[comp.sys.mac] Summary: MacFans

cl1x#@andrew.cmu.edu.UUCP (04/13/87)

Sorry I took so long, but I was kinda expecting a larger turnout.
Nevertheless, all my thanks to the people who replied.

The Kensington System Saver Mac "won" hands down.  People who have them have
no complaints.

Another that were recommended was Mac'N Fronst ("...the quietest one I could
find...seems to have a better surge supressor than most").

One not recommended was MaxChill because it cools only the right side of the
Mac.  The writer reverted to his original routine: "Plug in an external fan
and point it at the top of the Mac (I usually keep it on low :) "

Appearently, I missed the discussion on other types of fans.  Piezos were
said to be less efficient at moving air, which, I guess, is kinda important.
Right?

Anyway, I settled down on a System Saver from MacConnection who proceeded to
ship  it rather quickly.  Now, if only my 512 ==> 1mb Dove upgrade (ordered
from Programs Plus) can get here before I die....

Personally, though, I would like to see a Mac magazine doing a more
quantitative comparison of Macintosh fans (hint. hint.).

---Ken

Arpa, Bitnet:  cl1x@andrew.cmu.edu

zrm@eddie.MIT.EDU (Zigurd R. Mednieks) (04/18/87)

There are some fundamental questions I would like to raise about the
desirablity of putting an aftermarket fan on one's Macintosh:

	1)	Can a fan do harm to a Macintosh? All the fans I have
		seen suck unfiltered air through the machine. They draw
		the air not only through the bottom side vents, but the
		floppy dirve as well. Do the greased parts of the floppy
		or the read/write head like this treatment?

	2)	Are fans effective in all parts of the Macintosh? Try the
		following experiment: Light a cigarette and puff some smoke
		toward the top vents of a Macintosh with an add-on fan.
		The smoke will probably be drawn down into the Macintosh.
		So, do fans really work, or do they just muck up the
		convection cooling (or is it a little of both)?

	3)	Is a Macintosh wothout a hard disk inside it really in need
		of a fan? My home machine was upgraded to 2Mb from 512k
		and I passed on the fan because of my doubts on items 1)
		and 2). It still computes as happily as ever. Do I really
		need a fan?

	4)	Catching fire is not always a symptom of overheating. What
		really causes analog boards to burn down?

-Zigurd