Mac Mini Cooler/Stand idea.

[Padpork]

Hey everyone.

I've noticed that a lot of people (including me) are having problems with high temperatures and fan noise while doing more intensive tasks with the Mac Mini.

Now, I've seen people putting the Mac Mini on the notebook cooler or vertical stand reduces problem a bit, so I combined those 2 into this solution.

Basically.

The bottom part of the stand would have a "hole" whit a few plastic clips so the Mini can snap in and fit firmly.

The long vertical part would be sort of a box with 2 metal meshes on each side...a dust filter and a 120mm fan which would blow cold air in.

Also the plastic bottom of the Mini would be removed to fit into this stand.

Tell me what you think guys. Anyone got a suggestions?

Pictures.

1 > http://i3.minus.com/ibw5Lijpt4cqYs.png
2 > http://i3.minus.com/ibzxaCGLHES5mz.png

 

[hleewell]

Very nice effort!

----------

I am dying for a vertically oriented Mac Mini. I got headphones, hifi amplifiers, speakers, magazine stacks, digital cameras, HDD, USB hubs, 2nd monitor on my desk. I wish Apple would design a slimmer (but can be deeper) and taller Mac Mini that can be slotted inbetween all the mess on most people's desks nowadays:

 

[Cape Dave]

Dude that is genius! I had played around with the idea of simply getting a 140MM fan and somehow placing the mini on top. Not elegant like yours but the same idea!

It is a well known fact: electronics that run COOLER run HAPPIER and LONGER!

Genius! Do it! Fund it!

Hey everyone.

I've noticed that a lot of people (including me) are having problems with high temperatures and fan noise while doing more intensive tasks with the Mac Mini.

Now, I've seen people putting the Mac Mini on the notebook cooler or vertical stand reduces problem a bit, so I combined those 2 into this solution.

Basically.

The bottom part of the stand would have a "hole" whit a few plastic clips so the Mini can snap in and fit firmly.

The long vertical part would be sort of a box with 2 metal meshes on each side...a dust filter and a 120mm fan which would blow cold air in.

Also the plastic bottom of the Mini would be removed to fit into this stand.

Tell me what you think guys. Anyone got a suggestions?

Pictures.

1 > http://i3.minus.com/ibw5Lijpt4cqYs.png
2 > http://i3.minus.com/ibzxaCGLHES5mz.png

Image

Image

 

[niteflyr]

Very nice effort!

----------

I am dying for a vertically oriented Mac Mini. I got headphones, hifi amplifiers, speakers, magazine stacks, digital cameras, HDD, USB hubs, 2nd monitor on my desk. I wish Apple would design a slimmer (but can be deeper) and taller Mac Mini that can be slotted inbetween all the mess on most people's desks nowadays


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/NUSTALYMINI/

 

[HHBLx]

Great Idea

I like your idea. Thanks for the great visuals. You don't happen to have detailed line drawings (like in a DIY book)? If not do you know if anyone makes/sells something similar? Thanks again.

 

[Omnius]

Hey everyone.

I've noticed that a lot of people (including me) are having problems with high temperatures and fan noise while doing more intensive tasks with the Mac Mini.

Now, I've seen people putting the Mac Mini on the notebook cooler or vertical stand reduces problem a bit, so I combined those 2 into this solution.

Basically.

The bottom part of the stand would have a "hole" whit a few plastic clips so the Mini can snap in and fit firmly.

The long vertical part would be sort of a box with 2 metal meshes on each side...a dust filter and a 120mm fan which would blow cold air in.

Also the plastic bottom of the Mini would be removed to fit into this stand.

Tell me what you think guys. Anyone got a suggestions?

Pictures.

1 > http://i3.minus.com/ibw5Lijpt4cqYs.png
2 > http://i3.minus.com/ibzxaCGLHES5mz.png

Image

Image

Wood might not be the best choice, in my experience, wood tends to hold the heat well and makes it harder to cool off. Maybe another material might be better? I'd be really curious to see a prototype.

 

[ivnj]

Nice idea I also have a fan I posted a while ago.

But does mac mini really need a fan. If i'm just browsing the web. Or can I get away with putting it in a cabinet or something.

 

[ivnj]

Like if I kept it in the drawer in my printer stand is that too constricting or do I need more air flow.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uwQJwCm2-.../s640/996172_672321136116369_1735247646_n.jpg

or underneath where my bluetooth earpiece is.

 

[hleewell]

Very nice effort!

----------

I am dying for a vertically oriented Mac Mini. I got headphones, hifi amplifiers, speakers, magazine stacks, digital cameras, HDD, USB hubs, 2nd monitor on my desk. I wish Apple would design a slimmer (but can be deeper) and taller Mac Mini that can be slotted inbetween all the mess on most people's desks nowadays


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/NUSTALYMINI/

I am leaning towards this design ;-)

 

[Padpork]

Dude that is genius! I had played around with the idea of simply getting a 140MM fan and somehow placing the mini on top. Not elegant like yours but the same idea!

It is a well known fact: electronics that run COOLER run HAPPIER and LONGER!

Genius! Do it! Fund it!

Thanks!

I like your idea. Thanks for the great visuals. You don't happen to have detailed line drawings (like in a DIY book)? If not do you know if anyone makes/sells something similar? Thanks again.

I will post work progress and drawings with exact measurements so you can make your own.

As far as I know there is no other products similar to this one. (except what niteflyr posted)

Wood might not be the best choice, in my experience, wood tends to hold the heat well and makes it harder to cool off. Maybe another material might be better? I'd be really curious to see a prototype.

Idk if it matters that much?

As you see in the picture only the small part of the Mini comes in contact with the wood, the whole bottom part would be in contact with a metal mesh.

 

[Padpork]

I am leaning towards this design ;-)

Image

Why not like this? External power brick would solve everything!!

It would allow more space for discrete graphics and a better airflow. They could also thin it down if they wanted to.

 

[hleewell]

Why not like this? External power brick would solve everything!!

It would allow more space for discrete graphics and a better airflow. They could also thin it down if they wanted to.

Image

The flat horizontal design is great if you want to use it as media center, slot it underneath your 50" LCD but if you want to place your Mini on a desk, you want something narrow and shallow, hence the rest of the internals have to go vertical, hence Mac Mini Tower.

 

[ivnj]

The flat horizontal design is great if you want to use it as media center, slot it underneath your 50" LCD but if you want to place your Mini on a desk, you want something narrow and shallow, hence the rest of the internals have to go vertical, hence Mac Mini Tower.

Exactly

 

[Omnius]

Precise shape desired is going to largely be a user specific issue. The current form factor works great with my crappy desk at school. It's precise shape matters less at home where i have a huge desk.

 

[hleewell]

Why not like this? External power brick would solve everything!!

It would allow more space for discrete graphics and a better airflow. They could also thin it down if they wanted to.

Image

Nice photoshopping !
Mini is as thin as it can go
Going any thinnner has little benefit
IMHO, Apple is free to do whatever they want to do
with this line up but they cannot ignore a rather
substantial fan base for a desktop media center
If you wonder around forum like Head Fi, people are
using Mac Mini as a digital media source for their
audiophile setup, headphone listening station


http://www.head-fi.org/t/397869/pictures-of-your-computer-rigs-post-them-here

 

[Cape Dave]

Question... Is the back off the mini at this time?

Hey everyone.

I've noticed that a lot of people (including me) are having problems with high temperatures and fan noise while doing more intensive tasks with the Mac Mini.

Now, I've seen people putting the Mac Mini on the notebook cooler or vertical stand reduces problem a bit, so I combined those 2 into this solution.

Basically.

The bottom part of the stand would have a "hole" whit a few plastic clips so the Mini can snap in and fit firmly.

The long vertical part would be sort of a box with 2 metal meshes on each side...a dust filter and a 120mm fan which would blow cold air in.

Also the plastic bottom of the Mini would be removed to fit into this stand.

Tell me what you think guys. Anyone got a suggestions?

Pictures.

1 > http://i3.minus.com/ibw5Lijpt4cqYs.png
2 > http://i3.minus.com/ibzxaCGLHES5mz.png

Image

Image

 

[Padpork]

Question... Is the back off the mini at this time?

You mean the bottom? Yes it would be taken off to fit into the stand and internals would instead be protected with a metal mesh+dust filter.

 

[Padpork]

Nice photoshopping !
Mini is as thin as it can go
Going any thinnner has little benefit
IMHO, Apple is free to do whatever they want to do
with this line up but they cannot ignore a rather
substantial fan base for a desktop media center
If you wonder around forum like Head Fi, people are
using Mac Mini as a digital media source for their
audiophile setup, headphone listening station

I just cut it in half and moved bottom half up.

I also like the current look and size of the mini, its perfect...but knowing Apple they probably plan to strip it down a bit.

 

[hleewell]

I just cut it in half and moved bottom half up.

I also like the current look and size of the mini, its perfect...but knowing Apple they probably plan to strip it down a bit.

I am excited with what Apple is gonna do when it is time for a "tick" upgrade of form factor. The new Airport is not for everybody (1st time I hear my friends say "Fugly!" at Apple products) but it is Apple continuously experimenting with new form factor. The diagonal alignment of the HDD is clever.

 

[opinio]

You might want to familiarise your self with Apple's patented cooling system in the mini before you start cutting the base apart. You want to make sure your design works with Apple's airflow as it was designed.

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...mini-from-design-to-removable-hard-drive.html

See this webpage half way down.

You need to note the sealed and unsealed sections in the base. Or are you simply going to pump air into the mini? If that is the case you might put strain on the fan if you get the flow of the air wrong.

 

[thestickman]

You might want to familiarise your self with Apple's patented cooling system in the mini before you start cutting the base apart. You want to make sure your design works with Apple's airflow as it was designed.

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...mini-from-design-to-removable-hard-drive.html

See this webpage half way down.

You need to note the sealed and unsealed sections in the base. Or are you simply going to pump air into the mini? If that is the case you might put strain on the fan if you get the flow of the air wrong.

Tis' an interesting bit of info there. Yesterday, after seeing the temps hit 191F while testing a small project in Pro Tools 11 (few tracks hardly any plugins) I realized I could no longer use my 2012 i7 mini in my studio as I had originally planned. In fact, now I wish I hadn't bought it at all.

Within spec or not. The life of the device will not be extended by running at such high temps in a professional environment. Should have saved up for a new iMac instead.

Now it sits in the living room for general surfing & email. SMH....

 

[Padpork]

You might want to familiarise your self with Apple's patented cooling system in the mini before you start cutting the base apart. You want to make sure your design works with Apple's airflow as it was designed.

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...mini-from-design-to-removable-hard-drive.html

See this webpage half way down.

You need to note the sealed and unsealed sections in the base. Or are you simply going to pump air into the mini? If that is the case you might put strain on the fan if you get the flow of the air wrong.

Yes I am aware of this and I tested it by putting a "flat" notebook cooler with vertically and attaching the Mini to it.

I tried different fan speeds on the notebook cooler and ~400 RPM worked the best.

My CPU Temperatures dropped :
from ~55 C to ~40 C while doing light tasks
from ~80 C to ~60 C while under load (rendering a video)

The minis fan was also surprisingly silent.

But, I noticed that as I increased the RPM of the notebook coolers fan the temperatures started rising to the usual while at highest rpm (1800) the temps were even a few C higher because the CPU fans airflow was disrupted.

 

[opinio]

Yes I am aware of this and I tested it by putting a "flat" notebook cooler with vertically and attaching the Mini to it.

I tried different fan speeds on the notebook cooler and ~400 RPM worked the best.

My CPU Temperatures dropped :
from ~55 C to ~40 C while doing light tasks
from ~80 C to ~60 C while under load (rendering a video)

The minis fan was also surprisingly silent.

But, I noticed that as I increased the RPM of the notebook coolers fan the temperatures started rising to the usual while at highest rpm (1800) the temps were even a few C higher because the CPU fans airflow was disrupted.

You may be missing my point...

There is a sealed section and unsealed section under the black base of the mini. The unsealed section is the section covering the wifi grill which is also the intake for the cooling system, and there is a sealed section for the main chamber which has the fan, heat sink CPU etc. the fan does not blow, it draws air from the unsealed chamber. The process of drawing air through the mini and pushing it out the back, and most importantly through the heat sink channels is the design.

So that is why I ask... Are you going to work with apples design and only pump air into the intake section of the wifi grill area or are you simply going to pump bulk air into the complete mini opening with the base off? The latter seems risky. It might drop CPU temps but you have many other temp points. Also you could get the flow of air all wrong.

I think you should only pump air into the intake chamber.

 

[Photics]

I've noticed that a lot of people (including me) are having problems with high temperatures and fan noise while doing more intensive tasks with the Mac Mini.

Wow, this thread surprised me. I didn't know the Mac Mini was having cooling issues. I have a Mac Mini (early) 2009 and it's really quiet. It doesn't seem to get too hot either.

Although, I didn't realize that the power brick is gone in the newer models.

I crawled under my desk to check how hot the power brick is. I'm surprised, it's not that hot. This is surprising. I wasn't imagining that my older Mac Mini was better at heat management than the newer Mac Mini.

So, this seems like the start of a kickstarter project. I'm not looking for a vertical stand for my Mac Mini. I'm not sure if enough people are too. Maybe if I wanted to have my Mac Mini sit vertically, this might be more useful for me. I like it lying flat though.

Tell me what you think guys. Anyone got a suggestions?

That lip on the side might provide more balance, but it doesn't seem that attractive to me. Maybe that extra space could be for mounting an external super drive.

Also, this reminds me of the Game Console cooling stations. I didn't know that was really necessary. That's my feeling about this idea. I'm not sure how necessary it really is.

I thought I read on this forum that putting a Mac Mini vertically was actually cooler... as long as the power plug was on top. (I think there was a link to Mac Mini Colo, showing their setup.)

 

[Omnius]

The 2011 gets to about 191 degrees. It operates fine for extended periods at that temp. I assume if you were using the mini in a hot ambient room, it would get hotter and throttle but these days everyone has AC.