ARCTIC, a well-known German cooling solutions company, recently unveiled an innovative under-desk PC called Senza, highlighting a completely passive cooling design and compact layout, which has attracted the attention of tech enthusiasts. This product, powered by AMD Ryzen 5000G series processors, is specifically designed for hidden installation, not only saving desk space and maintaining a clean environment but also achieving completely silent operation. The Senza starts at €599 in Europe, positioned for users seeking high efficiency and a quiet experience.
The Senza features a minimalist and modern design, with dimensions of 282 mm (width) x 618 mm (length) x 120 mm (height) and a light weight. Its thickness is approximately 1.5 inches, and its overall shape resembles a network switch. ARCTIC offers three processor options: Ryzen 5 5500GT, Ryzen 7 5700G, and Ryzen 7 5700G Pro, all with a 65W TDP, balancing performance and energy efficiency. The core hardware is based on a custom small-form-factor motherboard supporting the AM4 socket and standard DIMM memory slots. It comes equipped with 32GB of DDR4 memory and a 1TB NVMe SSD, ready to meet the needs of daily office work, multitasking, and even light creative tasks right out of the box.
The most significant feature of this PC is its cooling solution. The Senza forgoes traditional fans and adopts a completely passive cooling technology, using a massive heatsink and copper heat pipes to efficiently conduct heat, ensuring the system remains cool even under high loads while achieving zero noise. This design offers significant advantages in quiet home offices or focused work environments. Additionally, the Senza supports up to four display outputs, making it ideal for professional users who require multi-screen collaboration, such as programmers, designers, or video editors.
In terms of connectivity, the Senza excels. It integrates 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3, providing high-speed and stable network support. The wired port layout is divided into two parts: the rear panel has 2 USB 3.2 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, audio input/output jacks, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a DP 1.2 port for connecting monitors and peripherals. The front ports are provided via a dedicated panel that includes a USB Type-A port, a USB Type-C port, a headphone jack, and power and reset buttons. Users need to install this panel under the desk near the front for easy access. With proper cable management, all connections can be kept neat and organized.
The Senza comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home N or Pro N operating systems, primarily targeting the EU market. These “N” versions do not include certain media features by default, such as Windows Media Player or Skype, but users can easily add them by installing Microsoft’s Media Feature Pack. The out-of-the-box configuration is sufficient for everyday use, and its expandability leaves room for future upgrades. For example, the motherboard’s AM4 socket theoretically supports higher-performance Ryzen processors, and the memory and storage can also be replaced as needed.
From a market perspective, the launch of the Senza fills a gap in the demand for silent PCs and space-optimized solutions. ARCTIC, a company renowned for its cooling solutions, combines its thermal technology with complete system design, demonstrating its deep expertise in the hardware field. The company has already established itself in the CPU cooler and case fan markets, and the Senza’s debut further expands its product line. Compared to traditional desktops, the Senza’s under-desk installation not only reduces desk clutter but also optimizes airflow in the workspace, making it particularly suitable for small offices or home users.
Regarding performance, the integrated graphics of the Ryzen 5000G series are sufficient for everyday office tasks and light gaming. According to public data, the Ryzen 7 5700G features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.8GHz and a boost clock of up to 4.6GHz. Paired with Vega 8 graphics, it can maintain smooth frame rates in games like CS:GO or Dota 2 at 1080p resolution. If users have higher graphics demands, they can expand performance by adding a discrete graphics card, although this might slightly deviate from the initial intention of completely passive cooling.
The Senza’s target user group is clear: it includes remote workers seeking a quiet environment, tech enthusiasts requiring multi-screen support, and small business owners. The starting price of €599 is quite competitive among similar products, especially considering its pre-installed high-specification memory and SSD. For consumers with a limited budget but who desire strong performance and a unique design, this product is undoubtedly a worthwhile option to consider.
The ARCTIC Senza, with its key selling points of completely passive cooling, under-desk installation, and strong connectivity, brings fresh ideas to the desktop PC market. Whether it’s saving space or enhancing the user experience, it demonstrates the forward-thinking nature of modern hardware design. Currently, the product is available for pre-order in Europe, and it remains to be seen whether it will enter other markets in the future.