Thermal Paste on the Fan of a 2018 Mac Mini?

[Engender]

Hello all,

I upgrade the memory in my 2018 Mac Mini to 64 GBs. In the process, I broke the fan connector. I then purchased this replacement from Amazon, which does not have a metal bottom like the original fan.

I know have a used original fan on order, which should arrive at the end of this week. It looks like the metal part of the original fan may act as a heat sink for the processor.

Does it make sense for me to get some thermal paste and apply it to the metal bit on the fan when I install it?

I've been fighting to keep the CPU cool since I broke the fan connector. I currently have a 140 mm Noctua underneath the Mini with the bottom plastic removed, as well as another 140 mm Noctua mounted on the top rear of the Mini to help with the exhaust heat.

I appreciate your thoughts!

 

[apostolosdt]

Interesting post; I sympathize with your situation, though. Are you monitoring the temperature? What ranges are you detecting?

 

[Kenny99]

If in doubt use the past, It will not hurt the fan. FYI - a little goes and goes a long way.

 

[Engender]

I am monitoring the temps. I'm also monitoring the CPU throttling via pmset (pmset -g thermlog). I just woke my Mini from sleep and the CPU throttled itself down to 24% when it woke. This means that the CPU temps got up and above 90 Celsius on wake from sleep.

As I'm typing this, I'm seeing 54 Celsius on CPU PECI (which I understand shows the temperature for the hottest CPU. I'm hearing the internal fan come on, so it's getting up past 75 Celsius for some reason . . . It's probably because I have so many windows open on my three monitors. This Mini hates using three monitors!

 

[apostolosdt]

The iStat Menus app is free for 15 days (if I remember well).

Thanks for that detailed info from you! I may unpack and reinstall my Mini 2018 and check. By the way, mine has 32GB RAM and I was planning to double it; now, after your post, I'm becoming anxious.

 

[Engender]

The iStat Menus app is free for 15 days (if I remember well).

Thanks for that detailed info from you! I may unpack and reinstall my Mini 2018 and check. By the way, mine has 32GB RAM and I was planning to double it; now, after your post, I'm becoming anxious.

Probably not worth the hassle. I also broke the connector for the WiFi antenna, and it is now secured to the logic board with electrical tape. Don't make the mistakes I have made, my friend!

Also, I have iStat 7.

 

[Engender]

I did it! I fixed it! I repasted the CPU and the highest CPU PECI has hit is 85 celsius!

I think I really did it!! Before, CPU PECI was hitting 100 on wake!!!