Fixing a minor design fault with the Dell Dimension 4300 - 5000 series.

So I'm poking around inside my dell dimension 5000, deciding what I should do as to ram upgrades, since the processor is fast as is and dells mobos aren't overclockable or that changeable.

I burnt my hand on the massive heat sink for the CPU and realized that the whole computer is really hot, after a quick and technical airflow test (sticking my hands in different places) I figured out that the single massive fan at the front isn't pushing enough air out the back vents, thankfully it's all pretty clean inside since the fan pulls in from the front vent that is six inches off the floor, rather than the usual floor level ones.

Step 1 Tools and materials.

You'll need:

One 10 or 12cm fan, I nicked one from an old power supply but if you want control over it get a smart fan, I have found that there isn't any appreciable noise difference and it's quieter during normal operation since the massive fan at the front isn't going at full speed.

A pair of wire clippers or a molex jack, I had to use wire clippers since I had no jacks around to fit the spare one.

Some tape or heat shrink for insulating wires...

Comments

[Bongmaster]

the 4600 draws air out the back thru the cpu heatsing using a green plastic port.

http://reviews.cnet.com/sc/30529709-2-300-internal-5.gif

the fan is just behind the heatsink under the green bit. works well, but i added a fan in front of the heatsink to cool itmore after i added more hard drives then the case could hold :3 also a fan in the front cover.

[zack247]

dont forget about the 4500

[killerjackalope]

Oh right, I don't have a 4600 so I didn't notice, my mates 4300 is the same basic construction, the idea's solid but the air just never makes it out the end, when I do the ram and possibly add a second HDD I'll consider re-working the fan system, maybe get a blower and remove the fans to make something a bit more beefy, not a huge sound difference... there is room for a medium fan at the top which would drag heat away from the top of the case and from the not so cleverly planned PSU which pulls air in the back...

[Bongmaster]

yea airflow is important in these machines one fan in the wrong place and it gets pretty warm :D

[killerjackalope]

Yeah, I can see how they planned it to work but they just took the quiet route instead of slamming air through it properly, to top it off the put in a harddrive that drowns out the noise of a big desk fan nevermind one extra 10cm fan. Clearly lateral thinking...

[Hycro]

Yes, I've noticed most computer desks out there either have the tower placed almost on the floor, have it placed on the floor, or will have it in a cabinet with a door on the front, and very little room in the back panel of the desk for any kind of ventilation at all, and most people almost never clean the dust out of their case, and then wonder why their computer stopped working. My computer is about 3' off the floor, and it still sucks up quite a bit of dust at times.

[DJ Radio]

huh, good tip, but too bad there aren't any more dimensions to fix, dell discontinued the line a few months ago

[killerjackalope]

Aye but plenty of people have them...