• Registered: 2014-05-08
  • Posts: 6

Topic: Quiet Thunderbolt Enclosure for MADI FX pcie card

Hi everyone,  I'm moving my studio setup from an old Mac Pro to a new iMac and have tried a couple of different enclosures for the MADI FX, singles and duals, and ALL of them have a terrible fan noise that's too loud to be in the control rom with me.. The card works great in all enclosures, I just can't find a quiet one for it.  Any ideas? I've replace the fan in my OWC Helios single slot (which is what I'd like to keep it in) but it's still too loud.  Is there long term harm to card if I just unplug the fan?  Thanks for your time and knowledge..

  • cyrano
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • From: Belgium
  • Registered: 2015-04-28
  • Posts: 701

Re: Quiet Thunderbolt Enclosure for MADI FX pcie card

Why don't you buy a thermo controlled fan?

I'm sure a Pabst one will be much, much quieter. Even quieter than the iMac you're using. And it won't break the bank either. Have a look here:

http://www.ebmpapst.us/en/

These are available via Mouser, Farnell and even on ebay.

MB Pro - 2 X FireFace 400, FF800 & DigiFace USB
ADAT gear: Korg, Behri, Fostex, Alesis...

cyrano's Website

  • Registered: 2014-05-08
  • Posts: 6

Re: Quiet Thunderbolt Enclosure for MADI FX pcie card

I put a Rasurbo fan in as a replacement..it was about half the volume of the original one, but still too loud.. I'll look at these. Thanks for the link.

  • Registered: 2014-05-08
  • Posts: 6

Re: Quiet Thunderbolt Enclosure for MADI FX pcie card

I really don't know anything about fan replacement, other that it's a 2 pin connection in this enclosure.  How does the thermo control power up?

  • cyrano
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • From: Belgium
  • Registered: 2015-04-28
  • Posts: 701

Re: Quiet Thunderbolt Enclosure for MADI FX pcie card

There are kits for PC's with either manual or temp controlled speed regulation. You need to power them from the 2 pin connection for the fan and connect the new fan to the board.

These kits are available from PC shops, ebay, tao-bao...

Just find a place to fix the small board, find a good spot for the thermo sensor and plug in. There's usually a small pot to set the speed.

I wouldn't run the box without fan, as the switched power supply will probably overheat fast.

MB Pro - 2 X FireFace 400, FF800 & DigiFace USB
ADAT gear: Korg, Behri, Fostex, Alesis...

cyrano's Website

  • tzzsmk
  • tzzsmk
  • AES/EBU artist
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  • Registered: 2016-03-14
  • Posts: 139

Re: Quiet Thunderbolt Enclosure for MADI FX pcie card

why not get some Noctua fan? they are dead silent smile

HDSPe AIO, ADI-2 DAC, Fireface UFX, Octamic D, Octamic II
Reaper, Windows 11, M2 Studio