Yes, many modern motherboards, RAM, and NVMe drives still need case fans to keep them cool.
Yes, many modern motherboards, RAM, and NVMe drives still need case fans to keep them cool.
Airflow is essential, whether active or natural. Warm air ascends while cooler air enters from below. Some cooling systems work well because of thoughtful design and good ventilation, but others fail due to poor case selection that lacks proper air movement. When planning a passive PC, ensure air moves freely from bottom to top with minimal blockage.
You may also need to adjust the angle of your case. Making the heatsink fins vertical will allow air to move more freely rather than hitting them, which improves performance compared to a horizontal CPU orientation.
Consumer RAM doesn't necessarily require heatsinks from the start. It depends on the motherboard; NVMe usually works well, but without proper airflow you might need to add one.