Smart hardware innovations: Tiny fans, motherboards without spikes and more
At the Computex IT trade fair, numerous small manufacturers are also presenting the hardware they are working on. They surprise visitors with detailed solutions
(Image: c't / chh)
The halls of the Computex IT trade fair in Taiwan are dominated by the huge stands of the big players such as Asus, Foxconn, Intel and Mediatek. In between, there are numerous small suppliers whose innovative hardware often goes unnoticed in the hustle and bustle. Sometimes it doesn't even have to be a new function – sometimes it's enough to change the position of a sensor. Microsoft's specifications for the Copilot+ logo include biometric authentication using Windows Hello. Because, unlike notebooks, mini PCs do not have a built-in camera, they have a fingerprint sensor. On the Asus NUC 14 Pro AI, this is located in the lid. MSI does this more cleverly with the Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG and integrates the sensor into the power button, which saves an additional step and has long been common practice with notebooks. It can also be powered via Thunderbolt Power Delivery instead of a 19-volt plug-in power supply.
Smarte Hardware-Innovationen auf der Computex 2025 (4 Bilder)
c't / chh
)There are also small but useful innovations in terms of components: Corsair has equipped the Frame 5000D tower case with a perforated motherboard tray. This makes it easier to route cables inside and attach them almost anywhere using cable ties or clips. MSI's idea of changing the soldering technique for mainboards so that the pointed soldering points on the underside are eliminated is still at the testing stage. This avoids pain and small cuts during installation.
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Akasa shows miniature fans down to the size of a thumbnail. Conceivable applications include handheld medical devices, wearables and coolers for M.2 SSDs. The manufacturers are not only innovative when it comes to fans, but also in terms of control. Noctua is working on a USB cable fan controller for a 4-pin PC fan, which is due to be released in the first quarter of 2026. This can be used to change the PWM duty cycle and read out the speed via an open protocol using software. There are also control buttons for manual adjustment. This makes the controller suitable for Noctua's NV-FS1 desk fan (starting from 99,90 €) instead of the power supply unit supplied with it.
(chh)
