Mid 2010 fan variations.

[ChrisOSX]

So a while back I swapped out my good i5 2.4 to a i7 2.66. All good, noticeable difference in performance.

My only downside that I have found is with minimal apps and a second monitor via mini display port to vga (ew I know), heat can become an issue. Not thermal damaging issue, but runs more then I would like.

Age plays a factor in this I know, along with connecting styles. However, I have noticed between the 2 boards, that while both sets of fans appear identical, and mount in the same location, I realize the fins are different between the set.

The i5 appears larger but maybe less fins. The i7 looks like shorter and maybe more fins.

Other than blindly swapping them out to see which perform better, my question is, does it really even matter?

Thoughts? Thank you.

 

[Queen6]

If the TDP of the CPU's are the same, like as not so will be the performance of the fans.

Q-6

 

[ChrisOSX]

If the TDP of the CPU's are the same, like as not so will be the performance of the fans.

Q-6

Sooo pretty much stay with what the board came with?

Seems the larger fins would push more air. Sound may vary but that’s a non issue for me.

 

[Queen6]

That's what I'd do, but if all stripped out no harm to try. I recon both the i5 & i7 have the same TDP. Is also worth noting the OEM's have multiple supply sources. In the case of the fan; dimension, power, RPM, noise & reliability are of concern. Apple just want the OEM to meet the described spec. Think the only differnce you'll see is a frequency change in the fans noise.

Has to be said Mac's run hot as that's how Apple designed them. I've written a lot here in the past. Mostly to minimise the fan noise on 15" MBP's, which can be painful. Temp I wouldn't worry as that is part of Apple's consideration in the design.

My last Intel 13" (2014) was an i5 as the i7 tends to run hotter and unless skipping generations just around 10% - 13% faster. My latest M1 totally different wavelength

Bench test it and see what runs cooler, but be mindful of the ambient temp.

Q-6

 

[ChrisOSX]

That's what I'd do, but if all stripped out no harm to try. I recon both the i5 & i7 have the same TDP. Is also worth noting the OEM's have multiple supply sources. In the case of the fan; dimension, power, RPM, noise & reliability are of concern. Apple just want the OEM to meet the described spec. Think the only differnce you'll see is a frequency change in the fans noise.

Has to be said Mac's run hot as that's how Apple designed them. I've written a lot here in the past. Mostly to minimise the fan noise on 15" MBP's, which can be painful. Temp I wouldn't worry as that is part of Apple's consideration in the design.

My last Intel 13" (2014) was an i5 as the i7 tends to run hotter and unless skipping generations just around 10% - 13% faster. My latest M1 totally different wavelength

Bench test it and see what runs cooler, but be mindful of the ambient temp.

Q-6

Haven't ran a bench test yet, but preliminary results are positive.

Since that last picture, things have been pretty torn apart. My initial goal was to re-do the thermal compound under the heat-sink and deep clean. All of that I accomplished. I didn't notice the fans/fins until it was time for reassembly.

From the picture you can tell the obvious differences in the style of the fans/fins. Looking at it closer, I realize the i5 fans are brushless motors. The i7 is not. Thinking about tools and drills, brushless has the advantage over non. So I popped them apart and cleaned them up. The fins popped out like the motors on my pet water fountain.

Stuff seems butter smooth and temps right now have not passed 160F. Granted I'm configuring a new battery (swollen) for optimizing charge cycles, so I don't have AC power connected. I plan on it jumping up, more power more heat. But I don't suspect it go further then before ripping stuff apart (180-210F).

We'll see how it goes 👍