topic Re: Intel NUC ventilation requirement in Embedded Intel® Core™ Processors

Intel NUC ventilation requirement

prasanna25 — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:26:45 GMT

Hi,

I wish to use Intel NUC i3 model inside a closed enclosure, without cooling the room temperature will be at maximum of 35dec C , i intend to run them at maximum of 30% CPU load. continuously.

Is there anyone have experience using the NUC inside closed enclosure , with out any ventilation. The enclosure size is about 100*10*30 cm in size.

Can anyone suggest a way to check the performance of the NUC.

Re: Intel NUC ventilation requirement

n_scott_pearson — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 19:20:07 GMT

I can only give a generalized answer. The NUC is cooled by drawing in and then exhausting air. How much air is being moved through the system, as well as the temperature of the air being inlet, decide how much heat can be extracted. If the air is simply being recirculated (i.e., the heat is building up in this enclosure), a point will be reached where the system cannot extract all the heat being generated. The system - memory devices, storage devices and especially the SoC itself - must react by throttling performance. If this doesn't stop the heat buildup, its only option will be to power down the system.

Bottom line, I do not recommend using the NUC - or any other PC design - in a simple closed enclosure. Now, in industrial environments - where there is a *lot* of circulating contaminants (dust, etc.) - there is no choice but to put PCs into sealed enclosures. In this case, however, the enclosures include heat exchangers that allow the heat to be extracted from the enclosure without breaking the seal.

Hope this helps,

...S

Re: Intel NUC ventilation requirement

CarlosAM_INTEL — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:05:22 GMT

Hello, @prasanna25:

Thank you for contacting Intel Embedded Community.

It seems that your Intel® NUC consultations are related to the Intel® Core™ i3-5010U Processor, which seems to be installed in the device related to your requests, as you may confirm on the following websites:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/83257/intel-nuc-kit-nuc5i3ryh/specifications.html

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/84697/intel-core-i35010u-processor-3m-cache-2-10-ghz/specifications.html

We need to clarify that the cited processor has been discontinued and is no longer supported, as you may verify on the following website:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000022396/processors.html

Also, you need to consider the information stated on the following websites to receive the proper support:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000094682/intel-nuc.html

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000097279/intel-nuc.html
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/products/98414/intel-nuc.html

Best regards,

@CarlosAM_INTEL.

Re: Intel NUC ventilation requirement

LeonWaksman — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 19:33:03 GMT

There are Akasa Fanless Cases, designed for NUCs. Find the one, designed for your NUC.

Leon

Re: Intel NUC ventilation requirement

n_scott_pearson — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 02:29:41 GMT

Carlos, where did you come up with this being a 5th gen NUC? It doesn't say this anywhere in his post. It simply says it is a NUC with i3 processor.
...S

Re: Intel NUC ventilation requirement

n_scott_pearson — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 02:34:19 GMT

Leon, this doesn't help - and, in fact, passive cooling may make the situation worse. At least with the blower in place, air will be moving around in the enclosure. No, the closed enclosure is a problem. Someway to dissipate the heat from the enclosure is necessary.
...S

Re: Intel NUC ventilation requirement

LeonWaksman — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:39:13 GMT

Hi Scott,

I personally have not tested the Akasa fanless case for NUC, however, I know that they are widely used. For example please see this video, showing the NUC8i7BEH tested in Akasa case. The Intel i7-8559U reached a maximum of 65 °C with 50W, and 60 °C with 30W. This is significantly better than the stock case, which reached 92 °C with 50W, and 82 °C with 30W.

@prasanna25 is trying to run in fanless case some NUC i3 in room temperature of 35Deg C. So, I think this solution may work.

Leon

Re: Intel NUC ventilation requirement

n_scott_pearson — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:39:55 GMT

Think about it. You've got a chassis with no ventilation. The air in this chassis is going to absorb the heat from the NUC. Eventually, it is going to heat up to a point where there is no way that the air can cool the NUC any longer. Regardless of whether you are running with or without a fan, once you reach this tip-over point, you are going to see throttling and eventually THERMTRIP.

...S