Help Me Setup a Media Player (Intel NUC) - Questions

[steelydave]

I know this thread is kind of old, but I'm just putting this here for anyone who has a 7th gen NUC like mine, which is model 7i5BNH.

If you're sensitive to noise, the stock cooling fan that comes in these machines is really annoying. Like a lot of small fans, it produces a high-pitched whine, even at lower speeds - I'm not sure what kind of bearing is in the stock fan but it isn't a good one, that's for sure. The good news is there is a replacement from a company called Sunon that uses MagLev (magnetic levitation) technology which means it basically floats frictionlessly when it's spinning, and the reduction in noise is such that you can't hear it at all, except when it's running at top speed.

I was reminded of this because the one I installed in 2018 finally gave up the ghost last month (after 7 years of 24/7 use) so I had to replace it.

If you want to get one of these, the model number you're looking for is GB0555PDV1-A - I got mine off AliExpress for about 5 bucks, but you can find them on eBay as well for $10 or so.

There's a YouTube video here that walks you through removing the old fan and installing the new one - fair warning that you do have to disconnect/reconnect a few small connectors to get the circuit board out of the chassis, but if you're computer repair-savvy at all, it's very straightforward.


(Old dirty fan on the left and replacement on the right.)

 

[HomerJAU]

I can’t hear any of my i3 NUC fans at all. Not even when sitting next to me when playing on my desk (when I’m testing something).

But you are the 2nd person reporting fan noise with an i7 NUC. The higher processor specs obviously mean they run hotter.

The i3 NUC11 and i3 NUC12 have many cores but very efficient heat design with modern cpus and gpus.They are incredibly fast too. So fast I’m still using them for Kodi music and my two Ugoos AM6B+ just for Movies as they do Dolby Vision (and with FEL). Intel doesn’t do DoVi. But the UI on the NUCs is full 4K and snappy as. The Ugoos is sluggish when navigating a heavily graphic UI like scrolling through album covers of movie posters. The NUCs are silky smooth.