DSM-G600, DNS-3xx and NSA-220 Hack Forum
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#1 2007-08-13 23:53:40
Ghetto cooling mod for the DNS-323
While waiting for my DNS-323 to arrive by mail, I prepared a ghetto cooling solution for the unit.
I have my doubts about the tiny 40mm fan being quiet and generally good enough, so I made this from a water bottle and some fans I had lying around. The pyramid shape is supposed to give clearance for the drive eject levers. I hope it fits.
The plan is to remove the build-in fan from the unit, cut the finger guard out and screw the new fan assembly on from the inside through some holes drilled in the backplate (the whole thing sticking out backwards).
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#2 2007-08-14 03:10:38
- transient
- Member
- Registered: 2007-05-30
- Posts: 10
Re: Ghetto cooling mod for the DNS-323
nifty and fun 
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#3 2007-08-18 21:58:29
Re: Ghetto cooling mod for the DNS-323
I finally got time to complete the modification. More pictures below.
I measured the voltage to the build-in 40mm fan, and the system board supplies 2.x volts to the fan during normal operation and maxes out at around 5 volts at startup and I guess when the system heats up enough. Plugging a standard 12 volt CPU fan on the unit would obviously result in a rather slow-running fan, but it seems that the system board also reads the RPMs from the larger fan and tries to compensate for the seemingly low (if it still had the 40mm) RPMs by giving all it got (5 volts) to the fan. This results in a nicely quiet-running 70mm fan that still moves more air than the 40mm fan. Of course your mileage may vary, and I take no responsibility for stalling fans and overheating units.
Drilled some holes in the backplate and remove the finger guard section from the fan opening.
Gutted an old 40mm fan I had lying around and used it as a duct for the air, replacing the build-in fan.
The external fan assembly is screwed on from the inside, wires through the extra hole to the existing three-pin connector.
It isn't pretty, but it works.
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#4 2007-08-19 11:14:40
- Xepol
- Member
- Registered: 2007-04-16
- Posts: 13
Re: Ghetto cooling mod for the DNS-323
I just take of the front face plate and point the fan into the device. This addresses a cooling problem that the current fan and its vent location utterly fails to address - the underside of the circuit board.
It isn't just the drives that get warm and the underside of the circuitboard holds plenty of circuitry to get warm as well. The default cooling design unforunately creates a stagnant pocket of hot air that doesn't circulate any where near as well as would be desirable. Ulitmately, I think a hole needs cut in the bottom and inward blowing fan added, with legs to create clearance for airflow AND a hole cut and fan mounted on the top as well (probably venting out).
There is no question however that the default cooling is inadequate in the extreme and any improvement is significant.
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#5 2007-08-19 11:50:44
- gartylad
- Member
- Registered: 2007-01-15
- Posts: 30
Re: Ghetto cooling mod for the DNS-323
The air flow IS designed to cool the underside of the board. The air-in slot is at the bottom of the fron plate, and directs the air acroos the bottom of the circuit board.
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#6 2007-08-19 12:07:55
- gartylad
- Member
- Registered: 2007-01-15
- Posts: 30
Re: Ghetto cooling mod for the DNS-323
I have managed to fit another 40mm fan (a tight squeeze) into the back of the unit, although the cable runs acrosss this does not conflict with the drive eject mechanism and all works fine.
Have not quite sorted how to wire it up yet. I joined the new fans cable to the connector (no yellow cable for the second fan), but when started there was not quite enough power to start the fans up. My try wiring in 'series' but i'm just guessing really. Any Ideas???
I've also added a few small ram heatsinks to the board, which I had laying around, and the softest silicon feet to stop the vibrition though my desk.
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