What Is a Fanless Industrial Mini PC?
A fanless industrial mini PC is a small computer that has no cooling fan. It uses a passive heatsink to move heat away from the processor. Because it has no moving parts in the cooling path, it has fewer points of failure than a fan-cooled PC. It also takes in no dust through fan intakes, which makes it suitable for factories, kiosks, signage, and control cabinets.
Key Specifications
A fanless industrial mini PC typically includes:
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Processor: Intel N100 (4 cores, up to 3.4 GHz, 6 MB cache) or ARM Cortex-A55 (4 cores, up to 1.9 GHz, 1 MB cache)
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Memory: 4 GB to 32 GB DDR4 RAM, or 4 GB onboard RAM on ARM-based models
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Storage: 32 GB to 512 GB SSD, or 64 GB eMMC on ARM-based models
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Power: 5V 2A, 12V 2A, or 12V 5A DC adapters
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Connectivity: HDMI output and optional dual-band or dual-antenna WiFi
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Operating systems: Thinux embedded Linux, Ubuntu Linux, DOS, or no operating system preinstalled
Comparison of Thinvent Fanless Processor Options
| Feature | Intel N100 | ARM Cortex-A55 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 |
| Max frequency | 3.4 GHz | 1.9 GHz |
| Cache | 6 MB | 1 MB |
| Memory options | 4 GB to 32 GB DDR4 | 4 GB onboard |
| Storage options | 32 GB to 512 GB SSD | 64 GB eMMC |
Use Cases
Fanless mini PCs suit tasks that need steady operation in space-limited or dusty locations:
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Machine monitoring and HMI panels on factory floors
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Digital signage and self-service kiosks
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Embedded control inside enclosures and cabinets
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Edge data collection and gateway applications
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Point-of-sale and information terminals
The Intel N100 models offer higher performance for general computing and multitasking. The ARM Cortex-A55 model suits lightweight embedded tasks with lower power needs.
Thinvent Fanless Mini PCs
Thinvent has fanless industrial mini PCs built on Intel N100 and ARM Cortex-A55 processors. The Thinvent Treo, Aero, and Micro 6 Pro series are available with 4 GB to 32 GB of RAM, 32 GB to 512 GB of storage, and a choice of Thinux, Ubuntu Linux, DOS, or no operating system. Select a model with the memory, storage, WiFi, and operating system your application requires.
