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In the world of computing, the importance of having reliable and robust hardware cannot be overstated. When it comes to CPUs and motherboards, there are a few factors that can affect their performance and overall functionality. One such factor is the temperature at which they operate. Cold temperatures, in particular, can cause what is known as a "cold bug", where these components fail to start up if the temperature drops below a certain threshold.
This is where the Kontron Mini-ITX K3832-Q, Mini-ITX K3833-Q, micro-ATX K3841-Q and ATX K3851-R come in. These true industrial motherboards have been tested and proven to not suffer from the “cold bug” issue, making them a reliable choice for those who need to operate in cold environments. In fact, these motherboards have passed multiple cycles of "Memory/System Check" test at temperatures ranging from -40°C to +60°C for 4 hours each cycle. They have also undergone a "cold boot" test at -40°C with no errors reported during or after powering up in multiple cycles with 30-minute intervals. Lab test documentation is available from Impact Components upon request.
Getting a computer system cold enough to affect its functionality is not a common occurrence. It usually only occurs in extreme environments. To understand how cold temperatures can affect the functionality of CPUs with motherboards, we need to delve into the science behind these components. CPUs, in particular, are built with transistors that have semiconductors in them. These semiconductors allow them to be turned on or off, depending on the flow of electrons through them. When the temperature drops to an extremely low level, the electrons in the semiconductors will move back to their starting positions, leaving no free electrons to handle the circuit. This means that the PC will not even power on in such a scenario. This is not permanent damage and can be remedied by simply warming up the computer. However, these German-engineered motherboards and computer systems based on them enable the CPU’s responsiveness to function at satisfactory rate even at -40C without the need for any heating elements.
To be used with the 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel Core i processors all these motherboards are rated for high Mean Time Between Failure. For example, K3841-Q and K3851-R's MTBFs respectively are over 37 and 32 years at +45C at 24/7 use or even longer at room temperature (MTBF reports available upon request). These industrial-grade motherboards of a long production life cycle are rated for 0 to +60C operation for 24/7. Despite passing the tests performed by Kontron, it is important to note that general operation of any motherboards at -40°C is not recommended. This has to do with the semiconductor materials – especially the CPU.
Cold temperatures themselves do not damage semiconductors. Other factors, such as condensation and CPU material becoming brittle, are more likely to cause lasting damage to a PC than the cold itself. If the humidity is too high, the cold temperature can cause condensation to form on the circuitry, which may result in short circuits that can damage the computer. The problem with brittleness is differential contraction, which can break the glues used to hold chips together. This issue is compounded if the computer is on, as it generates heat internally, which causes expansion. This, in turn, can cause the glue to break and the chips to crack. That’s why it is essential to consider all these factors of condensation and material becoming brittle when choosing hardware for your computing needs and periodically exposing it to the temperature extremes.
Other models, which successfully passed the -40C tests described above, are AlderLake & RaptorLake thin Mini-ITX K3831-H, AMD Ryzen based Mini-STX D3714, AlderLake-N based Mini-STX K3921, AMD Ryzen based Mini-ITX D3713, and AlderLake-N based Mini-ITX K3931.
Don't let cold bugs slow you down - choose motherboards carefully for a reliable system startup.
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