1. The Noctua SuperDome is an unconventional hemispherical side panel featuring 15 intake fans, designed to improve cooling in gaming PCs.
2. Testing showed the SuperDome significantly reduced CPU temperature by nearly 20°C compared to a standard glass panel.
3. The setup consumes 27.6 watts of power and remains relatively quiet, despite its size and lack of dust filtering.
4. It is not commercially available, but hobbyists can 3D print the SuperDome using free plans from Thingiverse and purchase compatible fans and a suitable case.
5. The design emphasizes that increased airflow from more fans can enhance cooling performance in gaming systems.
Innovative Gaming PC Side Panel by Major Hardware
Major Hardware’s YouTube channel introduced an exceptionally unique side panel for gaming PCs named the Noctua SuperDome. It looks pretty weird, kinda like a hemisphere but replaces the typical glass panel of a Lian Li O11 Dynamic Evo XL case. Instead of glass which is not usually good for cooling, they swapped it out with the SuperDome that is packed with 15 fans. These fans are Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM, and together, they cost around $525.
Cooling Efficiency and Performance Tests
The setup in their test system had all 15 fans working as intake fans, pulling air into the case. Meanwhile, two fans at the top, and two at the bottom, pushed hot air out. During heavy gaming in Battlefield 6, with the glass panel, CPU temps hit 86.4 °C (187.5 °F). But with the SuperDome, the temperatures dropped significantly to just 66.9 °C (152 °F). That’s about 20 °C cooler! The fans didn’t use much power either, only about 27.6 watts, and managed to keep the system pretty quiet too.
Limitations and Practical Use
Despite its cool look and performance, the SuperDome has some drawbacks. Its enormous size makes it less practical for everyday users, and it lacks a dust filter, which could be a problem for keeping the inside clean. Still, it definitely proves that more fans can lead to better cooling, showing that sometimes a big and bold approach really pays off.
DIY Approach for Enthusiasts
This super-sized side panel isn’t something you can buy off shelves. But if you are a hobbyist, you can build your own! All the 3D printing files are freely available on Thingiverse. Of course, you’ll need to pick up 15 fans, like the Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM which costs around $35 each, a compatible case like the Lian Li O11 Dynamic Evo XL, and some screws for assembly. It’s a do-it-yourself project, but it could be the coolest mod you ever made for your gaming setup.