Holographic PC fans are here, and RGB may never look the same

Skye Jacobs

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In context: The introduction of holographic displays marks a significant evolution in PC customization. While RGB lighting has been a staple for years, Coolify's Holo Fans elevate personalization to new heights by replacing static lighting effects with dynamic holograms.

Coolify, a company specializing in PC customization, has developed a product that integrates holographic displays into desktop setups, potentially transforming the aesthetics of personal computing. The Holo Fans bring animated holograms to PC case fans, offering a visual experience that goes beyond traditional RGB lighting effects and provides a new level of personalization for gaming and workstation setups.

Unlike conventional RGB fans that rely solely on LED lighting, Coolify's Holo Fans use spinning LED arrays to simulate holograms. At the center of these spinning fans, users will see floating holograms created by an array of 96 LEDs. These holograms are not merely static images; they can display logos, animations, and customizable graphics.

Available in both 120mm and 140mm sizes, the Holo Fans come with a controller for managing animations and lighting effects. They also support software integration, allowing users to synchronize visuals with system metrics such as CPU temperature, fan speeds, and gaming performance indicators. The holograms can also be programmed to display system alerts or real-time notifications.

The fans boast high-static pressure designs for efficient airflow, with speeds reaching up to 2,600 RPM. They deliver airflow rates of 52 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) and a rated air pressure of 2.75 mmH2O.

Noise levels are kept at 33 dB(A), making them suitable for gaming and professional environments. However, their power consumption ranges between 2W and 6W and can peak at 10W – higher than standard case fans but arguably justified by their features.

The fans operate at fixed speeds, either 1,500 or 2,600 RPM, to maintain the holographic projection's integrity – varying the speed would disrupt the visuals.

One notable feature is how users interact with these fans. Unlike traditional PC peripherals that transfer data directly from the computer, Coolify's Holo Fans require images and animations to be uploaded via Wi-Fi using a companion smartphone app. While this may add some complexity during installation, especially for setups involving multiple fans, it eliminates concerns about resource-heavy PC software interfering with gaming performance.

Originally unveiled at Computex 2024, the Holo Fans are now available for $45.99 each. However, due to high demand, early adopters may experience limited availability.

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Who would even want a fan you can't change the speed of? And changing images via wifi?? More iot security holes to deal with, this time literally inside your pc...
 
If there is no variable speed, then use it as an isolated intake fan. Front middle or top fan would probably be best since you want people to see your image in the fan. It's not the worst idea.
 
Surprisingly reasonably priced. Thats pretty much what Corsair already charges for a much less revolutionary fan.


But come on, a mobile app to control your PC fans? At least bring out a PC app even if wifi is a requirement.
Dont have to worry much about resource usage if the animations are ran on the fans themselves anyway. I imagine there's a ESP32 or similar in these things to control the LED matrix, play the animation and connect over WiFi. So if there was a PC app, just close it once things are configured and resource problem solved.

I hate doing things on my phone, always takes longer because of the lack of multitasking and silly touch controls.

If it has that kind of processing power I guess someone will eventually port DOOM to it and you can game on your fans

Please leave a non-RGB/hologram/marching band option for those of us who build unobtrusive boxes.
Pretty sure there will always be fans that do nothing more than move air. Some brands might go all in on fancy things for fat margins but there will always be cheap stuff that just does what it needs to do.
 
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