System Saver - Fanless Compact Mac

[superjer2000]

I have been looking at getting a System Saver for my fanless compact macs, but I'm not really keen on the integrated electronics or the price.  I searched to see what people had built to add an external fan but didn't find anything.

I printed a speaker grill and added a $6 80mm fan and attached it to a silicone cake pan I cut up and soldered a power plug for a 12V adapter.

It makes a big difference - After running for a couple of hours, without the "System Saver" the temp at the top of my Mac Plus on the analog board side hit around 50c.  The hot spots on the outside analog side board of the Mac were around 38c.  With the "System Saver" the temps for the same period of time at the same locations were 32c and 35c, respectively.  

It would be nice to get the analog board side temps down further, but by exhausting all of the hot air that seems to sit at the top of the Mac's case, I can't imagine this isn't an improvement regarding component life.

 

[trag]

Old School system saver:

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

MacChimney!

 

[superjer2000]

I would absolutely love to see what the temp readings are using a MacChimney!  I reworked my System Saver II a bit so that it's entirely 3d printed.  I've attached a 60mm x 2.5cm fan that does about 25cfm and the Mac still stays pretty cool (About the same as with the 80mm fan, although as CFM is about the same, this solution is louder).  I'm attaching the .STL file in case anybody wants to print their own.  I just added a 2.1mm barrel jack so I could use a 12V power adapter.

View attachment SystemSaver II.stl

 

[CC_333]

If you made the thing just a little longer and made the grille a bit bigger, you could put an 80mm fan in there fairly easily I think?

c

 

[superjer2000]

If you made the thing just a little longer and made the grille a bit bigger, you could put an 80mm fan in there fairly easily I think?

c

Yup - I was thinking the same thing.  Attached are pics of the 80mm version and the .stl file.  I have a cheap fan in there now but it's still much quieter than the 60mm fan with the same airflow.  I have ordered an 80mm Noctua that gets good reviews for near-silence and still puts out a high CFM.



View attachment 80MM System Saver II.stl