A Better Computer Fan – Sometimes: Cross-Flow Meshless AIO Case Benchmarks & Review Leave a comment
The case is modern in different methods, too: It has a lever that strikes the PCIe riser into place on the GPU to make it simpler to put in within the small house and it ships with a movement information that simply mounts to the aspect panel of the chassis.
The MESHLESS AIO mini-ITX case is a elementary rethinking of case airflow and doesn’t mimic or emulate some other case we’ve ever labored on earlier than. The case has a solo designer who emailed us months in the past, and we’ve spent all of that point eager about and dealing on the testing. On this academic deep-dive to the MESHLESS, we’ll get a possibility to study much more about followers.
The MESHLESS AIO ought to be coming a while in Could for $360, in keeping with its solo designer. That’s very costly – no getting round that. Nevertheless, it’s produced in an costly manner – it’s largely one big 4mm thick aluminum extrusion that types a unibody. Because it’s all one piece of steel, it doesn’t want screws or rivets to carry it collectively structurally. This makes the MESHLESS AIO extraordinarily sturdy, with basically zero flex. The unibody is completed with CNC machining so as to add all the required cutouts and mounting factors.
Optionally available equipment embody a movement enhancer and tiny RAM fan, each of which we’ll check.
Unorthodox Airflow
The MESHLESS AIO’s cross-flow fan sits above the GPU and beneath a CLC radiator by sliding in on built-in rails. The airflow sample has air are available in by the highest radiator, the underside three quarters of the precise aspect panel the place the GPU is, and thru the mesh slot beneath the motherboard on the left aspect.
The air on the motherboard aspect is drawn by the holes above the motherboard and PSU. There’s additionally holes minimize out on the underside of the case on the GPU aspect, which are supposed to be passive exhaust holes for big GPUs. With our modestly-sized RTX 4070 FE, they most likely find yourself as extra consumption. All of this air converges on the fan and is exhausted out by the higher quarter of the precise aspect panel. When the fan is operating at full pace, there’s a stable wall of directed air blasting from the entire size of the fan.
Ensure to look at this to see how we arrange our Schlieren imaging.
And that is the Schlieren imaging we produced.
First, right here’s the exhaust aspect of the cross-flow fan. You’ll be able to see the air exits up at a 45-degree angle, which is nice as a result of it helps forestall re-circulation of sizzling air in by holes within the backside or sides of the case. That’s glorious design to venture it up and away slightly than simply straight out.
The movement enhancer is definitely fascinating as properly: With it on, you possibly can see that the exhaust path doesn’t change a lot, but it surely does higher angle the air away from the case. The opposite cause this works is as a result of it’s as a substitute blocking the cooler air decrease within the body from being sucked up into the exhaust path and pulled away. This enables that air to as a substitute discover its manner into the case by the decrease two-thirds of the aspect panel.
This orientation exhibits us air consumption on the prime of the case. When a sizzling object is held above the case with none air motion, the shifting air density is observable getting pulled into the highest with a bias towards the precise aspect of the case (or in direction of the fan’s mount and exhaust). The currents of the exhaust additionally assist pull the air this route.
Utilizing an the wrong way up air duster, you possibly can see that even after we transfer the output in direction of the left, the air nonetheless pulls proper. One aspect of the radiator will get the next pace of movement right here.
We had been curious if the rear was appearing as consumption or exhaust. You’ll be able to see that it’s exhaust: The air is flowing out of the case due to the video card’s followers. There’s some very slight air consumption on the bottom-left of the body at gradual speeds.
The MESHLESS is basically severe concerning the idea of this fan and contains options like 3D printed components to keep up a divide between the 2 sides on the cable move by on the backside.
There are some downsides to this method: We don’t suppose the GPU has sufficient house behind the again of it, particularly for contemporary flow-through designs present in most NVIDIA playing cards that may run into restrictions. Extra on that down beneath within the testing.
Cross-Move Followers
We wished to take this chance to each study and educate about how this type of fan works. This fashion of fan is once more known as cross–movement, transverse, or tangential, and on the earth of followers, they’re a relative newcomer at 131 years outdated because the first patent. The one case we may discover that used one was the 20 12 months outdated Cooler Master CM Stacker as an optional part. SilverStone also made one for normal small type issue purposes.
A cross-flow fan is split into blocks which can be separated by joint discs, constructed of cross-sectional curved blades in a round sample. On this configuration, a drum rotor sits on one finish to offer energy. There are additionally duplex cross-flow followers the place two followers adjoin a central impeller, however that’s a special use case.
We’ve been making some massive behind-the-scenes strikes currently to begin introducing academic animations anyplace doable. You’ll be able to verify that out here.
A conventional and easy axial fan slices by the air to scoop and transfer it within the focused route. Decisions in blade form and design can dictate how broad or straight that column of air is, however the idea is identical.
Squirrel cage blower followers, or centrifugal followers, pull air into the middle after which eject it outward alongside the blade path. That is helpful in cramped areas to evict air rapidly, like in handheld gaming units or laptops the place you should exhaust the recent air out of the chassis as quick as doable.
For a cross-flow or transverse fan, the fan is an extended and narrower cylinder that rotates longitudinally, with air getting into perpendicularly to the rotational axis and being evicted from the cylinder tangentially to that axis. In contrast to the blower followers we usually see in laptops and a few GPUs, a cross-flow fan doesn’t pull air in from the center of the impeller. As a substitute, it has separate inlet and outlet sides throughout the complete size. The outlet is fashioned by this wedge or “vortex wall” stabilizing the air vortexes in simply the precise strategy to create directional movement by the impeller. These followers are utilized in conditions the place a relentless laminar stream of air is fascinating with out the buffeting impact of huge axial followers.
The overall strain of the fan is proportional to the sq. of its pace, in keeping with analysis by Yong-Cheng Shih, et al, and analysis in 1973 by Eck, et al. discovered {that a} discount within the angle of assault improves the entire strain coefficient. Later analysis found a mix of tuning to the angle or curve of the blades throughout the size of the fan would additional enhance strain. You’ll be able to see this current within the trendy cross-flow fan used for the MESHLESS PC case — its angle regularly swoops from proper to left.
Cross-flow followers create decrease velocity air motion from in-to-out and produce a laminar movement which will get evenly distributed throughout the size of the blade. You would possibly discover these in a typical standing room tower fan, the place the aim is to distribute air broadly throughout the room, however to not direct it to any explicit pin level. Cross-flow followers may also be present in sure HVAC merchandise, refrigeration merchandise, and out of doors digital signage and billboards. They’ve additionally been thought of for aviation use contained in the wings of planes, however the concept by no means actually bought off the bottom.
A cross-flow fan has that draw back: It isn’t going to pressure as a lot air as quick right into a single inlet cooling a single system, however it is going to extra evenly pressure air into the chassis.
Let’s get into the thermal testing. For this, variables we’re contemplating embody: the fan pace, which will be adjusted to 100%, 65%, or 45% with a change; the non-compulsory movement information; and the fan being changed with our hacked-together axial answer only for comparability.
Testing is completed with a Kraken 280 cooler with out its followers except in any other case acknowledged.
GN Mini-ITX Variable Take a look at Bench (2024)
MESHLESS AIO Thermals
MESHLESS AIO CPU Thermals – Full Torture
Time for torture testing with a full CPU and GPU workload.
At 100% fan pace and inventory, the cross-flow fan saved the CPU P-cores at 35 levels Celsius over ambient, with the all-core common 3 levels decrease. This had it operating at 37.8 dBA at 1m in our hemi-anechoic chamber. Conveniently, that is nearly the identical noise degree as after we taped the 2 axial followers to it as a substitute, which ran 5 levels hotter. That’s nice information for the cross-flow fan, however a phrase of warning:
As a result of this case wasn’t designed for axial, the followers are blocked across the edges when held in place. It’s not a good comparability, however we nonetheless wished to run it out of curiosity.
In different phrases: a cross-flow fan gained’t at all times be higher. This whole case was designed ground-up for this answer, so axial followers will stay superior in most pc use instances, however when rigorously designed for cross-flow, our knowledge suggests it’s doable to supply a greater consequence.
The movement enhancer did enhance efficiency from inventory, dropping about 1 diploma from the baseline consequence. It’s not only a gimmick. Including the RAM fan didn’t change the CPU outcomes outdoors of variance, however we’ll take a look at the RAM temperatures in a second.
Including the seat belt boosted the temperature because it finally ends up blocking massive components of the radiator because of its floppy nature: The temperature elevated over 1 diploma from baseline.
Dropping fan pace to 65% lowered the noise by nearly 10 dBA, or a perceived efficient doubling in noise when going from 65% to 100%. The temperature improve was solely 3-4 levels. Lastly, the 45% result’s near “silent” at 25.3 dBA in our hemi-anechoic chamber with a noise ground of 13.6 dBA.
MESHLESS AIO GPU Thermals – Full Torture
GPU thermals aren’t nearly as good, so that is the weak spot, particularly with a flow-through cooler. The axial followers had been truly the very best right here, regardless of being largely blocked. The GPU ended up at 54 levels for common load temperature with each pace variations of the axial followers, though GPU reminiscence temperature was barely higher on the 100% check however inside variance. This isn’t irregular to see: The GPU isn’t within the direct movement path of the followers, however it’s far sufficient from the cross-flow fan path that it performs higher axially. This largely has to do with the strain system that is forming throughout the case.
The primary cross-flow look is the movement enhancer, which has the GPU at 55 levels load. That’s improved from 56 with out the enhancer. The deal with hurts efficiency once more, with fan pace reductions clearly impacting it probably the most. The underside two outcomes see a success to frequency, the place the 45% consequence drops 20MHz from the clocks.
It is a much less favorable set of outcomes in comparison with what we noticed on the CPU, and we suspect that the design of the case doesn’t do the 4070 FE design any favors. There’s barely any room behind the flow-through portion of the cooler, and any air that’s ejected in direction of the underside of the case has a robust chance of being recirculated.
This may very well be improved on in a few methods. Primary can be arising with some strategy to mount the GPU nearer to the outer wall irrespective of how thick it’s. Quantity two can be utilizing a GPU with a extra conventional cooler design the place sizzling air is blown out the highest and backside edges of the cooler when you get one with a vertical fin stack, which might perhaps permit the case’s fan to tug it out immediately.
MESHLESS AIO VRM & RAM Temperature
This final chart seems at RAM and VRM thermals.
The tiny RAM fan undoubtedly does one thing: SPD Hub temperatures on the reminiscence dropped to 14 levels over ambient when utilizing it with the cross-flow fan with the reminiscence fan, which is a formidable discount of 5-6 levels towards probably the most related outcomes. The RAM fan had a small profit for VRM MOSFET thermals as properly.
The axial followers in any other case did the very best and had been inside error of one another. Utilizing the cross-flow fan with the movement enhancer was 1 diploma higher than with out the movement enhancer, however inferior to with the RAM fan.
Intelligent GPU Mechanism
Let’s get again to the case and speak options and fitment.
For options, the GPU set up is intelligent:
Because the GPU space of the case is closed off on all sides, the GPU is inserted from the again of the case.
This bracket goes onto the GPU, then the slots on the aspect of the bracket slide into place utilizing screws beneath the motherboard as guides.
It really works properly.
To be able to connect the PCIe riser to the GPU, the MESHLESS AIO has a lever operated mechanism that lowers the riser slot down onto the connector on the cardboard. Plastic 3D printed guides be sure that it strains up in the course of the course of. It may be a bit stiff to maneuver into place, but it surely’s an excellent answer given the inherent house restrictions.
MESHLESS AIO Fitment and Dimensions
The case measures 379x165x259mm, which is 9mm longer and 10mm taller than on the spec sheet. The rear PCIe bracket and case toes make up the variations. That makes the outer quantity 16.2L – properly inside SFF territory however not extremely small.
GPUs as much as 362x78x163mm are supported, which incorporates the large Aorus Grasp 40 sequence playing cards. These are the biggest we’re conscious of, so all the things presently available on the market ought to technically match – clearly, do your personal analysis to substantiate and search for protrusions.
As regular although, becoming doesn’t imply it ought to go within the case. The bigger the GPU, the extra it is going to battle with constrained house and probably drop clocks.
CPU cooling is designed solely round 280mm CLCs, and the bracket doesn’t even have mounting holes for 240mm radiators. The radiator itself can solely be as much as 30mm thick, which guidelines out Arctic Liquid Freezers, and the block can solely be as much as 56mm tall, which blocks just a few choices. We used the NZXT Kraken 280, so we all know that matches – however eliminating the followers means some lifeless ends on trendy CLCs with rats’ nests of cables on the block.
For energy provides, each SFX and SFX-L are supported, with the same old lowered cable administration house when utilizing SFX–L.
MESHLESS AIO Design Positives
We just like the execution. The MESHLESS AIO provides you a guided construct expertise with only one last configuration in thoughts, and does it properly. And it’s distinctive.
The MESHLESS is extra just like the Lian Li Dan A4-H2O when it comes to maximizing one construct fashion. If you happen to boil it right down to base parts, we expect the A4-H2O is the MESHLESS AIO’s closest competitor. The structure may be very related, however the H2O is half the fee and is manufactured fully in another way. It additionally makes use of normal axial followers.
We like the usage of built-in rails: Inside elements just like the cross-flow fan, radiator, and non-compulsory deal with mount cleanly set up with these. The aspect panels hinge into place with small tabs and safe with screws, and in contrast to the NCASE, it’s manner fewer screws. All this stuff work properly.
The two.5” drive mount can maintain two drives at an angle between the motherboard and PSU and is secured with a single screw. Above that, there’s a hook to assist preserve the CLC’s tubes in place.
There’s additionally a small gap within the rear panel beneath the motherboard I/O so you possibly can run a wi-fi antenna again contained in the case – we used it for a thermocouple wire. That’s plenty of considerate touches.
As a final optimistic notice, the handbook is properly finished and useful, even in its present unfinished state. The cable routing options are significantly useful.
MESHLESS AIO Negatives
Now for some negatives.
For starters, the fan controller board on our pattern broke unfastened from its mounting. This may very well be a one-off concern, however the methodology of soldering standoffs to the face of the PCB wasn’t enough for the one we’ve. We fastened it with screws.
The PSU mount was one other downside. It looks as if the bracket’s design takes the precise placement and measurement of the AC plug and energy change with no consideration, as neither of our normal check PSUs match completely. The top result’s that we needed to pressure it to suit, and the PSU doesn’t sit accurately within the machined space. This may very well be fastened if MESHLESS tweaked the bracket’s design.
We’re additionally involved concerning the PSU being starved of contemporary air, contemplating that the vent doesn’t lengthen to beneath the PSU, and it’s surrounded by shut glass and aluminum.
We additionally discovered it tough to plug GPU energy into our normal top card. Bigger backside cutouts would make this simpler, as would a taller GPU or longer cable.
Additionally, entry to the underside fringe of the motherboard isn’t simple. It’s tolerable, however that’s about it.
MESHLESS AIO Conclusion
Every time a solo designer contacts us a few product they have been engaged on, we rigorously consider the state of affairs. On this case, the MESHLESS AIO is a severe product with a very distinctive method to airflow in a pc chassis. Cross-flow followers have been round for a bit over 130 years. They’ve technically been utilized in computer systems but it surely requires that ground-up effort to form the complete product round utilizing it so it is not so simple as simply throwing a cross-flow fan right into a case and considering that you just’ll get a compact, affordable performer.
Making an attempt one thing bizarre and completely different like what MESHLESS did with this case is essential as a result of if nobody ever tries one thing bizarre and completely different, we would by no means discover out that there could also be a greater strategy to do issues. Typically, we discover that there are higher methods to do issues and the loopy factor is that also occurs in thermals and cooling, which looks as if parts that ought to be largely found out however aren’t. On this case, the cross-flow setup truly works properly general.
This is not a definitive reply to all small type issue instances however we expect it is a actually good execution and we’re stunned at how properly it really works to the place there’s not likely an issue of constructing it, not less than with the components we used.
To summarize some normal positives and negatives, there’s actual innovation in case airflow. It is a good execution. It makes use of an unorthodox answer, but it surely’s very costly at $360. It’s, nonetheless, an costly manufacturing course of. We predict Lian Li’s A4-H2O is the closest competitors to the MESHLESS AIO. It prices about 155 bucks and may be very related except for the followers however if you would like one thing that appears related externally and is extra conventional, that is the place we might level you. Ensure to verify our review of that case.
The design of the MESHLESS AIO may be very targeted with plenty of intelligent and considerate options. We would not be stunned if its GPU mount finds its manner into competing merchandise finally. The CPU thermals had been excellent. The GPU thermals are satisfactory. We predict devoted flow-through card designs like NVIDIA’s Founder’s Version aren’t the only option for the case, sadly.
Recapping areas for enhancements, the underside cut-outs ought to be bigger for ease of use. The facility provide mounting bracket would not work correctly with some PSUs. We’re additionally involved concerning the energy provide’s entry to air and the fan controller PCB broke off its mount.
These parts apart, it is a actually intelligent execution and we loved engaged on the case. It’s tremendous cool and modern. It’s not prohibitively costly when you take a look at the ITX market but it surely’s undoubtedly costly. In order for you cheaper choices, there’s plenty of them on the market but it surely’s not prefer it’s some insane $600 solo artist venture.