News Enthusiast Builds Custom SSF Case Around Noctua's NH-P1 Passive Cooler

[Admin]

PC enthusiasts and DIYers are sometimes inspired to create custom one-off design, particularly if nothing else meets their requirements. One such person decided to build a custom case around the Noctua NH-P1 (and it's not even brown).

Enthusiast Builds Custom SSF Case Around Noctua's NH-P1 Passive Cooler : Read more

 

[bit_user]

I know a guy who bought a thin laptop/convertible with no fan. He then discovered just how noisy heat pipes themselves can be! I have also experienced this with my work laptop. Even before I can hear its fan spin up, I'll hear the crackling of its heat pipes.

If you know how heat pipes work, it should come as little surprise. Like air conditioning, they rely on the massive efficiency of phase-change cooling. In other words, they work by boiling the working fluid, at the heat source! Boiling fluid inside a thin metal tube obviously make noise.

So, my guess is that this builder is going to hear some sizzling and popping, if they put this thing on their desk.

Aesthetically, I don't love it or really hate it. This fanless case might find some fans, but it hasn't found one in me.

 

[decembermouse]

I'm a fan. It's not the best-looking case I've ever seen, but it's not bad compared to some of what the industry produces these days. I'd add some mesh filters and ports, but that's just me. Impressive engineering from a consumer.

Heat pipes can make noise, sure. Is it preferable to a typical setup with fans? Hard to say - if I'm using headphones, then I'd probably prefer heat pipe noise to the constant low-level white noise that I'd notice during the quiet notice of games. Still, even fans have been improving over time, growing quieter, and fan curves are easier than ever to set up (not that everyone does, obviously).

Seeing creativity in the PC creation space is always a positive in my view. Ultimately, the holy grail of computing would be to have a powerful PC that generates zero noise. The industry keeps taking steps forward, then other steps back. Heat pipe and fin geometry improve, Intel raises chip power. Fans grow quieter, and we end up with GPUs that need more air flow. Dies shrink, we raise clock speeds. These things are unrelated, not meant to be presented as cause and effect. Just examples.

But every time I see this kind of content, I get excited. It shows us how people are trying to innovate towards that goal. These solutions won't be realistic for everyone, but the concepts sometimes make their way onto the market through Kickstarters or through companies who see the potential in ideas like this. The concept cars at auto shows never make it onto the market, but many of their features eventually become mainstream. My hope is that articles about silent PC builds like this will encourage various part manufacturers to consider how they could fit into this future, and eventually make it happen.

If that day never comes, then chances are I'll end up building a PC with a home heating radiator like Linus Tech Tips did in 2018. Anything for that perfectly silent experience where the only sound I'm getting is intended to be part of the gaming / cinematic / work / whatever experience!