HP Z4 G4 Front Fan Mount

thingiverse

This is a 3D-Printable [OpenSCAD](https://openscad.org/) model of a front fan mount for an HP Z4 G4 workstation. This is in no way endorsed by HP. Also, the author is not responsible for any damage resulting from its use. ## Model and Parts There are two models included: ### HP Z4 G4 Front Fan Mount The fan mount for an HP 92 mm case fan. It is installed below the drive cage in the front bottom part of an HP Z4 G4 workstation and is required by the BIOS when certain devices are present (e.g. power graphics cards, M.2 drives, etc.). ### Hardware Pack An optional set of mounting hardware (see below) that attaches the fan mount to the bottom of the drive cage. ## What You'll Need ### One 92 mm x 25 mm HP-Compatible Fan Generally, you'll want to buy (or scavenge) an HP-compatible PWM 12VDC fan that has the HP-specific 4-pin connector and a cable length of at least 6 inches. The HP fan connector is somewhat proprietary. Older fans tend to have four color-coded wires and a reddish-brown connector. Newer ones seem to have black wires and a white connector. Both connectors are keyed on both ends of the 4-pin connector. If you use an after-market fan, at a minimum, you'll have to modify the connector to accommodate the HP-style. I picked up a Foxconn PV902512PSPF from ebay that was originally used on a HP/Compaq computer and it works great. Here are some choices I saw: - Foxconn PV902512PSPF (0.40A) from HP/Compaq DCxx00 (HP: 435452-001, 432768-001, 451144-001) - Nidec T92T12MS3A7-57A03 (0.35A) from the Zxx0 series (HP: 647113-001 Rev. B, 749598-001, and 782506-001) - Delta QUR0912VH (0.60A) from the Z4x0 series (HP: 647113-001 Rev. A) - Foxconn PVA092G12H (0.40A) from the Z2x0 series (HP: 727135-001) - Delta AUB0912HH (0.40A) (HP: 411456-001) I have not tested the other fans. Given that both 0.60A and 0.35A fans are used as front fans in the Z440, I think any of these will do the job. Beware: some of HP's case fans - especially the newer ones - have ultra-short cables. ### One 92 mm Fan Guard This is essential - i.e., it's not just for your protection\! The fan guard bolts the baffle to the fan and keeps the structure square and strong. Setting aside color choice, you want a metal one (not plastic). Some are flat, some bulge a little. Silver wire with a bulge matched my CPU fan. ### Four Case Fan Screws These seem more or less standard - silver or black, about 10 mm in length, very coarse thread. Skip the plastic push-pins or rubber connectors. ### M6 x ~16 mm Bolt, Nut, and Washers You'll want to secure the fan mount to the bottom of the drive cage with an M6 bolt of about 16 mm length. Too much longer and you'll run into other parts of the mount. You can get by with M5 or a \#12 size (1/4" hardware won't fit thru the hole). The head style does not matter, but, a little Threadlocker once you have everything set is a good idea. You can print out the hardware pack provided. The washers are great, the nut is okay after a little work, but you'll eventually want a metal bolt. ## Printing I use a Creality Ender 3 Pro to build from PLA with a **layer height of 0.2 mm** and **infill density of 20%** with **support generation**. In Cura, I use "Support Placement" set to "Touching Buildplate" with "Support Overhang Angle" set to 45 degrees (the default). After printing, remove the generated supports (6 pieces: two under the bottom tangs, two under the top tangs, one under the screw arm, and a small horizontal top-front piece at the start of the top arms). Clean-up the print with utility knife. As mentioned above, you can print the hardware pack. Use **infill density of 100%** if you choose to do this. ## Installation 1. Set your computer on its side and open up the side. 2. Check your new fan electrically to ensure that it works by connecting it and turning on/off the computer briefly. The connector goes to the white 4-pin connector at the very front-bottom of the mainboard. 3. Remove the bottom drive from the drive cage. You'll need the space. 4. Now seems like a good time to do a little visual inspection. First, look at the lower front of the computer where the mount will go. See: - two slots in the side (now top) of front of the case (just below the outside), - a screw hole about an inch and a half from the bottom/side (now bottom/top) of the drive cage, and, - two slots and the tab on the far side (now bottom) of the case. Next look at the corresponding parts of the printed mount: - a large sway-back arm with two tangs at the top of mount, - a hole on the cage arm that's on the top side of the baffle, and, - two short tangs on the bottom of the mount and a narrow slot between them that fits the case's tab. It's also a good time to verify that your bolt fits thru the hole in the cage arm on the mount and in the hole in drive cage bottom. 5. Rearrange any cable flow in the case now to improve access. Consider anything from the bottom slots/tab to the front of the case off-limits. The fan does not obstruct drive cables, but it's going to be a pain to change these after the fan is installed. 6. Join the fan to the baffle. Orient the fan so that the air blows thru the baffle (bottom of print) - generally that's fan label toward the front of the baffle - and so that the fan cable is near the bottom corner (farthest from the cage arm). Then its fan guard in front of baffle, and screw the four case screws thru the guard and baffle into the case. You can make that quite tight. 7. Install the mount in the computer. The easiest sequence seems to be tilt the mount slightly forward, line up the bottom tab/tangs, push the top tabs down a little and let the whole thing slide down. Release the tabs into the top slots. Verify a reasonably tight fit. 8. Push the bolt with a washer thru the drive side and thru the cage arm, and then apply the nut - finger tight. It's a little bit of a dexterity challenge. 9. Plug in the fan, reattach any hardware, power on and enjoy the cool breeze of a front case fan on your HP Z4\! Actually, it really is rather tepid, so if you want to test higher speeds, reboot into the BIOS Setup → Advanced → Built-In Device Options → Increase Idle Fan Speed(%) → 90 to create a small hurricane. ## Source The source is supplied at [github](https://github.com/swthemathwiz/hp-z4-front-fan-mount). See that repository for full build information.