So noted Mark. But I am sitting with my 9600 side door pointed right at me at floor level. and I can't hear it . I can feel the air pushed out side and back so I know the fans are running. At the 300 MHz level it does not seem to be very hot . But when I upgrade I'll reverse the fan somehow.
The bottom fan is supposed to draw cooling air in from the outside and flood the bottom drive area, the PCI area, and the processor area with cool air.
You'd logically think so, but Apple apparently don't think so. I confirmed by powering the fan in my 9600's door that the *labelled* side is the side that the fan blows *towards* in mine at least. I have 2 fans and both are the same.
With that in mind read this that my buddy sent me from the Service Manual's Take Apart section on the Side Access Door:
"Fan Assembly Note: The fan assembly is mounted to the inside of the side access panel. Before you begin, remove the side access panel. Important: Some original PM 8600 and 9600 units shipped without plastic baffles (p/n 922-3058). If no baffle is present, the fan will be installed as shown in the graphic at left, with the fan label facing out towards you. If you are replacing the fan in one of these units, you must order a baffle and install it before replacing the fan. (Note: all WS 9650 units will come with the baffle already installed.) Once the baffle is in place, the fan must be installed in the opposite direction, as shown here; that is, with the fan label facing in toward the sheet metal on the side access panel."
(all text in quotes is � Copyright Apple Computer and is used herein purely for educational purposes)
I, and my buddy are confused. As everyone here has just about agreed, having it blow into the case makes megatons more sense. It seems however that Apple insisted that the fans were refitted the "wrong" way around if replaced and that later machines actually came configured the "wrong" way around. Mine included, from memory I recall my 9600 did indeed come with a baffle and the fan fitted label side *in* facing the metal shield. And it did blow out, not in. Suffice to say it doesn't any more.
---------------------------------- This "Which direction should the fan move air in a 9600 case" issue comes up from time to time and there is always confusion caused by Apple's contradictory instructions.
Here is the bottom line. If you have a 9600 you should have the side door fan blowing air INTO the case because the fan at the rear of the power supply exhausts air OUT of the top of the case. Cool air comes in over the components that need it, rises up, and is exhausted out the top of the case.
I have six 9600's configured this way and they have been happily laboring away for years, stuffed full of every heat generating device I could find to put in them. If you have a 9600 with the side door fan blowing air out of the case, it might work for your specific configuration, but there is a risk and this is not the configuration that should be advised for anyone who is upgrading.
There is no need to be confused. Side door fan brings air in, top back power supply fan exhausts air out. If you add fans, follow this air flow pattern. Front drive bay fans should draw air in. Bottom rear PCI bay fans can draw air out if they are positioned so that they draw air right off a hot running hard drive.
-- James K Morgan
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