Introduction
This is a fan case for Minisforum UM790 pro with ports for external antennas. As the internal fan for SSD and Memory seems to often fail and has a pretty bad temperature curve without a proper hysteresis I decided to replace it with a 120mm fan as it kinda fits with the size of the mini PC.
It consists of two parts. One to house the fan and another one to mount to the top and hold the two antennas.
The fan itself connects via a USB cable to one usb port on the back of the mini PC. You can use pretty much any 120mm fan that connects via usb. I additionally added a filter to not suck dust into the PC.
Assembly
Top Part Assembly
- Print both of the parts. I printed them on a Bambu Labs P1C with default settings. The top part needs support (I enabled Tree supports which turned out fine)
- Screw the sma connectors of the two antennas into the 2 holes in the top part on the left and right side
- Remove the bottom lid of the UM790 – be careful with the cables
- Unplug the original fan
- Remove the WiFi card screw and slide off the plastic cover
- Attach the two mini connectors to the WiFi card (I did it outside of the case on a flat surface – it was easier)
- Attach the WiFi card back into the case
- Try to find resonable place for the cables so that they cannot hang downwards when the bottom part is assembled so they don’t touch the fan later
- Use the 4 original screws to to fit the top part onto the UM790 pro
Bottom Part Assembly
- First put the filter into the case
- Put the fan into the case so the fan direction will push air into the case
- From the outside, put the fan grill and screw the feet into the fan through the 4 holes of the 3d printed bottom case part
Final Assembly
- Put the top part with the UM790 onto the bottom part so they slide into each other
- attach the two antennas on the sides
Parts
120mm USB Fan
A 120mm fan that you can connect via USB.
Amazon.de: https://amzn.to/3RZcTu3 (partner link)
Dust filter for 120mm fans
Optional: A dust filter that stops the fan from pulling in dust particles from the bottom.
Amazon.de: https://amzn.to/41W7HvQ (partner link)
External Antennas
External antennas to connect Bluetooth and WiFi because the original antennas are embedded into the bottom case lid.
Amazon.de: https://amzn.to/47tY6NS (partner link)
Further Links
Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6432671
Hello, I chose PETG for printing, but it may not be the best material. The smaller piece tends to bend, and it doesn’t line up properly with the larger piece.
Is there a preferred printing material for this type of use, perhaps more rigid ?
Yes it was my first try. For me it works quite well but you are right it’s not aligning perfectly. The freecad files are published, so you could try to also fix it yourself if you know the tool.
Hi Pete,
I own the MinisForum UM790 Pro. It has developed a nasty fan noise. After searching the internet for a fix, I came across a posting on GitHub with a link to your solution for a fan housing. How can I get your product? Can I purchase one from you? How much would it cost to have it shipped to Canada? Please advise.
Alan Shiers
It’s not purchasable. You could find a friend with a 3d printer to print it for you.