Reddit reviews AC Infinity MULTIFAN S4, Quiet 140mm USB Fan for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling

I had the same issue watching twitch. I bought this - AC Infinity MULTIFAN S4, Quiet 140mm USB Fan for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Com... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MWH4FL4/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_MJcyDbNZ7YVMB

i sit the macmini on top blowing the air upwards. It has worked well.

Thanks for the clarification. Often helps frame things.

In general, it's far cheaper to just get Fire Stick 4Ks on all of your TVs to support direct play of 4K content. I say this because your new system is going to consume a lot more power, make more noise, and be a lot more expensive and still likely use subpar hardware transcoding to deliver streams. I made it a requirement that anyone who has access to my Plex MUST have a modern client. If I see someone transcoding, I kick em off. Obviously, if they are streaming on their phone that is different but that kind of transcode is not as bad a 4K. All plex users should implement this policy if you're providing such a wonderful service. :) You should do that either way as it will reduce the need for you to upgrade your next system faster. Transcoding is the ultimate killer of the CPU / computer.

In terms of your specific needs, and in response:

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1. Containers are really the best way to do this. I don't know what kind of playing you're looking to do, but even on your new rig, you'll want to toy with things, so I would look into containers like Docker to run stuff. I run 2 Mac Minis. I have a 2012 that does grunt work and a 2018 that is the primary PMS with direct play (I can do around 20-30 streams at a time).
   
2. Yes, all computers will struggle with this unless you're investing a lot of money *and* want multiple streams. See my blurb above. There is no better answer than to require your clients to be reasonably new (2017/2018+ clients can direct stream 264/265 and 2019+ can often to 4K and with the holiday's coming around the corner you'll be able to pick up 4K streamers for $20-30 bucks. Hard to beat.
   
   1. I would keep your Mini to do more grunt work. They consume very little power and run super cool. My 2012 i7 Mini does a lot and I just threw https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MWH4FL4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078PY8L9F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 next to the back vent and boom, the Mini doesn't sound like it is dying. Those fans can be daisy chained, too, and sit next to my Direct Attached Storage (24TB+).
      
   2. I use Thunderbolt to connect the two Mac Minis. 10gbps direct IP connection is kind of incredible, cheap, reliable and has enabled me to avoid slow gbit Ethernet for big file transfers between the grunt (torrents, etc) and the Plex.
      
3. I am not sure I know why you want to do this but I *feel* the desire myself to do this. I've opted to not, given I get the same speeds via USB-C, Thunderbolt, etc and prefer being able to pop them into different places. That being said, this feels like the biggest win compared to your current setup. FWIW.
   
4. Yes. I feel this one too. I have a ton of 265 content that has to get transcoded. Even with my new Mini running one of the better i7 passmarks + decent hardware transcoding, it's still slow. You should definitely look into a nice graphics card that can do multiple transcodes in parallel. I believe the popular video card I often seen linked to is the NVIDIA Quadro P2000 https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/accessories/apd/490-bdtn?mkwid=spUmcnowA&pcrid=101952148149&pkw=&pmt=&pdv=c&slid=&product=490-BDTN&pgrid=28021835709&pgrid=28021835709&ptaid=pla-954656674272&ptaid=pla-954656674272&VEN1=spUmcnowA,101952148149,901q5c14135,c,,490-BDTN,28021835709,pla-954656674272&VEN1=spUmcnowA,101952148149,901q5c14135,c,,490-BDTN,28021835709,pla-954656674272&VEN2=,&VEN2=,&dgc=st&dgc=st&dgseg=bsd&dgseg=so&acd=12309152537501410&acd=12309152537501410&cid=298721&st=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI39rF-bb-5QIVBMNkCh1qkA_uEAQYASABEgImm_D_BwE&lid=5704670&VEN3=261103480203799925
   
   Finally, you're rad for showing your kids how to build stuff. I was lucky to have an uncle show me early on and it changed my life for the better. I want to point out one final thing ... make sure you measure the Total Draw of Power on your new setup. I was a bit surprised when my power bill went up over $50/mo with some new items. When you go beyond Minis and External Drives, you get into beefier power supplies, video cards, etc and they pull real power. Video cards in particular, these days, can pull as much as that Mini (or so I've read but could have read wrong). Even at idle, a beefier setup will pull more power down. Minis are incredibly efficient given the few moving pieces. I manage to keep my Media Server portion of the electricity bill (living in Northern California) to <$85/mo for 2 Mac Minis, 2 external DAS (always spinning disks), Routers, sensors, etc. Happy with it for now.
   
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   Edit: I checked the passmark on your CPU and it looks pretty good: https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-8600+%40+3.10GHz&id=3251 but you will definitely need to rely on a video card for transcodes given that i5 passmark.
   
   Hope some of this is helpful.

yeah, plugging the egpu before turning it on helps me too.
im not sure about the cpu tem, but i have a external usb fan on both the laptop and the egpu. i do get around 54-58C on the gpu with the fan on. and about 60-70 with it off. ill link the fan below.

AC Infinity MULTIFAN S4, Quiet 140mm USB Fan for Receiver DVR Playstation Xbox Computer Cabinet Cooling https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MWH4FL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_90-QDbXKSY5QJ

Also, ive been experimenting on different set ups. currently i have a type c dock (charjen pro) it has a hdmi connector so i plugged it directly to the monitor. so far it seems promising (seems like it eliminated the stutter issue).

CharJenPro USB C Hub, Certified... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXKJC4M?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Fans will help a ton. There are audio-specific fan "plates" kind of like laptop fans, but I found these individual fans on Amazon that I like much better because they have so many more configuration options, like vertical for inside tight shelves: https://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-MULTIFAN-Receiver-Playstation/dp/B00MWH4FL4

They are fairly cheap and super quiet - about 17db, which is nothing. I have them on or under all of my amps.

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As for your sony - your speakers would benefit from both more power and better quality power - I'd either get a new receiver, or if you aren't ready for a huge purchase, get an amp off craigslist to run the klipsch. You can find NAD and other good brands for cheap used.

Just adding, my TV will be mounted and free-standing, so the console was really to hide components, consoles, power strips, networking, maybe a NAS.

Also considering buying AC Infinity fans on the cheap with temp sensor to kick in. They're affordable, quiet and will keep the whole console pretty cool even with a receiver or closed doors etc.

• AC Infinity MULTIFAN S2, Quiet 120mm
  
• AC Infinity MULTIFAN S4, Quiet 140mm
  
• AC Infinity, MULTIFAN S2 Quiet USB Cooling Blower
  
• AC Infinity Controller 1, Thermal Trigger AIRPLATE

Hi! Not sure what you mean by fan header, but it sounds like you've damaged the logic board and the fan connector to power? Otherwise if it is just the fan that is damaged just buy a new fan assembly.

But ... Sounds like a logic board problem. You could try this:

Remove the round cover on the bottom. Get a fan like this to blow into the chassis. The design is for the installed fan to pull air into the chassis then out the back vents. By doing this you are replacing the internal fan for an external one blowing into the machine. I do the same thing with this fan:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MWH4FL4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Best to you,

Jim

I use two of these in the bottom drawer. A little spendy for a 140mm fan but I liked them plugging in via usb. I also have them on this timer. 30 min on and 30 min off.

Currently running an Iphone 7 on top of usb fan nearly 24/7. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MWH4FL4/

These things also do an amazing job of cooling off my other equipment.

You could use almost any case by modifying it with a fan. AC Infinity makes quiet fans for custom cases.

Sample here:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MWH4FL4/ and

https://smile.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-Controller-AIRPLATE-MULTIFAN/dp/B078PY8L9F/

https://www.amazon.ca/AC-Infinity-MULTIFAN-Receiver-Playstation/dp/B00MWH4FL4/ref=s9_simh_gw_g63_i1_r?pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=CQNCK4GZ84RNFEZEES6P&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=b06971ce-9992-44c1-9ee0-eb9792e71b5e&pf_rd_i=desktop

I'm not sure you understand what I'm saying, maybe you do, i don't know. This crappy diagram probably does a better job explaining what I'm planning to do

http://i.imgur.com/9OxXXtk.png

These are the fans I got, they are rated at 57 CFM on airflow.

http://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-MULTIFAN-Receiver-Playstation/dp/B00MWH4FL4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00

I know this says no solar, but I think using this solar charger/battery combo with two AC S4 USB Computer Fans (same as the ones you got, but newer model/larger and more power efficient at .16amp draw) could work out. It's a small battery at 8000 mah, but with 21W of solar you should be able to run the fans all day and night no problem. (I think, still new to the solar game)

$82 bucks total without the vent visors.