Modelled thermal performance and continuous processor power of the fanless Thinvent Micro 5R Thin Client

Will the fanless Micro 5R run on your desk, behind a monitor or on a digital sign?

  • The Micro 5R is a closed 1 mm aluminium computer (96.7 × 99.6 × 20.2 mm) with no fan or vents.
  • It uses a four-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor with a full-load power of 3 W. The RAM, flash and other chips on the board use 1.5 W.
  • In still air, the processor runs at its 3 W full load continuously in rooms up to 40 °C.
  • The processor limit is 85 °C, which is 10 °C below the maker's 95 °C slowing point.
  • At a 3 W processor load, the hottest outer point reaches 43 °C in a 25 °C room.
  • In a 45 °C room, the processor lowers its power consumption to 2.9 W, and the hottest outer point reaches 61 °C.
  • In a 35 °C room at 3 W, the top cover peaks at 52 °C over the processor and the base peaks at 50 °C.
  • In a 35 °C room at 3 W, the processor reaches 77 °C.
  • Lighter everyday thin-client work (1 to 2 W on the processor) keeps the outer surface between 35 and 39 °C in a 25 °C room.
  • When mounted behind a display or inside a digital-signage enclosure, the air temperature around the computer is what matters.
  • Leave clear space around the computer so warm air does not stay trapped.
  • If a 50 °C room or a heavy load pushes the processor to 85 °C, it lowers its power consumption to 2.5 W.

Heat the case can dissipate across room temperatures

Heat the case can dissipate across room temperatures
The device stands on a desk in still air, with 1.5 W from the rest of the board. Before the processor reaches its 85 °C limit, the case can dissipate 5.5 W of processor heat in a 15 °C room and 2.5 W in a 50 °C room. The processor runs at its 3 W full load in rooms up to 40 °C before reaching its 85 °C limit.

Outer surface temperature against processor power

Outer surface temperature against processor power
Hottest outer surface temperatures in still air across 25, 35 and 45 °C rooms rise linearly with processor power. Temperature rises with power up to the maximum continuous power in each room before the processor reaches its 85 °C limit.

Hottest outer surface by processor power and room temperature

Hottest outer surface by processor power and room temperature
Steady temperatures at the hottest outer point across 25 to 45 °C rooms for 1 to 5 W of processor load. Under a load that needs more power than the 85 °C limit allows, the processor lowers its power consumption.

Top cover and base surface temperatures in a 35 °C room

Top cover and base surface temperatures in a 35 °C room
Surface temperatures across the top cover and base under the processor's 3 W full load in a 35 °C room, with the processor at 77 °C. The top cover reaches 52 °C in the centre over the processor, and the base reaches 50 °C.