Hi. For ROCK, you recommend the NUC7i7BNH. But the reviews describe the fan as noisy. Could you please recommend a fully compatible fanless model? Thanks.
Most people seem to be using fanless NUC cases by Akasa.
Thanks. Roon’s white paper suggests using only components that the company has approved. Is there an Akasa case that fits that mould?
Get a 7i5 nuc plus an Akasa case. This setup can run with passive cooling
Will that cooling work with an i7?
No the case is only for i3 and i5 nucs.
I’ve used the Plato X 7 with the 7i7BNH and no issues so far…I do however run it in an aircon room and have a laptop cooler under it for when it’s working hard importing or analyzing a large library import
Akasa’s site shows the Pascal MD as compatible with these NUCs:
Intel® NUC7i7DNBE / NUC7i5DNBE / NUC7i5DNKE / NUC7i5DNHE / NUC7i3DNBE / NUC7i3DNKE / NUC7i3DNHE / NUC7i7BNH / NUC7i7BNK / NUC7i5BNH / NUC7i5BNK / NUC7i3BNH / NUC7i3BNK / NUC6i5SYH / NUC6i5SYK / NUC6i3SYH / NUC6i3SYK
Sorry I was referring to the Newton S7 which only supports up to the I5. I never tried another case. That said a i5 is right now fast enough for me.
No problem. Just trying to future-proof and currently allow multiple rooms and DSP effects. Also hoping to minimize lag.
I purchased the NUC 7i5BNH, which is the tall version intended to allow for the use of a hard disk. I don’t think I will go that route and will continue to rely only on the m.2 ssd. Given that, is there any reason why I shouldn’t go with the Akasa Plato X7 instead of the Akasa Newton S7? The Newton isn’t as slim as the Plato and is more expensive.
No. And the Plato cases take an SSD too, should you change your mind in the future.
While the Newton is higher than a plato, the plato is longer and wider. In my specific case the Newton was a perfect fit for my cabinet while the plato was too large.
Hmm. Thanks. I need to look more carefully at the dimensions. I may be in the same position as you as a narrower but taller case might work better for me than a wider but shorter case.
Is it possible to re-mount the mainbord of a NUC7i7 (that came with enclosure) into a new fanless case?
Or is this only possible with the „mainboard only“ versions?
Yes, they are no different.
Is your 7i7BNH still working now?
Yes, but i do take the precaution to have a fan blowing over it if i am rebuilding the database or doing a large music import - just to be safe. My room is often with aircon too when playing and did upsampling
I don’t have air conditioning here, but in Chicago it’s ok during winter… 
I will not do upsampling but can send music to many endpoint, so I don’t know if it will be hot with the same case than you…
Hi, I changed country and let the cold Illinois behind me… and my 7i7 is now quite noisy, even if I clean inside. Did your 7i7 survived in the Plato X7 after 2 years? I don’t know if I have to buy a 8i5 and a Plato X8, if I can save few euros it can be great… 