68kMLA Classic Interface

This is a version of the 68kMLA forums for viewing on your favorite old mac. Visitors on modern platforms may prefer the main site.

Click here to select a new forum.
SE/30 External Cooling Option?
Posted by: Admiral Ackbar on 2025-05-24 19:01:58
Hi all. From what I have read so far, the Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX 60x25mm fan is the thing to have in an SE/30 in 2025. However, it also appears to require a lot of disassembly and soldering that I'm not comfortable doing. Can anyone point me to search terms for products that give external cooling to SE/30 machines, kind of like the Kensington things that were so prolific for the Mac+ and older machines?


Thanks.
Posted by: zigzagjoe on 2025-05-24 20:14:37
Hi all. From what I have read so far, the Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX 60x25mm fan is the thing to have in an SE/30 in 2025. However, it also appears to require a lot of disassembly and soldering that I'm not comfortable doing. Can anyone point me to search terms for products that give external cooling to SE/30 machines, kind of like the Kensington things that were so prolific for the Mac+ and older machines?


Thanks.
If your internal fan is functioning then you're fine. The SE30 was designed for active cooling so there's no vents to stick an additional fan on and have it done anything worthwhile. The reason people like noctua swaps is to reduce noise rather than increase cooling.
Posted by: jasonfortheworld on 2025-06-03 15:58:32
Zigzagjoe has it right. But on the off chance you want to swap out the fan already in the SE/30 anyway then you can use this Noctua fan kit that includes a molex connector that plug directly into the analog board of the computer without any soldering:


It uses the same connection that the hard drive uses for power, so if you still need power for the hard drive, then you can use a molex splitter like this to power both the fan and hard drive:

Posted by: djc6 on 2025-06-04 03:41:46
I bought this Noctua fan and the molex adapter has a pass through connector for the hard drive - no need to buy a splitter:


This post has some more info and link to video showing version of Noctua fan that doesn’t require soldering:

https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/macintosh-se-30-m5119-restoration.48991/post-550965
Posted by: Admiral Ackbar on 2025-06-04 09:32:00
I bought this Noctua fan and the molex adapter has a pass through connector for the hard drive - no need to buy a splitter:
[snip]
Awesome, thank you!
1