Zotac Unveils Three Fanless Wildcat Lake Mini PCs
Zotac's new Zbox C-series nano systems use Intel Wildcat Lake processors in a passively cooled chassis.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Computers
Zotac has unveiled three fanless Zbox C-series nano mini PCs, the CI431, CI451, and CI471 nano, powered by Intel Wildcat Lake processors. The CI471 nano was first spotted at Computex 2026 in June without a full specification sheet.
Why it matters
The passively cooled design removes the need for fans in a compact form factor, which may appeal to buyers seeking quiet, small-footprint computers. Because the systems are sold as barebones, buyers must supply their own memory and storage.
The passively cooled 204 × 129 × 68 mm chassis holds about 1.79 litres and supports up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM, one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot, and a 2.5 Gbps wired port. Pricing and availability were not disclosed in the available specifications.
The players
Zotac
Zotac is a graphics card and compact PC manufacturer known for its Zbox line of small-form-factor systems.
Intel
Intel is a major semiconductor company that supplies the Core processors and the Wildcat Lake platform used in these mini PCs.
The details
Each model includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, three USB 2.0 ports, and Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4. The CI431, CI451, and CI471 nano use the Intel Core 3 304, Core 5 320, and Core 7 350 processors, respectively.
Timeline
June 2026: The CI471 nano was first spotted at Computex 2026 without a full specification sheet.
November 2, 2026: Zotac unveiled the three Zbox C-series nano mini PCs.
The Tech Race
Zotac's fanless Zbox C-series systems extend Intel's Wildcat Lake platform into a compact, passively cooled desktop form factor. The launch places Zotac among mini PC makers competing to offer quiet, small systems built on the latest Intel low-power processors.
Buyers who want a silent desktop for office or media use can consider these barebone systems, but they must budget separately for RAM and storage. The fanless design means no fan noise, though performance under sustained load should be weighed against the Core 3, Core 5, or Core 7 tier chosen.
The takeaway
Compact, fanless mini PCs trade expandability for quiet operation, so buyers should confirm the included components and total cost before purchase.
Further reading
For more on compact desktop hardware, explore our Computers section.
