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How can I add a fan to a Dell?
Thursday, 21 December, 2006
I have a "Dell Dimension 3000" with an RU E210882 (Not sure if that's its model number) motherboard and 2.8 GHz processor.
The PC gets really hot. The main reason for this, as you probably know, Dell uses just a single fan with a duct over it to draw air through the CPU heat sink, which also acts as a case fan.
I also have another PC that has a ASUS motherboard, P4SGX – MX with a crappy 1.8 GHz Celeron. So what I want to do is add the fan from the Celeron PC to the Dell PC.
The only problem is that good old Dells aren't that upgradeable and there are no extra ports that I can plug another fan into. My aim is to leave the Dell fan as a case fan, take off the duct and put the Celeron fan straight on the heat sink (like it is now on the Celeron PC)
The fan on the Celeron PC has a 3 ping power source (Black/Green/Yellow) if it matters.
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
(PS: I first got PC User magazine via a free subscription with my credit card. I thought I would take a look, but I will definitely be happy to pay for the rest.)
Ryan Gale, ,
 I'm not familiar with your Dell but I'm sure some other readers will be able to help with some advice.
Meanwhile, here are a few things that occur to me.
- Dell is a huge manufacturer of PC's. I'd be surprised if the cooling system built in would be absolutely unusable. As the box comes to you I'd be surprised if it runs excessively hot. Perhaps you've added a lot of gear to the box, such as a high-power graphics card?
- If the PC really is poorly designed, you would have a claim on Dell to fix it.
- I assume you've checked to make sure there's nothing wrong with the fan such as dust clogging?
- The way you describe the existing cooling sounds sensible to me. It should work efficiently.
- If you do want to add another fan, then buy one from a dealer. They're ridiculously cheap. Why cannibalise a working PC.
- Have you rung Dell to ask if they have any advice? If the PC is in warranty, it certainly won't be once you make the changes.
- If you want to add a fan, there are other ways to get the power. If you can't get a power adaptor, any computer technician could make one for you, or probably install the fan for little extra.
- Have you already done something that might affect the cooling? For instance, have you taken a side off the PC? That can reduce the cooling, not increase it.
So, has anyone had experience with cooling this model? Paul Zucker
 Reader solutions
William LaingPosted: 10/01/2009 re: How can I add a fan to a Dell? There usually are several power plugs in the bundel coming from the power unit that aren't being used by accessories such as extra HDD's and DVD players. Ahlot of fans come with a small plug that will fit into one of these four pin power plugs. They usually only use two pins to power the fan since it only needs 3-5 volts to run. Some fans will actually come with more than one plug type to use in anywhere you can plug it. I have two case fans other than the CPU and graphics card fans, that's four fans all exhausting heat. They both have led's in them to, and I didn't have to plug either one of them into the motherboard, just picked out one of the power plugs. randomPosted: 01/01/2007 re: How can I add a fan to a Dell? i have a dell 2400 its junk how can i put in a case fan? it has this weird fan with like a cover thingy n things? it stopped working how can i put in a new fan?
(Take it to a repairer or PC shop with a service desk. They should be able to do it on the spot. =PZ) daveyPosted: 24/12/2006 re: How can I add a fan to a Dell? you may want to take the box to a technician and ask advice. for instance, the existing fan may be underpowered and could be replaced. BollPosted: 24/12/2006 re: How can I add a fan to a Dell? I have one of those, plus a 3D graphics card, and it runs fine. However, you may want to check inside that shroud. I check mine occasionally because it gets clogged with fluff. Aren HarrisPosted: 21/12/2006 re: How can I add a fan to a Dell? Hi Ryan,
I suppose that what your trying to do may not be advisible.do you know that if you play alot of 3D games it can actually make the computers heat rise by about 5-10 Degrees. i would suggest that you can send the system over to dell (i did that once and my problem was solved) and they should fix your problem, if not then you should go to your local computer store in town and ask the person
at the sales desk about the problem and tell them that you've tried dell for techinical support and then tell them the problem which will probally be what the sales person will ask you.
hope you can have it fixed!?
Aren
(Dell are looking into the problem for us too. -PZ) |