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The G3 Zone banner - CPU Upgrades including Memory, SCSI Hard Disks, Video, and CPU for the Apple G3

G3 Desktop CPU Cooling Fan
by Tywee Tan
Published: 1/4/99

Disclaimer: This is a reader submitted article for reference only. Be aware that any mods you do to your Mac may void its warranty. Modifications and additions should be not be performed by those not qualified to do so. You assume all responsibility for any mods you perform to your Mac.

Tywee Tan writes with the steps he performed to add a CPU cooling fan to his Apple G3 desktop chassis. The fan he used appears to be similar to the blowers available at most Radio Shack stores.

Cooling the processor heat sink (warranty voiding!)

1. There are 2 rectangular slots behind the CDROM drive. The slots allow the cables to run from the motherboard up to the drive bays. I have transferred all the cables from 1 slot into the other. The Nidec Gamma 26 blower used is displayed.

I have also used soundproofing material inside the G3 but it is not as effective as soundproofing the G3 shelf (see other article).

 

2. The blower is about 2 millimeters wider than the empty slot. Use a rough hand file to make the slot wider. Open the chassis while filing and make sure to shield the iron filings away from the circuitry.

If you look closely into the slot, you can see the heatsink underneath, sitting less than 5 millimeters away from the slot. You can’t get any closer than this with a blower or a fan!

 

3. The blower in operating position. I have opened the slot just wide enough to force-fit the blower into position. The blower sucks in cool air from the drive bay area and throws it out onto the side of the heatsink underneath.

PowerLogix's Speedmeter shows processor temperature between 40 to 44 degrees centigrade . My room temperature is 28 degree centigrade. [Note: My G3/266 ran 56C until I tried the thermal paste tip on the main G3-ZONE news (scroll down to see it), which helped a bit. If your G3 runs hot check for correct orientation of the Heatsink retaining clip as noted on the G3 Temp/Cooling page.-Mike]

Other G3 Cooling Articles: The G3-ZONE also has links to other reader articles on G3 CPU Cooling:

Check the main G3-ZONE page for links to lots of other Apple G3 specific articles on CPU upgrades, Troubleshooting, adding Ram/Vram, IDE drives and more.

 

For more articles on getting the most from your Apple G3
visit the main
G3-ZONE page.

If you have an article you'd like to have published on an Apple G3 upgrade,
please
contact me

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© 1998 mike, last modified: 1/4/99
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Legal Disclaimer: The opinions/comments expressed here are the author's alone, and do not necessarily represent those of the site publishers.
All information is for reference only, we do not recommend you try this on your own hardware as it will void your warranty and could cause harm. Any modifications you perform is at your own risk - we do not recommend you attempt these procedures and have not verified the accuracy of this data.
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