From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Has anyone here looked at, or purchased, a one up rpi laptop? I've
read a few reviews of it and, while it appears to be a solid product,
I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that
fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the
cpu? The laptop currently in use has an Intel Pentium N3540 and is
typically idle because the majority of work is on a pi3b+ via
ssh. Looking to replace it. The CPU is typically idle and memory
utiliation is roughly ten percent.

One attractive feature that attracted me to the platform is fanless
operation. And considering the age of the platform, I am new at
this. The decision to transition to pi computing has been the biggest
and best decision I've made since early adult years. I'd like a pi
laptop but would like a fanless operation at the same time.

What say you all?

D

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that
fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the
cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late
November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling
solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space, so
not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that a CM5
does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the laptop's
fan won't come on until the temperature passes some threshhold (I have
an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan that works in this way)
but I would expect it to be necessary when the machine is under load.
--
Cheers,
Daniel.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 10/20/25 00:13, Daniel wrote:

Has anyone here looked at, or purchased, a one up rpi laptop? I've
read a few reviews of it and, while it appears to be a solid product,
I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that
fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the
cpu? The laptop currently in use has an Intel Pentium N3540 and is
typically idle because the majority of work is on a pi3b+ via
ssh. Looking to replace it. The CPU is typically idle and memory
utiliation is roughly ten percent.

One attractive feature that attracted me to the platform is fanless operation. And considering the age of the platform, I am new at
this. The decision to transition to pi computing has been the biggest
and best decision I've made since early adult years. I'd like a pi
laptop but would like a fanless operation at the same time.

Just because it has a fan, doesn't mean it will be on all the time. I
have an rPI5 with an Active Cooler. The fan only comes on during hot
days (maybe ambient > 22C) and high CPU. Presumably the laptop compute
module CPU is similar.


However, it looks a bit pricey, I would get a second hand laptop, instead.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> writes:

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that
fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the
cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling
solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space,
so not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that
a CM5 does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the
laptop's fan won't come on until the temperature passes some
threshhold (I have an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan
that works in this way) but I would expect it to be necessary when the machine is under load.

Thanks. I will wait until the device has hit the wild and await
reviews. I saw reviews already but it was tech youtubers who got a preproduction model.

I'd be interested in the keyboard quality. Can't be worse than the
pi400's.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> writes:

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> writes:

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that
fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the
cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late
November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling
solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space,
so not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that
a CM5 does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the
laptop's fan won't come on until the temperature passes some
threshhold (I have an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan
that works in this way) but I would expect it to be necessary when the
machine is under load.

Thanks. I will wait until the device has hit the wild and await
reviews. I saw reviews already but it was tech youtubers who got a preproduction model.

I'd be interested in the keyboard quality. Can't be worse than the
pi400's.

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the build. Nice
rig.

https://da.gd/4QK0N

If you dont trust shortened url's, check youtube for

Behind the Build: Prototyping the Argon ONE UP

D
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 20/10/2025 16:24, Daniel wrote:

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> writes:

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> writes:

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that >>>> fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the >>>> cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late
November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling
solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space,
so not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that
a CM5 does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the
laptop's fan won't come on until the temperature passes some
threshhold (I have an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan
that works in this way) but I would expect it to be necessary when the
machine is under load.

Thanks. I will wait until the device has hit the wild and await
reviews. I saw reviews already but it was tech youtubers who got a
preproduction model.

I'd be interested in the keyboard quality. Can't be worse than the
pi400's.

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the build. Nice
rig.

https://da.gd/4QK0N

If you dont trust shortened url's, check youtube for

Behind the Build: Prototyping the Argon ONE UP

D

I wouldn't trust anything from Argon40 again
--
Chris
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 10/20/25 16:24, Daniel wrote:

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> writes:

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> writes:

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that >>>> fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the >>>> cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late
November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling
solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space,
so not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that
a CM5 does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the
laptop's fan won't come on until the temperature passes some
threshhold (I have an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan
that works in this way) but I would expect it to be necessary when the
machine is under load.

Thanks. I will wait until the device has hit the wild and await
reviews. I saw reviews already but it was tech youtubers who got a
preproduction model.

I'd be interested in the keyboard quality. Can't be worse than the
pi400's.

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the build. Nice
rig.

https://da.gd/4QK0N

If you dont trust shortened url's, check youtube for

Behind the Build: Prototyping the Argon ONE UP

D

Thx, It looks as if they don't have a heat sync on the compute module. I
would have thought it made sense to use the aluminium case as a heat
sync rather than have a fan.

Any ideas why they would design it like that?
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Pancho <Pancho.Jones@protonmail.com> writes:

On 10/20/25 16:24, Daniel wrote:

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> writes:

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> writes:

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that >>>>> fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the >>>>> cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late
November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling
solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space,
so not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that
a CM5 does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the
laptop's fan won't come on until the temperature passes some
threshhold (I have an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan
that works in this way) but I would expect it to be necessary when the >>>> machine is under load.

Thanks. I will wait until the device has hit the wild and await
reviews. I saw reviews already but it was tech youtubers who got a
preproduction model.

I'd be interested in the keyboard quality. Can't be worse than the
pi400's.

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the
build. Nice
rig.
https://da.gd/4QK0N
If you dont trust shortened url's, check youtube for
Behind the Build: Prototyping the Argon ONE UP
D

Thx, It looks as if they don't have a heat sync on the compute
module. I would have thought it made sense to use the aluminium case
as a heat sync rather than have a fan.

Any ideas why they would design it like that?

The rectangular plate screwing into the bottom of the laptop serves as a
heat sync. IIRC, it's a different alloy than the aluminum case. I wish
they just made a larger plate and avoid the fan altogether, but that's
just me.

Nothing out there makes me fully happy.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Chris Townley <news@cct-net.co.uk> writes:

On 20/10/2025 16:24, Daniel wrote:

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> writes:

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> writes:

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that >>>>> fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the >>>>> cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late
November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling
solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space,
so not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that
a CM5 does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the
laptop's fan won't come on until the temperature passes some
threshhold (I have an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan
that works in this way) but I would expect it to be necessary when the >>>> machine is under load.

Thanks. I will wait until the device has hit the wild and await
reviews. I saw reviews already but it was tech youtubers who got a
preproduction model.

I'd be interested in the keyboard quality. Can't be worse than the
pi400's.

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the
build. Nice
rig.
https://da.gd/4QK0N
If you dont trust shortened url's, check youtube for
Behind the Build: Prototyping the Argon ONE UP
D

I wouldn't trust anything from Argon40 again

What happened, if you don't mind my asking?
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 20/10/2025 21:29, Daniel wrote:

Chris Townley <news@cct-net.co.uk> writes:

On 20/10/2025 16:24, Daniel wrote:

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> writes:

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> writes:

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that >>>>>> fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the >>>>>> cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late
November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling >>>>> solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space, >>>>> so not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that >>>>> a CM5 does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the
laptop's fan won't come on until the temperature passes some
threshhold (I have an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan
that works in this way) but I would expect it to be necessary when the >>>>> machine is under load.

Thanks. I will wait until the device has hit the wild and await
reviews. I saw reviews already but it was tech youtubers who got a
preproduction model.

I'd be interested in the keyboard quality. Can't be worse than the
pi400's.

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the
build. Nice
rig.
https://da.gd/4QK0N
If you dont trust shortened url's, check youtube for
Behind the Build: Prototyping the Argon ONE UP
D

I wouldn't trust anything from Argon40 again

What happened, if you don't mind my asking?

I had an Argon One for a Pi4 - great, then when I bought a Pi5 I got
their V3 plus the NVME connector.

In principle it is great, but their software install is a pile of
spaghetti shell script, and doesn’t really work, although I found an alternative that did.

However their design is flawed, as it uses it's own board that filters
out a lot of checks. Their support forum is carp - they just don't
respond to anything.

I did get it working, but enough grief for me!
--
Chris
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:24:12 -0700, Daniel wrote:

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the build. Nice
rig.

https://da.gd/4QK0N

If you dont trust shortened url's ...

Why not just post a proper link:

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op05N_-esY0>
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 20/10/2025 at 21:29, Daniel wrote:

Pancho <Pancho.Jones@protonmail.com> writes:

On 10/20/25 16:24, Daniel wrote:

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> writes:

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> writes:

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that >>>>>> fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the >>>>>> cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late
November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling >>>>> solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space, >>>>> so not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that >>>>> a CM5 does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the
laptop's fan won't come on until the temperature passes some
threshhold (I have an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan
that works in this way) but I would expect it to be necessary when the >>>>> machine is under load.

Thanks. I will wait until the device has hit the wild and await
reviews. I saw reviews already but it was tech youtubers who got a
preproduction model.

I'd be interested in the keyboard quality. Can't be worse than the
pi400's.

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the
build. Nice
rig.
https://da.gd/4QK0N
If you dont trust shortened url's, check youtube for
Behind the Build: Prototyping the Argon ONE UP
D

Thx, It looks as if they don't have a heat sync on the compute
module. I would have thought it made sense to use the aluminium case
as a heat sync rather than have a fan.

Any ideas why they would design it like that?

The rectangular plate screwing into the bottom of the laptop serves as a
heat sync. IIRC, it's a different alloy than the aluminum case. I wish

This thread has been annoying me. It's 'heat sink'; sync is short for synchronise.

they just made a larger plate and avoid the fan altogether, but that's
just me.

Nothing out there makes me fully happy.

--
Chris Elvidge, England

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 10/21/25 12:29, Chris Elvidge wrote:

This thread has been annoying me. It's 'heat sink'; sync is short for synchronise.

Sorry my fault, I did notice my mistake, but I generally don't correct
unless the meaning is unclear.


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 20/10/2025 22:52, Chris Townley wrote:

On 20/10/2025 21:29, Daniel wrote:

Chris Townley <news@cct-net.co.uk> writes:

I wouldn't trust anything from Argon40 again

What happened, if you don't mind my asking?

I had an Argon One for a Pi4 - great, then when I bought a Pi5 I got
their V3 plus the NVME connector.

In principle it is great, but their software install is a pile of
spaghetti shell script, and doesn’t really work, although I found an alternative that did.

However their design is flawed, as it uses it's own board that filters
out a lot of checks. Their support forum is carp - they just don't
respond to anything.

I did get it working, but enough grief for me!

I didn't find any of that with the Argon One V5 for the Pi 5, maybe
because that has a less complex PCIe to NVNe interface. The software
install was very straight forward and it worked right out of the box.

The full size HDMIs are very useful as are the front USB ports, and I've
got the optional OLED screen as it looks nice. It's also by far the
coolest running of my Pi 5's, with its large thermal mass the fan is
hardly ever on, even though it is sitting on top of a hot D6000 Display
Link box (almost identically sized) for my laptop.

I've also got another Pi 5 in very neat and snaller Argon Neo NVMe case.
That does run a bit hotter than a Pi with the official cooler, but it is
in a semi enclosed area with other AV equipment, but again that just
works great.

I bought both cases from The Pi Hut, and I'd recommend using them for
any support issues, rather than the Argon website, particular as it's
forum seems to have been taken over by spammers last year.

---druck
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> wrote:

Has anyone here looked at, or purchased, a one up rpi laptop? I've
read a few reviews of it and, while it appears to be a solid product,
I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that
fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the
cpu? The laptop currently in use has an Intel Pentium N3540 and is
typically idle because the majority of work is on a pi3b+ via
ssh. Looking to replace it. The CPU is typically idle and memory
utiliation is roughly ten percent.

One attractive feature that attracted me to the platform is fanless operation. And considering the age of the platform, I am new at
this. The decision to transition to pi computing has been the biggest
and best decision I've made since early adult years. I'd like a pi
laptop but would like a fanless operation at the same time.

IMHO the Pi will always be compromised as a mobile platform until they sort
out proper power management in the SoC. You really want to be able to send
it to sleep, hibernate, power down different components, etc, but the
silicon is not designed for this. Result is that you can make a laptop but it's always going to be eating some power while the lid is closed.

It's maybe fine if you are going to keep it plugged in all the time or use
it for short periods away from a wall socket, but the simple thing of
folding up the laptop in the evening and picking it up in the morning gets really annoying if the battery has gone flat overnight and you need to
restart everything. If you're the kind of person who boots the machine fresh every morning like a desktop PC maybe this doesn't bother you, but that's
not what people typically do with laptops.

Theo
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 21/10/2025 13:57, druck wrote:

On 20/10/2025 22:52, Chris Townley wrote:

On 20/10/2025 21:29, Daniel wrote:

Chris Townley <news@cct-net.co.uk> writes:

I wouldn't trust anything from Argon40 again

What happened, if you don't mind my asking?

I had an Argon One for a Pi4 - great, then when I bought a Pi5 I got
their V3 plus the NVME connector.

In principle it is great, but their software install is a pile of
spaghetti shell script, and doesn’t really work, although I found an
alternative that did.

However their design is flawed, as it uses it's own board that filters
out a lot of checks. Their support forum is carp - they just don't
respond to anything.

I did get it working, but enough grief for me!

I didn't find any of that with the Argon One V5 for the Pi 5, maybe
because that has a less complex PCIe to NVNe interface. The software
install was very straight forward and it worked right out of the box.

The full size HDMIs are very useful as are the front USB ports, and I've
got the optional OLED screen as it looks nice. It's also by far the
coolest running of my Pi 5's, with its large thermal mass the fan is
hardly ever on, even though it is sitting on top of a hot D6000 Display
Link box (almost identically sized) for my laptop.

I've also got another Pi 5 in very neat and snaller Argon Neo NVMe case. That does run a bit hotter than a Pi with the official cooler, but it is
in a semi enclosed area with other AV equipment, but again that just
works great.

I bought both cases from The Pi Hut, and I'd recommend using them for
any support issues, rather than the Argon website, particular as it's
forum seems to have been taken over by spammers last year.

---druck

Thanks, I do use Pi Hut, and they are excellent

However I believe the ONE V3 is flawed in the way that everything is
sealed in, and it overrides the Pi5 power management. Obviously opinions
vary!
--
Chris
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Chris Elvidge <chris@internal.net> writes:

On 20/10/2025 at 21:29, Daniel wrote:

Pancho <Pancho.Jones@protonmail.com> writes:

On 10/20/25 16:24, Daniel wrote:

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> writes:

Daniel James <daniel@me.invalid> writes:

On 20/10/2025 00:13, Daniel wrote:

I'm a bit turned off by the cooling fan next to the heat sync. Is that >>>>>>> fan absolutely necessary for users never intending on overclocking the >>>>>>> cpu?

I don't know.

The production laptop isn't expected to be available until late
November/early December, so nobody really knows how well the cooling >>>>>> solution will work in practice.

... but if I had to guess ...

It uses a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, in a fairly confined space, >>>>>> so not much natural airflow. The general consensus of opinion is that >>>>>> a CM5 does need a fan unless its workload is trivial. I expect the >>>>>> laptop's fan won't come on until the temperature passes some
threshhold (I have an Argon One case for a Pi4, and that has a fan >>>>>> that works in this way) but I would expect it to be necessary when the >>>>>> machine is under load.

Thanks. I will wait until the device has hit the wild and await
reviews. I saw reviews already but it was tech youtubers who got a
preproduction model.

I'd be interested in the keyboard quality. Can't be worse than the
pi400's.

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the
build. Nice
rig.
https://da.gd/4QK0N
If you dont trust shortened url's, check youtube for
Behind the Build: Prototyping the Argon ONE UP
D

Thx, It looks as if they don't have a heat sync on the compute
module. I would have thought it made sense to use the aluminium case
as a heat sync rather than have a fan.

Any ideas why they would design it like that?

The rectangular plate screwing into the bottom of the laptop serves
as a
heat sync. IIRC, it's a different alloy than the aluminum case. I wish

This thread has been annoying me. It's 'heat sink'; sync is short for synchronise.

Sorry, didn't realize.

they just made a larger plate and avoid the fan altogether, but that's
just me.
Nothing out there makes me fully happy.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> writes:

On Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:24:12 -0700, Daniel wrote:

The argon 40 studio put up a youtube prototyping vid of the build. Nice
rig.

https://da.gd/4QK0N

If you dont trust shortened url's ...

Why not just post a proper link:

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op05N_-esY0>

Because I have you. :)

D
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2