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Run late 2009 Mac Mini Without Top Casing?

timidpimpin

timidpimpin

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Original poster
Nov 10, 2018
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After a recent hard drive upgrade I was running my mini for a while without the top casing on, and noticed that everything was running quite a bit cooler. Maybe 30%.

I was wondering what all of you think about running it continuously without putting the top back on? The black frame guards the hardware quite well. The only things that are really exposed are the airport/bluetooth antennas and the speaker.

Also... the OWC Data Doubler installed allows a lot more air in through the top than the optical drive would, as there is a slit to the right for the fan to suck fresh air in.

Let me know what you think. I think it looks kinda Mad Max, and I like it. :)

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Depending on the environment, there'll be no issues at all.
Chance of it getting dustier but guaranteed many 2009s are full of dust anyway.

If your house has pets, inquisitive children, or violent vaccumers... It may not be the best. :D
 
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The question is...does the fan combined with the housing pull needed cooling air over any particular part in the Mini that won't get that air if the housing is off?
 
BrianBaughn said:
The question is...does the fan combined with the housing pull needed cooling air over any particular part in the Mini that won't get that air if the housing is off?
Click to expand...

Like I already wrote... everything in the system is running about 30% cooler with the casing off. There are 7 temperature senors in this very tiny computer, plus one in each hard drive. And all 9 sensors are showing much cooler temperatures.
 
Good post. I thinking about this last month when I had my old $65 MM open for RAM upgrade.

Just 15 mins of techie fun with the old putty knife, and I was thinking of just not putting it back in the enclosure. Next time I won't. LOL A2
 
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