Industrial computer maker Aaeon has launched a Panther Lake mini PC that uses ultrasonic membranes to keep Intel’s latest processors cool without conventional fans.
According to Tom’s Hardware the UP Xtreme PTL Edge Air employs Frore Systems’ AirJet solid-state cooling technology, allowing it to operate at less than 21 dBA.
Aaeon claims the cooling system makes the machine 35 per cent thinner and 43 per cent lighter than its conventionally cooled UP Xtreme PTL Edge.
The technology replaces traditional fans with membranes that vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies, generating high-speed air pulses to carry heat away from the processor.
This eliminates the vibration associated with mechanical fans while reducing the space needed for cooling components. The resulting machine measures just 35.8mm thick and weighs approximately 712g.
Aaeon is targeting industrial and embedded applications, including self-service kiosks, autonomous mobile robots and compact medical equipment.
The company believes eliminating fan vibration will be particularly useful for systems incorporating sensitive sensors, cameras and robotic control equipment. The UP Xtreme PTL Edge Air can be configured with Intel’s Core Ultra X7 358H, Core Ultra 7 356H or Core Ultra 5 325 processors.
The flagship Core Ultra X7 358H includes Intel’s Arc B390 integrated graphics with 12 Xe cores, giving the compact machine considerably more graphics capability than previous low-power industrial designs. Memory support extends to 128GB of DDR5-7200 across two SO-DIMM slots.
Storage options include two M.2 2280 slots for NVMe SSDs, while an additional M.2 2230 slot accommodates wireless connectivity. Despite its relatively tiny dimensions, Aaeon has equipped the system with an extensive collection of industrial interfaces. These include USB-A and USB-C connections, Ethernet, audio outputs and connections for up to four displays.
The machine features two COM ports supporting RS-232, RS-422 and RS-485 serial communications, along with a 40-pin GPIO header. These interfaces make the machine suitable for industrial automation and embedded applications where connecting specialised hardware is essential.
However, removing the conventional cooling system comes with a few compromises. Aaeon acknowledges that the AirJet configuration consumes six per cent more power than its fan-cooled counterpart. Its operating temperature range is narrower, extending from -10°C to 45°C. That could limit its usefulness in industrial environments exposed to extreme temperatures.
The company has yet to publish pricing, which it usually negotiates directly with industrial customers based on configuration and order quantities. Supported operating systems include Windows IoT Enterprise and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.
Frore’s AirJet technology has previously appeared in Zotac’s ZBox PI430AJ mini PC, although that machine used Intel’s considerably less demanding N300 processor with a 7W thermal design power. The Panther Lake machine represents another attempt to bring solid-state cooling into systems equipped with more powerful processors.
