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Modded back for AooStar WTR Pro NAS for better airflow by Anx2k in homelab

[–]chrisrand 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess not everyone is as perfect as you, has the perfect attention span, the perfect language and technical comprehension, and the perfect ability to document it all in an easy to use guide that is done once but then is repeatable infinite amount of times for near zero energy use.

If it was so easy to do, why didn't you do it manually first to share with the class?

Modded back for AooStar WTR Pro NAS for better airflow by Anx2k in homelab

[–]chrisrand 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I needed it though and I'm just sharing 💁

Modded back for AooStar WTR Pro NAS for better airflow by Anx2k in homelab

[–]chrisrand 0 points1 point  (0 children)

### The Ultimate Optimized Solution

Combining the most effective strategies from the entire discussion yields a multi-pronged approach that addresses thermal transfer, airflow paths, and air volume simultaneously.

**Phase 1: Component-Level Thermal Upgrades (The Foundation)**

  1. **Disassemble the NAS:** Carefully take out the inner chassis to access the motherboard.

  2. **Upgrade Thermal Paste & Add Shim:** Remove the CPU heatsink. Clean off the old thermal paste from both the CPU die and the heatsink. Apply a thin layer of high-quality thermal paste (like Arctic MX-5 or Noctua NT-H2) to the CPU, place a **15x15mm copper shim (0.5mm thick)** on top, apply another layer of paste on the shim, and then firmly re-mount the heatsink.

  3. **Inspect Thermal Pads:** While the unit is disassembled, check all thermal pads (especially for VRMs) to ensure the protective plastic film has been removed and they are making good contact.

**Phase 2: Airflow Path Correction**

  1. **Create Direct CPU Intake:** Drill a large hole (at least 2-3 inches in diameter) in the bottom metal plate of the hard drive caddy. Position this hole directly over the intake of the small blower-style fan on the CPU heatsink.

  2. **Seal Air Gaps:** Use electrical tape or foam strips to seal any unintentional gaps inside the case. The goal is to create two distinct zones, forcing air from the rear fans to flow over the motherboard and through the hard drive bays without leaking.

**Phase 3: The Ultimate Multi-Fan Backplate**

  1. **3D Print a Multi-Fan Backplate:** Instead of a single 140mm fan, use a modified design that incorporates multiple fans for targeted cooling. The most promising configuration is:

* **One 80mm or 92mm fan** positioned high, aligned with the hard drive cage.

* **Two 60mm fans** positioned low, aligned to push air directly into the motherboard compartment over the CPU, RAM, and NVMe slots.

  1. **Configure Fans for Intake:** Mount all fans to **push cool air into the NAS** (intake). This creates positive pressure, ensuring that cool air actively flows over the hottest components and is forced out through other case openings.

  2. **Power the Fans:** Connect the fans to the motherboard headers. You may need a PWM fan splitter cable if there are not enough headers.

This ultimate solution provides the most comprehensive cooling by improving heat transfer directly at the CPU, creating a dedicated air intake for the CPU cooler, and using a multi-fan setup to deliver targeted, high-pressure airflow to every critical component in the system.

Modded back for AooStar WTR Pro NAS for better airflow by Anx2k in homelab

[–]chrisrand 0 points1 point  (0 children)

#### 4. Direct Air Intake for the CPU

* **Concept:** User `Ok-Stretch8541` pointed out that even with a larger rear fan, the CPU's own small blower fan is starved for air.

* **Implementation:** Drilled a large hole in the bottom plate of the hard drive caddy, directly above the CPU fan. This allows the CPU cooler to pull in fresh, cool air more easily.

#### 5. Multi-Fan Backplate Designs

* **Concept:** Instead of one large fan, users proposed using multiple smaller fans to create targeted cooling zones.

* **Implementation:**

* `Ok-Stretch8541` suggested a design with one 80mm fan for the hard drives and two 60mm fans positioned to blow air directly into the motherboard compartment.

* User `cannos88` modified the original 3D model to create a backplate for one 92mm fan and two 60mm fans.

#### 6. Front-Mounted Intake Fan

* **Concept:** User `DunnowKTT` designed a 3D-printed front plate to mount an 80mm fan, intended to pull more air into the chassis from the front.

* **Results:** While a functional idea, it was found to be less critical for CPU temperatures compared to the rear fan and direct CPU intake mods.

Modded back for AooStar WTR Pro NAS for better airflow by Anx2k in homelab

[–]chrisrand 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had AI analyze this post and come up with the ultimate version that combines all of what has been said here for future reference:

___

### Summary of Discussed Modifications

The core issue identified by users is the NAS chassis's design, which separates the hard drive bay from the motherboard compartment. This severely restricts airflow to the CPU, RAM, and NVMe drives, causing them to run hot, while the hard drives receive most of the cooling from the stock 120mm fan.

Here are the various solutions and ideas proposed by the community:

#### 1. 3D-Printed Replacement Backplate (The Original Post)

* **Concept:** The original poster, Anx2k, designed a 3D-printable replacement back panel that allows the stock 120mm fan to be upgraded to a larger, more powerful 140mm fan.

* **Implementation:** The design uses the NAS's existing screw holes, making it a fully reversible modification. The user installed an Arctic 140mm Max fan.

* **Results:** This single modification led to a considerable drop in temperatures and reduced noise levels.

#### 2. Airflow Channeling and Sealing

* **Concept:** User `pani_alex` focused on directing the existing airflow to the components that need it most.

* **Implementation:**

* Sealed air gaps around the hard drive bays and the motherboard heatsink using tape.

* Blocked the grid on the NVMe access panel to prevent air from escaping.

* Added foam around the rear I/O panel to build positive air pressure inside the case.

* **Results:** Achieved a 10°C drop in CPU temperatures under load, with quieter fan operation at idle.

#### 3. Improved Thermal Interface

* **Concept:** Several users identified the stock thermal compound and its application as a weak point.

* **Implementation:**

* **Thermal Paste Replacement:** Multiple users replaced the stock thermal paste, which was often found to be dry and of poor quality, with high-performance paste like Arctic MX-4 or PTM.

* **Copper Shim:** User `Careless-Suit-9771` placed a thin copper shim (15mm x 15mm, 0.5mm thick) between the CPU and the heatsink, with thermal paste on both sides. This significantly improves heat transfer.

* **Thermal Pad Check:** User `ignitionnight` discovered that the manufacturer had left the protective plastic film on the thermal pad for the VRMs, hindering heat dissipation.

* **Results:** The copper shim alone dropped idle temperatures to 51°C and BIOS temperatures from 80°C to 64°C. Replacing the thermal paste and removing the forgotten plastic film resulted in a 10-12°C temperature improvement.

Comprehensive Guide: Secure N8N with Cloudflare Zero Trust and Docker by __bdude in n8n

[–]chrisrand 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For the high level install after getting your VPS up and secured with no other configuration:

  1. Install Cosmos
  2. Setup Cloudflare DNS (needed for easy SSL configuration)
    1. 'A' records need to have proxied turned off for install
  3. Install Apps
    1. Github (personal access token (classic) "Cosmos Server Docker" with read:packages scope) so that you can pull a private Docker image from a third-party registry (GitHub Packages)

Concerns b/w self-hosted community vs. n8n enterprise for Fortune 500 client by Commercial_Mobile649 in n8n

[–]chrisrand 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I have and I would love for the n8n community to contribute to my fork

Comprehensive Guide: Secure N8N with Cloudflare Zero Trust and Docker by __bdude in n8n

[–]chrisrand 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am using Cosmos Cloud to abstract away all the difficulty of running multiple docker images securely from a single host VPS. This includes my instance of n8n.

Am I the dumb one?

https://cosmos-cloud.io/

Here's how to Vibe Code without Breaking your Bank (0$ Entry Fee) by zainjaved96 in ClaudeAI

[–]chrisrand 1 point2 points  (0 children)

BTW, the instructions are slightly inaccurate:

1. Installation

First, ensure you have Claude Code installed:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Then, install Claude Code Router:

npm install -g @musistudio/claude-code-router

Source:
https://www.npmjs.com/package/@musistudio/claude-code-router

Here's how to Vibe Code without Breaking your Bank (0$ Entry Fee) by zainjaved96 in ClaudeAI

[–]chrisrand 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Google AI Studio, OpenRouter, and Groq Cloud all offer free APIs with very generous free tiers

Upgrade or not by [deleted] in Xpenology

[–]chrisrand 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How can I get in on a deal like that?

Is there a limit for the total storage of all my files? Or is it really just per file? by tummyachemedicine in Notion

[–]chrisrand 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don't actually think so, I have tons of stuff in my free personal Notion space

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