the i3-3225 because its 3.3GHz, HD4000 graphics (i've seen it play skyrim) and only 55w. If I could do with a lower intel graphics, then I could get a 35w i3 instead but I think I can make this one work. It also supports Intel's WiDi, which I'm not sure the earlier i3's did.

The motherboard has a few key features I liked. First, it's one of only a few "thin" mini-itx boards in existence. Gigabyte just made one too, but Intel has 2 mini-pcie slots. One will be for an mSata drive, the other for the centrino card.


Specs:
Intel Core i3-3225
Intel BOXDQ77KB mini-itx
Muskin 120G mSata
GSkill 8GB DDR3-1600
Intel Centrino 6235


To keep it as thin as possible, I want to see if I can passively cool the cpu. I did find this Intel cooler with a blower fan, but I think it's footprint would be too large. I'm still working on the dimensions for a new model.

I considered this 1.5u Scythe Kozuti SCKZT-1000


Ideally, I'd like to find a 20mm height solution, hence the thought of strictly passive cooling. My other idea was to get the fan assembly used in the mac mini.


So any thoughts or feedback?

"You're all wrong. You're all idiots." ~Fluffy Rabbit
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 20th Mar 2013 06:07
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Quote: "To keep it as thin as possible, I want to see if I can passively cool the cpu."
Not gonna happen.

In order to passively cool a processor, you'll need a very large heatsink; the surface area of anything that would fit in the thin category wouldn't do. Perhaps make it really tall while slim, and that could act as some sort of convection duct, but I don't think you want it to be very tall either, and we'd be talking a few feet tall...

Text only signature /troll
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Indicium
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Posted: 20th Mar 2013 11:39
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Yeah I've seen a passive CPU heat sink and it was easily a foot long. Looked awesome though.


They see me coding, they hating. http://indi-indicium.blogspot.co.uk/
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The Wilderbeast
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Posted: 20th Mar 2013 11:57
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Passive CPU cooling is quite uncommon, but still possible. In the foot print that you're looking at though? Probably not. One really neat thing I love about my old PowerBook is that the case is completely metal, and actually was designed to dissipate heat better from the heatsink - as a result of the good design, I hardly ever hear the fans kick in.

You get 500MB extra space on Dropbox... I get 500MB extra space on Dropbox

Everyone's happy!
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MrValentine
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Playing: FFVII
Posted: 20th Mar 2013 13:02 Edited at: 20th Mar 2013 13:04
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A bunch of Akasa Low Profile Coolers


EDIT changed to code block


Never heard of these guys but this claims to be quiet

And this brownie, makes me hungry

Looks like Akasa has the most low profile coolers... and My view on them is, they are cheap, they work for a very long time and built good enough, I hardly had any serious issues with them, and hope this helps

PS.
That is a very slick board for the price!!!
USB 3 is a beautiful thing I can say as I have been using it for a while now and it is so stable!

GL!

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Phaelax
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Location: Metropia
Posted: 20th Mar 2013 16:49
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Only downside to the board is I don't think it has any inboard USB headers. So no front USB ports for my case.


My other option gets more complicated in design and that's using heatpipes running to the case itself to act as a giant heatsink. I've seen designs like it before. Originally I wanted a plastic or acrylic case but I may have to do aluminum.

"You're all wrong. You're all idiots." ~Fluffy Rabbit
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 20th Mar 2013 20:16
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Another thing, if your have a totally leak-proof case and are willing to make a potential mess, fill it all with mineral oil.

Text only signature /troll
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