OnLogic Fanless Computing Whitepaper V2
OnLogic Fanless Computing Whitepaper V2
Executive Summary
Digital technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) have changed the face of business - from manufacturing to
distribution. Factories are increasingly enabling communication between machines, sensors and other devices
resulting in a more integrated, connected approach. This transformation is called Industry 4.0 and has resulted in
a reduced need for manual labor and increased productivity. Industry 4.0 relies on computing power - from idea
conception, to manufacturing, and distribution.
The key to success in Industry 4.0 is mitigating every risk for disruption. Using fanless industrial computers is one
way businesses can mitigate risk. While the upfront cost for a fanless industrial computer can be more expensive
than a commercial off-the-shelf system, fanless computers often provide a lower total cost of ownership, along with
reduced downtime, increased meantime between failures, lower operating costs, smaller form factor, and quieter
operation.
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Background - How Computers Stay Cool
Quite simply, computer CPUs generate heat and need to be kept cool or they will slow their performance or shut
down. “Thermal Check” is a standard regulatory feature of all computers. This is a temperature threshold at
which the computer will either throttle performance to reduce heat output or completely shut down to protect the
components from melting. To keep a computer cool and prevent thermal check, a computer can be cooled by one
of two means - active cooling (fanned) or passive cooling (fanless).
Active cooling of the CPU and other components is accomplished through the use of a fan inside a computer case
along with vents to allow hot air to escape. Much like a fan inside your house, a computer fan draws cooler air
through vents from the outside into the computer case and expels warm air through vents to the outside. Fans are
also used to move air inside the computer. The air is often directed across a component called a heat sink designed
to dissipate heat. A computer case has to be big enough to allow for circulation and the computer has to be placed
in a location that allows for airflow through the vents.
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5 Problems with Fans
1 - They Introduce Dust Inside the Computer
When the fan is running, it not only carries in cool air through the vents, but also
any airborne particulate including dust, pollen, dirt, grease, and insects. Over time,
this particulate builds up and it’s only a matter of time before it begins to cause
problems.
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Passive Cooling - Fanless
Passive cooling keeps the computer cool and running efficiently through clever design and engineering without a
troublesome fan. Using thoughtful thermal design, heat can be directed from sensitive components, such as CPUs
and internal power supplies, to the external body panels of the computer chassis, which serve as a giant heatsink,
with a broad surface area and heat dissipation fins. This design allows for heat to convect and radiate into the
surrounding environment, cooling the system. A good passive cooling design minimizes thermal junctions and
dissipates heat over a broad surface area without a moving fan. Advancements in passive cooling technology have
opened the door for not only fanless cooling, but ventless chassis designs that allow a system to be efficiently
cooled without any openings in the computer enclosure.
Understanding the benefits gained when moving to fanless will help you and your team better weigh the value of
investing in fanless computers.
• Reduced downtime
• Increased meantime between failures
• Lower operating costs
• Smaller form factor
• Quieter operation
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Reduced Downtime
Most computer downtime is caused by overheating. Eliminate dust and a faulty fan and you’ve eliminated the most
common reasons for overheating.
The meantime between failures (MTBF) is defined as the length of time a computer will last before it can’t be used
anymore. Removing any moving parts in a computer, like a fan and a rotating hard drive, eliminates the biggest
reason computers fail. Another feature that ensures a long life is a well designed chassis to protect the sensitive
electronics. Your industrial computer chassis should not only be strong, but also ventless to prevent dust ingress
and build up. Read more about mean time between failure in our Understanding MTBF white paper.
Hardware replacement is a fact of life in the IT industry, but for embedded engineers, the prospect of having to
remove and replace a vital component of a much larger project is a daunting proposition. The importance of a
reliable hardware infrastructure is magnified when a PC is stashed within the inner workings of a robot, tucked
into a machine vision system, or buried deep in a mine shaft. Replacing one of these systems isn’t as simple as
unplugging the dead computer and plugging in a new one. If a breakdown necessitates a hardware change, it
might necessitate additional testing, recertification or even product redesign.
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Lower Operating Costs
By using a fanless computer you can reduce your operating costs by reducing maintenance costs and reducing
power consumption.
• Cleaning dust from PCs is time consuming and can be costly if you have to take the computer offline. Cleaning
dust may also be potentially harmful to your computer components. Whether you clean with canned air or a
vacuum cleaner, the risk factor of damage is great. And, blowing the dust off of PC vents might make your
system look better on the outside, but it’s doing nothing to solve the problem. The reality is that you’re only
relocating the dust from the outside to the inside of your computers.
• Fanned desktop computers generally have power supplies in the range of 240 to 650 Watts. These are
integrated in the chassis of the system and due to their power, often need additional cooling from a fan to
get rid of heat generated by the power converted itself. Fanless computers on the other end, can work with
(external) power supplies and adapters in the range of 35 to 80 Watts.
• Power usage is often referred to as kWh, which corresponds with the amount of kiloWatts used when the
device is turned on for 1 hour. Let’s estimate what the power usage for both devices would look like over the
course of a year, assuming they will both be used for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Also, let’s take the low end
of the desktop spectrum and the high end of the power adapter spectrum to get the most realistic comparison:
Fanned Fanless
In this scenario, a fanless system with a powerful adapter, uses 66% less power than it’s fanned counterpart
with an “economical” power supply. So we can run 3 fanless systems on the same power usage as we do for
just 1 desktop PC.
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To put a dollar figure to it, in 2020 the average cost per KWh was $0.13 making the average cost to run a fanned
computer per year about $66. The same cost for a fanless computer would be $22. Multiply that by the number
of computers needed, and that cost per year can quickly add up. Ultimately, the goal for more and more companies
is to become energy-neutral. Going fanless is one impactful step in reducing power consumption.
Fanless computers are significantly smaller than their commercial counterparts. This small footprint allows for
easy installation including wall mounting or tucking into small spaces. If you have a pre-established small space,
you can most likely find the fanless computer to fit. If you wanted to put a fanned computer in a pre-existing tight
location, you may need to spend time and money reconfiguring a space for adequate ventilation.
Quiet Operation
By their very nature, fans are noisy and become even noisier when they have to work harder when caked in dust or
if the moving components become loose and vibrate against the frame of the computer. This may not be an issue
in a noisy warehouse, but it can certainly become an issue in certain environments like healthcare or entertainment
where a quiet environment is a must.
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Compare Specifications of a Fanless PC to a Typical Commercial PC
1
Size of HP Elitedesk 800 SFF Fanned desktop computer
2
Size of Logic Supply CL200 USSF Fanless PC
In summary, making the business case for fanless hardware is relatively simple. A fanless computer can have a
significant, long term positive impact on your business. By removing the fan, the most common failure point in
computers, you are creating a solution with optimal reliability. While the initial cost for a fanless computer can be
higher than an off-the-shelf computer, the long term benefits far outweigh the initial upfront cost and in the end,
result in a lower total cost of ownership.
US Office EU Office
Phone: +1 802 861 2300 | Email: [email protected] | www.onlogic.com Phone: +31 088 5200 700 | Email: [email protected] | www.onlogic.com
Contact
Have more questions about fanless computing? Contact our team to learn more!
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