Solid Gold Mini PC Fetches $1.7 Million, Trading Portability for Superior Heat Dissipation
A custom fanless PC encased entirely in 24-carat gold has sold for approximately $1.7 million, leveraging the precious metal's thermal properties to cool its modest processor.
An affluent buyer has commissioned a bespoke version of the Kubb Fanless PC—a compact 5-inch (120 x 120 x 120mm) system—constructed from pure 24-carat gold rather than its standard aluminum chassis. The extravagant build carries a price tag near $1.7 million and tips the scales at 28.7 pounds (13kg), a dramatic increase from the baseline model's 4.6 pounds (2.1kg). The trade-off in weight and cost comes with a thermal advantage: gold conducts heat roughly 30% to 50% more efficiently than aluminum, potentially enhancing the performance of the system's processor.
Fanless Tech, the company behind the build, described the gold-clad machine as a "cooling marvel" on social media. The substantial weight penalty—over six times heavier than the standard configuration—presents a significant obstacle to portability, a quality typically prized in mini PC designs. Beyond the heft, the astronomical price remains the most formidable barrier to adoption for typical users.
Modest Internals in an Opulent Package
Despite its extraordinary exterior, the gold Kubb Fanless houses conventional components. The system offers a choice of processors and memory configurations:
- Processor options: Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, or AMD Ryzen AI 5 340
- Memory: 16GB DDR5, expandable to 128GB
- Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD with optional second drive
- Connectivity (Intel models): 1x USB 3.2 Type A, 1x USB 3.2 Type-C with DP1.4a, 1x USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Type-C with DP 2.1, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- Connectivity (AMD models): 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type A, 2x USB4 Type-C with DP 1.4a, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
- Side ports: 2x RJ45, 2x HDMI 2.1 TMDS, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A
- Power: 120W adapter (19V DC, 6.32A), universal voltage input
- Operating system: Windows 11 Pro
- Warranty: 3 years
Pricing and Alternatives
Standard aluminum versions of the Kubb Fanless, available in graphite, blue, or bronze finishes and equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, are listed at €1,595 ($1,822) on Kubb.eu, though inventory is currently unavailable. At conventional pricing levels, competing fanless solutions such as the Arctic Senza AI 370 offer comparable passive cooling performance without the precious metal premium. Arctic's design targets under-desk mounting for silent operation, though the company's willingness to undertake custom gold chassis work remains unclear.
The company previously released a smaller fanless Kubb Mini line featuring 3 x 3 x 3-inch dimensions, Intel Twin Lake processors, vibrant color options, and price points around $500 (€430).