Has the PC you use in production already broken once? Has technical support worked on it more than you have? Is your working environment harsh with dust, production residues, or other substances?
If you work in the industrial sector – perhaps in automotive, automation, or production lines – PCs play a truly indispensable role. Whether you use them to control devices or configure them within the machinery you manufacture, a computer breakdown is like losing your star striker because they get sent off in the final match. It simply shouldn’t happen, because it causes the kind of gruelling downtime and production stops that inevitably lead to loss of revenue or business opportunities. And especially at a time like this, when we’ve already had to stop operations for far too long, a malfunctioning or broken PC slowing down or even stopping production is not acceptable.
But what if I told you that you could have extremely high-performance PCs that work around the clock even in dusty or humid environments? I’m talking about fanless mini-PCs: extremely compact industrial computers that are also… totally silent.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What are the features of fanless PCs?
By definition, fanless computers are PCs without cooling fans and ventilation holes. The heat generated by the CPU is absorbed by the aluminium case and dispersed into the environment through special fins, making the PC virtually inaudible.
Not only does fanless technology contribute to the quietness of the computer, but it also eliminates the risk of dust, moisture, or other debris entering the PC and causing mechanical failure. In this way, fanless computers are perfect for applications in harsh, dirty, or humid contexts while at the same time ensuring resistance to the high stresses of an industrial working environment.
Depending on the installation required, there are different types of fanless PCs:
- Fanless rack PCs, for installation inside network cabinets;
- Fanless mini-PCs, small and compact box computers for use in restricted spaces, suitable for industrial, automotive, and medical production contexts;
- Fanless custom PCs, customisable to meet specific needs
Fanless PCs versus traditional PCs: What are the differences?
In 2 words – silence and functionality.
- Compared to traditional consumer PCs, fanless computers don’t have any noisy fans that dissipate the CPU heat. Heat dissipation occurs through the case and the cooling fins, so the device is completely silent.
- As for functionality, the mechanical components inside the PC – such as the cooling fans – can be severely damaged if the device operates in industrial working environments. For example, if the computer is installed in an outdoor system such as a digital kiosk or is used in an industrial production line with dust and other residues, moisture, and other substances infiltrated into the PC by the fan can easily damage the entire system. As a result, the fan breaks and the computer overheats. The only thing you can do at this point is to send your PC in for repair and wait for weeks – if not longer. On the other hand, there are no mechanical components in fanless PCs. This means that all the risks linked to dust and moisture entering the device do not arise. No more fans, no more ventilation holes – no more issues.
How much do fanless PCs cost?
Due to their special design, fanless computers are more expensive than traditional consumer PCs. This is due to their technological features, making them extremely quiet and suitable for 24/7 operation even in the harshest environments. Not to mention that these fanless PCs are built with industrial hardware, with a guaranteed lifecycle of 3 to 5 – or even 10 – years. Overall, their price depends on their configuration (CPU and installed components in particular).
Where to find the best fanless mini-PCs
Fanless PCs by Kimera Computers are not just fanless devices. Compared to the other PCs on the market, Kimera Computers are entirely Made in Italy: from design and production to technical assistance. Furthermore, they all enjoy a 3-year warranty and CE certification, therefore complying with the safety requirements of the applicable EU directives and regulations.
This means not only safe devices and three years of worry-free operation but also 92.7% shorter delivery and service times compared to other fanless PCs on the market. You will receive your industrial computer in just 3 to 5 days, and if there are any problems, we will repair it in the same time.
Our fanless PCs can be rack, box, or custom, depending on your installation. Whether rack or box, Kimera computers are generally small: racks can be 1U and 1.5U, while some box PCs fit in the palm of your hand. In addition, they can integrate different CPU types, ranging from Celeron to i3/i5/i7 and Xeon processors, for a system that combines quietness, high performance, thermal stability, and low power consumption to meet all requirements.
Shhhh, wait a minute… you hear that? Neither do I. That’s the sound of the fanless Kimera.
Here’s what our customers say about us
Hi, I’m the Technical and Sales Manager for Italy at ATEN, a Taiwanese company with 40 years of experience in the KVM and Professional Audio/Video sectors. I was looking for fanless servers in 1U format for the setting-up of the first Demo & Training Center in Milan. We didn’t have any particular performance requirements, and the usual commercial servers were just too big and noisy for us. Matteo’s good job with SEO allowed me to find KM Soltec and their fanless Kimera Computer Rack 1U. His helpfulness and professionalism were essential to get the 4 servers configured as we needed them. 6 months afterwards we were so satisfied with our purchase that we bought 4 more of them for the Demo & Training Center in Madrid. And soon it will be the turn of the one in Paris…
Luca Enea Spilimbergo, ATEN
Kimera for Digital Kiosks
My name is Rosa Fanelli, and I work at BBS Italy, an indoor and outdoor digital kiosk manufacturer. We were looking for industrial devices to integrate into our products to solve malfunctioning issues. Indeed, using unsuitable hardware for 24/7 operation under adverse weather conditions caused severe computer damages, which, in turn, led to malfunctioning and failure of the entire kiosk. Therefore, we had to carry out frequent and very costly maintenance operations. After several searches we found Kimera Computers. They provided us with technical support throughout the entire process and they always offered the best solutions for our needs, providing us with fanless PCs suitable for 24/7 operations.
We turned to Kimera Computers because of their reliability and competence. They were also able to design and realize our industrial solutions more quickly than other suppliers: indeed, they delivered each of our orders within the guaranteed 5-day delivery time!
Rosa Fanelli, BBS
Professionalism and collaboration
We at Mager S.r.l. had long been looking for a reliable supplier of industrial computers or their fanless alternatives. As a manufacturing company, we were interested in substituting some onboard computers on CNC machines, looking for the right balance between economic investment, operational performance, robustness, and reliability. Matteo and his team provided a prompt response and maximum helpfulness at every stage, from analysing the problem to the technical and financial designing of the solution. The industrial PCs (KIMERA) we bought from KM Soltec have been operating for several months now, producing the expected performance in terms of energy-saving and reduction of machine downtime. Matteo and his team have shown great professionalism and care also in the management of the customer-supplier relationship.
Gian Luca Rivalta, Mager Srl.
Would you like to test the quietness and performance of fanless Kimera Computers? Fill in this form to request a 15-day free trial and test them directly in your company!
