Fan noise after installing 2nd HDD

[Noud]

I have a late 2006 mini and I recently replaced the HDD with a SSD, and moved the HDD into the slot where the optical drive used to be (using a caddy)

All works well, expect that the fan seems to be hyperactive. It is not running high revs constantly, but it doesn't take much for the fan to go to speeds of over 5000 rpm. Light browsing to a site containing flash is enough for the fan to make its presence known.
I checked CPU temperatures but they may only be around 40 degrees celcius when this happens, so nothing excessive.

When removing the secondary HDD + caddy, fan behavior goes back to normal.

Leaving the casing off does not seem to make much difference.

Anyone any clues? Additional info: CPU was upgraded to T7600 2 years ago without complications.

[macmanmacman]

your using a caddy is your problem.

the 2006 mac mini was known for this issue when a cd drive is in place theres a natural vent the fan can vent from around the cd drive when you use a caddy you cant vent around the cd drive sorry it's just the way it is why didn't you just install the ssd as a external box via firewire you would be better off

[Noud]

I believe I solved it. I took out the caddy and compared the dimensions to the original DVD drive. I could not see any differences in size.

What I did notice is that the caddy was closed off on the side where one would insert a DVD. Perhaps that opening is used to get outside air into the casing.

I decided to remove the little black side panel, and for good measure also took off the top cover from the caddy.

Now the fan in my mini is back to its normal quiet mode of operation.



Thanks to macman for pointing me in the right direction.

[blazer]

Yeah, you're better off with the top being more open for ventilation. I kind of ran into some of the same issues, back in the day, after doing both upgrades. It was smooth sailing after that though.
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[macmanmacman]

awesome glad you got it