So I’m experimenting with Raspberry Pi cases at the moment. The stock case comes with a fan which isn’t great, but typically it keeps the CPU temperature below throttle temperature. (80C)
The “active cooler”, which is a bigger fan that attaches directly to the CPU with a heat sink (and replaces the case fan) is better in that it’s quieter and keeps the temperature a little lower.
Both or these options do incur a little background fan noise when the machine is heavily loaded, and the do blow out a little hot air.
My latest test is an aluminium case with no fan. For the most part this seems to keep the CPU cooler than the fan based options. However as the case itself is the heat-sink, it does get quite warm (albeit by design).
Anyone have any thoughts / feelings re; how hot is too hot for the case on a set-top style box? (2.5" x 3.5" x 1")
Typically what would be your preference in a desktop Computer?
I’ve now switched entirely and am running my entire development desktop from a Pi with the standard Ubuntu Gnome Desktop (23.10), 2x4k screens @ 27". Whereas I’ve been waiting for NVMe / M.2 for speed, I’m finding a plugin-in USB SSD @ 350Mb/sec is plenty for a desktop (old hard drives used to do ~ 100) and the ability to just unplug my storage from one machine and plug it into another, is a whole new world 
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