toma@bit.UUCP (Tom Arneberg) (10/11/90)
Here is a summary of the E-mail I received regarding using a fan in a Mac
Plus after upgrading to 4 Meg. If you want an "executive summary", it's
that a fan is no more needed with 4 Meg than it was with 1 Meg, but should
extend the life of the hardware in either case.
For me, I use my Mac in a corner bedroom of my home, which is usually at
62-68 deg F, so I think I'll take my chances (since it's worked fine for
the last 4.5 years w/o a fan and I seldom use it for more than an hour
or two at a time.)
Thanks to all those who responded!
- Tom Arneberg
########################### ORIGINAL POSTING ###########################
## I've been reading the thread on the need for a fan in a Mac Plus...since
## mine is nearing its fifth birthday and I'm about to go to 4 meg of RAM,
## I suppose it's time I put a fan in it.
##
## But what brand? Where should I buy it? Should I get an internal or external?
## I'm partial to an inexpensive one, but not too noisy. I also think it
## would be nice to be able to turn it off without turning off the Mac,
## if it gets too irritating. (After all, it's not really NEEDED, it just
## will make the Mac last longer [right?].)
##
## Please E-mail your responses to me and I will post a summary. (Let me
## know if you prefer to remain anonymous, otherwise I'll give credits.)
##
## (NOTE: I haven't been reading this newsgroup for very long...sorry if
## this topic has already been discussed recently.)
##
##+----------o----+-------------------------+----------------------------------+
##| o o | Thomas R. Arneberg | #include <std_disclaimer.h> |
##| \O/ | Senior CAD Engineer +----------------------------------+
##| jugglers | | Bipolar Integrated Tech.| bit!toma@cse.ogi.edu |
##| unite! / \ | Beaverton, Oregon | ...!{ogicse,sun,decwrl}!bit!toma |
##+---------------+-------------------------+----------------------------------+
#############################################################################
from John Price * * * * price@dbnpib5.bitnet
FYI, I have a Mac Plus with 4Meg RAM, and I don't have a fan.
It's on a *lot*, and I've seen no problems whatsoever. Not that I'm
trying to dissuade you from buying one - I've been meaning to get one,
but haven't gotten around to it - but I thought you might like to know.
#############################################################################
from Brian Aslakson
Get the book "The Macintosh Bible" by A. Naiman (yes the same one from
the fortune program). There is a big section on fans (and much more).
The MacChimmney guy is out of business (graduated) (The two free updates
mention that).
#############################################################################
From ogicse!rutgers!elbereth.rutgers.edu!joseph (Seymour)
Putting 4 meg of ram in a plus does not increase the part count at
all. You will be removing 4 older 256k parts during the installation.
Also, if you buy new 1 meg simms, they will probably be smaller than
the parts they are replacing, and more power efficient.
If you want a fan, buy a fan, but not because you are upgrading your
RAM...
#############################################################################
From philbo@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu
You really seem to only have two choices for a fan for the plus; the fanny
mac, and the Kensington fan.
The fanny mac is smaller (it fits inside the 'handle' on top of the
mac, rather than on and over), and cheaper($55 at MacConnection
instead of $63 (not a big deal, I know). It's not too loud (I can't
hear it over my HD, but hey, I have a PowerDrive--The loudest hard
drive in the knowne world)... You can plug the fan in seperately from
the mac, so you can shut the puppy off if you need to.
#############################################################################
From Tom.Lane@G.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Thu Sep 27 14:38:59 1990
I've been using a Kensington System Saver Mac for about
four years with my Plus. Still works great. It's not
really *silent*, but the ones that are don't move much air.
#############################################################################
From ogicse!rutgers!ac.dal.ca!IRELAND Fri Sep 28 06:13:10 1990
I have a very old Mac Plus with 4 megs of RAM myself. My Plus runs pretty
hot so I want to put a fan in it. Have you seen the book "Macintosh
Repair and Upgrade Secrets" by Larry Pina? It has quite a bit of information
on putting fans in Mac Plus's and has lots of other good information. I'd
recommend getting it. Will save you a lot of money if you do some repairs
yourself or makes you a more informed consumer if you have your mac serviced
by somebody else. A friend of mine just put a $20 fan in his new Mac Plus,
says it runs cooler now and took very little time to install. The previously
mentioned book recommends that if you don't install an internal fan, at least
that you cool your plus by pointing an external room fan at it. I have done
this and am amazed at how effective this is.
#############################################################################
From ogicse!emory!bagend!jan Sat Sep 29 11:04:46 1990
>I'm partial to an inexpensive one, but not too noisy. I also think it
>would be nice to be able to turn it off without turning off the Mac,
>if it gets too irritating. (After all, it's not really NEEDED, it just
>will make the Mac last longer [right?].)
Well... seems to me that if it will make the hardware last longer,
it *is* needed.
My plus has a Novy 25MHz 020 board in it so it *really* needs a fan.
I use a Kennsington System Saver. It provides ample venting and is the
quietest one I have seen. It has been used almost daily for 3 years
with no problems. It provides a switch for the Plus and 2 power
connectors. I have the hard disk plugged into one and a modem in the other.
It is real quiet, moves plenty of air.
Looks kind of like this: sits on top inside the handle.
________ ________________________
| -- -- | <----switches--->| fan ^ \
___________________________ _|______________________ \
/ _______________________ \ / \ \
| / \ | | *** holes inside | |
| | | | | the handle where |--
| | | | | the fan draws air | ^
| | | | | from. | | power
| | | | | | connetors
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| \_______________________/ | |__ |
| _______________________ | \ |
| | \ |
| ------- | | |
| | | |
--------------------------- ------------------------
There is a "fanny mac" that fits flush with the top, does not stick
up. The ones that I have seen were quite a bit louder than this one.
MacUser reviewed fans many years ago. The Kennsington moved as much
air or more than the others and made less noise... it sold me.
#############################################################################
From ogicse!ccu.umanitoba.ca!ummorea0 Sun Sep 30 17:21:45 1990
I orderd the bought the System Saver Mac by Kensington. I am not very impressed
The first on that I orderd made a real rattling noise, so I sent it back. The replacement made the same noise, so I assume that it is just a noisy fan. I makes turning your mac on and off alot easier. It has a built in power bar in the back that will
run the mac,and two other things such as a printer and hard drive. All of wich can be controled from the front of the computer.
In general If you don;t mind the noise, It is a good fan.