MDD silent bliss...

[jbarley]

It seems that what we thought was impossible is actually possible.
I am typing this message from a virtually silent 1.4 dual MDD G4.
I've achieved this with the following modifications.
First was the power supply fan mod, as shown here starting at post #11.
Second was replacing the main CPU fan with the same fan used in the PS mod, the Antec 3 speed.
Both fans are being run at the mid-speed switch selection and so far my CPU temperatures have been very acceptable, from 33C-38C at idle and while typing this message up to 50C-55C while under any load I've managed to expose it to.
Finally download Chud Tools and enable NAP mode.



This system is as quiet as my 2012 mac mini and no noisier then my G4 cube, which also has an 80mm version of the same fan.
Over all the mod has achieved a very pleasant and a joy to use MDD.

 

[0248294]

Awesome, I need to do this with my 1GHz SP MDD, and see if I can somehow adapt the mod for my Quicksilver.

 

[Cox Orange]

Great news!

Did you notice any heat increase in the Power Supply?

I like your solution, since it doesn't require modding an ATX-Power Supply like here http://aquamac.proboards.com/thread/1174?page=1#8403 post #8 very last line, where he lists the video links (see only part3, if in a hurry).

 

[jbarley]

Great news!

Did you notice any heat increase in the Power Supply?

I like your solution, since it doesn't require modding an ATX-Power Supply like here http://aquamac.proboards.com/thread/1174?page=1#8403 post #8 very last line, where he lists the video links (see only part3, if in a hurry).

No, actually just the oppisite, as mentioned in post #14 of my earlier thread while I was moniting the PS outflow air temperature I was seeing 35-38C, whereas before with the original PS fans temperatures reached 45C.
I've since quit monitoring the PS outflow temperature and all appears to be running just fine.

 

[Cox Orange]

Thanks. This is amazing!

 

[jbarley]

Thanks. This is amazing!

I was just thinking after my previous post that some of that temperature drop could be attributed to the fact that I gave the PS a good cleaning while I had it apart removing the 60mm fans.
But overall that mod plus installing the same 120mm Antec in place of the main case fan has given me an almost totally silent G4 1.42 dual MDD until the CPU temp gets up to 60C and the the fan and the noise start ramp up just a little.
Normal operation never sees the CPU temp above 50C, only on my extreme load tests can I drive it up to 60C.
It's almost like I've got a super big-silent overgrown Cube sitting on my desk.

 

[Cox Orange]

Just one last question: you did put the 2x60 fans back after cleaning, right? or did you leave them out?

 

[0248294]

No, he didn't. The fan and duct replace the 2x60 PSU fans.

 

[jbarley]

No, he didn't. The fan and duct replace the 2x60 PSU fans.

Correct!
The point of this mod was to get rid of the 2 noisy 60mm fans and replace them with something quieter.

 

[oi!]

.

 

[0248294]

How are you measuring PSU temperature?

...I'm in the process of monitoring the PS output air temps, commandeered the wife's remote oven thermometer for the job.

 

[jbarley]

Thank you.

 

[oi!]

.

 

[Cox Orange]

How are you measuring PSU temperature?

I once (in my G4 AGP) used one of these 5,25" slot temperature/fan-controls like these http://www.zalman.com/global/product/Product_Read.php?Idx=341

mine had 8 sensors and I tried to place the sensors in several areas, I didn't connect the fans. They were connected to other Molex-to-fan cables inside my PowerMac G4 AGP.

Since I didn't want to put out the DVD-Drive, I let a molex-4Pin-Power-cable run out of a PCI slot to the monitor laying on the floor next to it (outside he Mac), then route the sensors back through the same PCI Slot and place them where I wanted.