MP 1,1-5,1 cMP 5.1 replacing PCI fan

[davorrr]

I've managed to replace all the fans by Noctua.
Only the PCI fan I can't access. It is in the grey plastic casing (right lower corner).
I searched night and day. No yt video, no tutorials, not a single article about this.

Please help if you know how to do this. Thanks

 

[KeesMacPro]

Disassembling the PCI fan can take some patience
First remove the 2 allen screws that are inside.
When you slide the inner housing , there's a notch sliding in a slot .
The outer housing is quite flexible , so on 1 side force the outer housing to create more distance between the 2 housings.
When you slide it now, the inner housing will slide beyond the slot and comes out.
Take your time to find the right side where the notch is first (with a torch/ cellphone ) .

Assembling is the same the other way aroud: slide the inner housing in until it clicks and you're done.

There's a lot of info about fan replacements here:

Mac Pro (4.1/5.1) aftermarket fans WITH automatic SMC control

I've been reading around this subject for a while as a pet peeve of mine is noisy computers. My normal workstations are entirely passively cooled and silence is bliss, but I do still use my cMPs when I need machines with a bit more power or more cores for testing virtual environments and the...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[avro707]

I've managed to replace all the fans by Noctua.
Only the PCI fan I can't access. It is in the grey plastic casing (right lower corner).
I searched night and day. No yt video, no tutorials, not a single article about this.

Please help if you know how to do this. Thanks

I ended up getting a lot of spare fans (3 full sets of them plus assorted extras). I'm interested what you are doing for fan speed control because as far as I know the Noctua fans aren't compatible with the controls in our Mac.

Still I ended up using a smaller Noctua fan for the Northbridge.

 

[KeesMacPro]

I'm interested what you are doing for fan speed control because as far as I know the Noctua fans aren't compatible with the controls in our Mac.

About 1,5 years ago @amedias published a method to replace the OEM Delta fans by 3rd party fans and maintain the "normal" fan control by the SMC of the MP4,1/5,1.
Since then I've tested several fans and different approaches .
Basically with a 3-pin non-PWM fan this works perfectly, as long as the fan meets certain parameters.
The main advantage is lower noise.
All credits go to him!

For further details you may take a look here:

Mac Pro (4.1/5.1) aftermarket fans WITH automatic SMC control

I've been reading around this subject for a while as a pet peeve of mine is noisy computers. My normal workstations are entirely passively cooled and silence is bliss, but I do still use my cMPs when I need machines with a bit more power or more cores for testing virtual environments and the...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[davorrr]

I didn't know about that method from @amedias.
I've followed the youtube tutorial (German only) and ordered all Noctua fans. Yes, they are not compatible with cMP 5.1, but you can connect them to the Quadro controller, so they get the power.


After reading a bit about the @amedias method, I believe, his method a bit more elegant: No Quadro needed. Just using the existing stuff. But don't know what they exactly mean by swapping the pins.

I almost did it all by the Quadro-Method, but now trying to connect that Quadro to cMP 5.1 and don't know how: Quadro has a Molex 4 Pin. Which cable exactly do I need and where to connect it (motherboard or CD sata cable)?

​

 

[KeesMacPro]

After reading a bit about the @amedias method, I believe, his method a bit more elegant: No Quadro needed. Just using the existing stuff. But don't know what they exactly mean by swapping the pins.

This method is elegant, practical short: ingenious!
Pin swap means (if you cant/too lazy to solder a cable/connector) to swap certain pins in the connector to adapt the plug pin layout to the Apple pin layout.

I almost did it all by the Quadro-Method, but now trying to connect that Quadro to cMP 5.1 and don't know how: Quadro has a Molex 4 Pin. Which cable exactly do I need and where to connect it (motherboard or CD sata cable)?

TBH I cant help you with that, as i dont know what way it's thought and setup...sorry ; )

 

[davorrr]

Thanks!

I have two same computers cMP 5.1 dual CPU.
So, I might apply the amedias' method on my 2nd machine.

In that thread I found this said by @Minimum91

Intake, exhaust, PS: Noctua NF-A12x25 ULN 120 mm
Boosta: Noctua 80 x 80 x 25mm NF-R8 redux-1800
PCI: Noctua NF-A9 FLX 92 mm Case Fan

Mac Pro (4.1/5.1) aftermarket fans WITH automatic SMC control

I want to thank everyone for the helpful information they have provided in this topic. It guided through the topic well enough I could follow as a not too technical person. I have installed all the Noctua fans correctly and have no trouble with pulsing fans or otherwise. Intake, exhaust, PS...

forums.macrumors.com

What is "Boosta"?
I guess this set up was for cMP with 1 cpu, right?

I think 80mm is for single CPU.
For Dual CPU I needed 2x 60mm.

 

[KeesMacPro]

What is "Boosta"?
I guess this set up was for cMP with 1 cpu, right?

correct, on a dual CPU , the CPU fans are called Boost A and B.

I think 80mm is for single CPU.
For Dual CPU I needed 2x 60mm.

Exactly !

For further post I suggest to move to the aforementioned thread to avoid parallel threads and/or information ; )

 

[davorrr]

On top of the Quadro (see picture below) there is that Molex 4 pin connector. This thing has to be connected to the motherboard of my cMP 5.1

If anybody knows which cable, I'd be grateful. Don't know the official name of the 6 pin power connecters on the motherboard.

 

[davorrr]

So, I initially though I should connect Quadro to the PCI AUX A.
Don't know if that is a good idea.

Here are the specs of Quadro:

QUADRO fan controller for PWM fans - Aqua Computer

QUADRO fan controller for PWM fans: The QUADRO made by Aqua Computer is a four channel PWM fan controller with outstanding functionality, equally suited for water cooled or air cooled computers. Additionally, it features an RGBpx effect controller for 90 addressable LEDs. Key features of the...

shop.aquacomputer.de

I've just watched again that youtube tutorial . He actually said, the Quadro is getting the power from one of the SATA connectors! So I need some kind of SATA to Molex cable I guess?

Unfortunately in the video I don't see the other side/connector of that cable:

Update:
Quadro you can connect to the Sata cable of the CD drive in your cMP5.1 with this cable

PremiumCord Netzteil SATA Stecker - Molex 5.25 "Female 17cm

PremiumCord Netzteil SATA-Stecker Molex 5, 25 Frau 17 cm Netzteilkabel für IDE-Geräte oder Festplatten, z. für Stromversorgungen, die nur S-ATA-Anschlüsse haben. Anschluss 1. Typ SATA-Standardstec...

www.amazon.de

 

[MR been]

I've managed to replace all the fans by Noctua.
Only the PCI fan I can't access. It is in the grey plastic casing (right lower corner).
I searched night and day. No yt video, no tutorials, not a single article about this.

Please help if you know how to do this. Thanks

I know how to access this fan, first you need to remove the two hex screws, press the white button to unlock the unit, then you need something like a hemostat to help you open the elastic in the gap behind the white button plastic sheet, you will find the fan will separate from the case。

 

[TzunamiOSX]

I've managed to replace all the fans by Noctua.
Only the PCI fan I can't access. It is in the grey plastic casing (right lower corner).
I searched night and day. No yt video, no tutorials, not a single article about this.

Please help if you know how to do this. Thanks

My fan was hanging inside the case and a used a really flat screwdriver to go between fan and case and „unlock“ the fan.