> TDPs do not seem to have gone up, at least not when looking at data sheets...
Data sheet TDPs seem to have less connection to reality with each generation.
But with all of the boost clocks and what not, the more heat you can disipate, the faster the chip will go, and the power usage/temperatures can ramp really quickly too. Fans are so effective in most situations, that it's hard to leave them off and accept the performance difference. Personally, I'm ok with most fans, although I had to replace the PSU fan in my most recent build cause the included one had a noise profile I couldn't stand. For things like NUCs and Desktops, running longer cables and hiding the noise source is probably a good option too.
Data sheet TDPs seem to have less connection to reality with each generation.
But with all of the boost clocks and what not, the more heat you can disipate, the faster the chip will go, and the power usage/temperatures can ramp really quickly too. Fans are so effective in most situations, that it's hard to leave them off and accept the performance difference. Personally, I'm ok with most fans, although I had to replace the PSU fan in my most recent build cause the included one had a noise profile I couldn't stand. For things like NUCs and Desktops, running longer cables and hiding the noise source is probably a good option too.