In response to increasing demand for enhanced processing power at the edge, IoT hardware specialists Logic Supply have released the smallest ever fanless and ventless NUC (Next Unit of Computing) to feature an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor. Available as part of the company’s ML100 Series, the ML100G-31 provides a fully solid state, passively cooled computing solution, designed for reliability in demanding environments and measures just 142 x 62 x 107mm, making it the smallest fanless Intel Kaby Lake i7 PC on the market.
“There’s an incredibly diverse, and ever-growing, array of computing applications that require a precise combination of small footprint, computing performance and reliability,” says Murat Erdogan, VP of Products at Logic Supply. “Ultimately, we want to provide computer users with the right hardware solution, no matter the job at hand, and an i7 fanless NUC option was a frequent request from our clients. Our team worked very hard to overcome the thermal management challenges, but adding i7 processing to the ML100 provides another level of flexibility to one of our most popular small form factor platforms, and we’re looking forward to seeing what our clients are able to create with it.”
Logic Supply, with support from Intel’s thermal design lab, created a proprietary heatsink for the NUC717DNBE motherboard and Quad-Core i7-8650U Kaby Lake CPU. They also collaborated with Intel to identify a way to ensure that the ML100G-31 features the 5 year lifecycle that will allow their industrial computing clients to standardize on the platform.
The ML100 is able to cool the processor and other internal components by employing Logic Supply’s proven Hardshell Fanless Technology. Through the use of unique exterior fins and specially machined heatsink design, the system is able to maintain an optimal operating temperature without the need for a cooling fan. Removing the fan from the system improves overall reliability and, unlike fanned solutions that are vulnerable to airborne contaminants, allows it to operate in challenging computing environments across a range of industries including manufacturing and automation, industrial digital signage, logistics and remote security and surveillance.
“The proliferation of cloud computing has created a need for enhanced processing capabilities at the edge,” says Joel Christensen, General Manager, Systems Product Group of the Intel Corporation. “Having an Intel Core i7 processing option in a compact, fully solid state device, such as the Logic Supply ML100, provides excellent installation and application flexibility while helping to limit bandwidth usage and process latency.”
The new Intel Core i7 processor option joins Core i3 and Core i5 variants in Logic Supply’s ML100 Series of industrial IoT PCs. The system can be configured with up to 32 GB of memory and 1TB of M.2 storage. Connectivity includes four USB 3.0 ports, two HDMI ports supporting dual 4K output, Gb LAN and an optional COM port for legacy equipment connectivity. Operating system options include both Windows and Linux Ubuntu.
