Cube: heatsink or fan with CPU upgrade?

California · Nov 7, 2012, 07:56 PM

Guys have any of you done a Cube CPU upgrade with a Sonnet CPU?

If so, does the Cube use the heatsink or a flat fan?

Intell · Nov 7, 2012, 08:09 PM

Could you explain that a a bit more?

AtmChm · Nov 7, 2012, 08:17 PM

You're going to need a fan with any CPU upgrade. There's lots of info on Cube cpu upgrades at www.cubeowner.com

mike457 · Nov 7, 2012, 09:15 PM

I did a Gigadesign installation a few years ago, and I completely second what AtmChm says. Fortunately, the Cube does have a space ready and a power connector, as Apple dithered in the design stages about whether there should be a fan.

Cox Orange · Nov 8, 2012, 04:52 PM

There is a report on xlr8yourmac with pictures.

California · Nov 8, 2012, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cox Orange

There is a report on xlr8yourmac with pictures.

Thanks guys

I think I need to get a new fan for the Cube, my BF (yes I'm a girl...!) lost the Cube stuff and the box.

Do any of you guys have a fan or recommendations of how to get one? Thank you so much.

AtmChm · Nov 9, 2012, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California

Thanks guys

I think I need to get a new fan for the Cube, my BF (yes I'm a girl...!) lost the Cube stuff and the box.

Do any of you guys have a fan or recommendations of how to get one? Thank you so much.

You can go for one of two sizes: a 15 mm fan will easily fit in the space provided for a fan in the cube, but they generally push less air and/or are more noisy since they have to operate at a higher rpm to move the same amount of air as a larger fan. A 25 mm fan will be a tight fit, but generally will be less noisy.

I put the Noctua NF-R8 in two of my Cubes. It's a 25 mm fan and actually has three speed settings controlled via resistors provided with the fan. I run mine at the middle setting, which moves enough air to keep the cube cool, while minimizing the noise produced by the fan. The fan is available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-R8-8...eywords=noctua

and likely can easily be found at other vendors. For a 15 mm fan, the Panaflow is generally thought to be the best (I have one in a third cube) - quiet and run well, but they are no longer made, so you'd have to look around for a used one. There are lots of other 15 mm fans with varying degrees of reliability.

The other trick here is you will need to power the fan. Most fans will not come with the correct power connector required for the power jack on the VRM. However, most will come with a 4 pin adapter to connect the fan to the CD/DVD molex.

Again, I'd recommend searching the cubeowner website, which has lots of info on fans for the cube.

California · Nov 9, 2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtmChm

You can go for one of two sizes: a 15 mm fan will easily fit in the space provided for a fan in the cube, but they generally push less air and/or are more noisy since they have to operate at a higher rpm to move the same amount of air as a larger fan. A 25 mm fan will be a tight fit, but generally will be less noisy.

I put the Noctua NF-R8 in two of my Cubes. It's a 25 mm fan and actually has three speed settings controlled via resistors provided with the fan. I run mine at the middle setting, which moves enough air to keep the cube cool, while minimizing the noise produced by the fan. The fan is available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-R8-8...eywords=noctua

and likely can easily be found at other vendors. For a 15 mm fan, the Panaflow is generally thought to be the best (I have one in a third cube) - quiet and run well, but they are no longer made, so you'd have to look around for a used one. There are lots of other 15 mm fans with varying degrees of reliability.

The other trick here is you will need to power the fan. Most fans will not come with the correct power connector required for the power jack on the VRM. However, most will come with a 4 pin adapter to connect the fan to the CD/DVD molex.

Again, I'd recommend searching the cubeowner website, which has lots of info on fans for the cube.

Thanks, Sonnet actually wrote back and said to get their cube fan kit, and asked me specifically if I had a Cube for Sonnet upgrade, which it is. It's the Panaflow fan, right, that comes with the Sonnet CPU upgrade?

AtmChm · Nov 9, 2012, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California

Thanks, Sonnet actually wrote back and said to get their cube fan kit, and asked me specifically if I had a Cube for Sonnet upgrade, which it is. It's the Panaflow fan, right, that comes with the Sonnet CPU upgrade?

My understanding is that the Panaflow came with the Sonnet upgrade once upon a time, but I don't think the Panaflow has been made for a few years, so I'm not sure what they are including in their kits now. Are they still selling Cube upgrade kits or are you looking at buying a used one?

California · Nov 9, 2012, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtmChm

My understanding is that the Panaflow came with the Sonnet upgrade once upon a time, but I don't think the Panaflow has been made for a few years, so I'm not sure what they are including in their kits now. Are they still selling Cube upgrade kits or are you looking at buying a used one?

They have the kit for 29.95. Emailed me today.

AtmChm · Nov 10, 2012, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California

They have the kit for 29.95. Emailed me today.

Well, that's likely your best option. That fan should have the correct connector for the fan power connector apple included on the VRM. Good luck on your upgrade! The Cube is such a cool Mac, and installing an upgrade makes it more enjoyable to use.

Cox Orange · Nov 10, 2012, 12:57 PM

@ California

Why not ask Sonnet, if they can tell you what exact fan model they use. On the PowerMac G4 towers they used Sunon fans, which are quiet loud (though they said, they took the quietest available at the time...)

If you have the exact model number of the Sonnet fan, you can search for the specs and compare with other fans.

Nov 7, 2012, 07:56 PM	#1
California macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2004	Cube: heatsink or fan with CPU upgrade? Guys have any of you done a Cube CPU upgrade with a Sonnet CPU? If so, does the Cube use the heatsink or a flat fan? __________________ 2.66ghz Mac Mini Server(operating w/Mini OS)16gb ram!!!/1.67ghz Powerbook G5 15" DLHR/512mb 1st gen Shuffle/iPhone 16gb/30" ACD
	0

Nov 7, 2012, 08:09 PM	#2
Intell macrumors G5 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	Could you explain that a a bit more? __________________ Last edited by Intell; Yesterday at 11:50 AM.
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Nov 7, 2012, 08:17 PM	#3
AtmChm macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: WI	You're going to need a fan with any CPU upgrade. There's lots of info on Cube cpu upgrades at www.cubeowner.com __________________ MBA; Mac Pro;iMac; Mini; Cube; G5 & G4 towers
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Nov 7, 2012, 09:15 PM	#4
mike457 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ontario	I did a Gigadesign installation a few years ago, and I completely second what AtmChm says. Fortunately, the Cube does have a space ready and a power connector, as Apple dithered in the design stages about whether there should be a fan. __________________ 27" i7 iMac, mid 2010; Mini i5, 2011; iPad3; ATV3; iPhone 4; the Cube!
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Nov 8, 2012, 04:52 PM	#5
Cox Orange macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2010	There is a report on xlr8yourmac with pictures.
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Nov 10, 2012, 12:57 PM	#12
Cox Orange macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2010	@ California Why not ask Sonnet, if they can tell you what exact fan model they use. On the PowerMac G4 towers they used Sunon fans, which are quiet loud (though they said, they took the quietest available at the time...) If you have the exact model number of the Sonnet fan, you can search for the specs and compare with other fans.
	0