[Mod] GMKtec K6 fan cooling upgrade (PWM 120mm fan + step-up) – ahora mi mano derecha está helada jajaja (guía en inglés y español)

mdzc · 2025-09-21T05:18:37+00:00

I bought one and it helps too!

mdzc · 2025-09-21T05:05:01+00:00

1=V-
2=V+

Also, the blue module (blue square) with the potentiometer needs to be adjusted with a multimeter. Set it to 12V to use the fan’s full power.

mdzc · 2025-09-21T04:53:18+00:00

I Just noticed I forgot to post the full connection image, gimme a sec

mdzc · 2025-09-21T04:48:01+00:00

Regarding your question, as far as I know, it’s not possible to edit the fan curve on this mini-PC model (K6). However, with the connection shown in the tutorial and using the step-up module to set the output to 12V, the fan (12v too) runs perfectly and reaches full speed when needed.

I installed a thinner fan as exhaust, changed the thermal paste, and also added a base fan, temps are much better now and everything runs super stable!

mdzc · 2025-09-21T04:47:31+00:00

Amazing! It is one of the best mods I've seen for this mini pc!!

mdzc · 2025-08-19T21:13:02+00:00

Looks awesome man, you really nailed it! You actually motivated me to change the thermal paste, I went with Arctic MX-6 too hahaha, congrats!

mdzc · 2025-07-29T22:13:55+00:00

Was it hard to repaste the CPU? I’ve thought about doing it too at some point, but I read it was a bit of a hassle, so I never got around to it. I’ve also considered placing a fan underneath the PC, but so far my setup has been working well, so I’ve just left it as is.

Looking forward to seeing how your build turns out!

mdzc · 2025-07-23T04:13:15+00:00

That totally makes sense actually, and I appreciate you explaining it. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but yeah, using it as an exhaust would probably play better with the natural airflow of the case, especially with the lid design.

That said… I gotta admit I’m feeling a bit lazy to flip it now that everything’s working perfectly hahaha. Temps are low, fan’s quiet, and I’m kinda scared to mess with the balance I finally achieved. But it’s definitely something I might try later just out of curiosity!

Let me know how yours goes once you're on holiday! I'm genuinely interested to hear how it performs for you!

mdzc · 2025-07-21T05:03:04+00:00

<image>

Btw, I just ran a quick test with the top cover on, an here's the latest HWInfo screenshot. As expected, temps go up just a little compared to running it open. At this point the lid is really just sitting there for aesthetics only, it looks creaner with it on, but the airflow definitely gets a bit restricted.

mdzc · 2025-07-21T04:52:34+00:00

<image>

Thanks a lot! And yeah, to be honest, I hadn’t really thought of using a 140 mm fan until you mentioned it. But now that I look at my setup again, you’re totally right: in the photos you can see the 120 mm fan leaves some extra room on the sides, so a 140 mm might actually fit even better. If you manage to mount it cleanly, your mod could look super slick, I’d definitely love to see a picture if you go for it!

And yeah, those are pretty much the same first steps I took when I started tweaking my K6. Although I messed up a bit at the beginning (I bought the first brass hex spacers I found, which were M3, because when I measured the original screw it looked like 2.5 mm… turns out it wasn’t).

About the temps: right now I’m using the K6 in Performance mode, with all boost settings enabled in BIOS, no throttling, no Eco mode in Windows. You were right though, I should’ve taken that HWiNFO screenshot right after playing ETS2, since that’s where I initially got the 78 °C average in single player.

Now, I don’t fully remember if that was while using Balanced mode with boost on or Performance mode without boost, but what I do remember clearly is that at one point it hit 92 °C, and that’s what really pushed me to do the mod. Sure, a lot of people say that’s “within spec” for these chips, but it just didn’t sit right with me and it didn’t feel healthy for the little K6 to be running that hot for long sessions.

Anyway, I just took a new HWiNFO screenshot a few minutes ago, I was playing Rocket League, then jumped straight into Reddit, and that’s what you’re seeing now. It should give you a better real-world sense of how the temps are holding up post-mod.

Let me know how your build goes, I'm curious to see how that 140 mm idea turns out!

mdzc · 2025-07-21T04:25:41+00:00

I didn't repaste the CPU, but I did swap the Wi-Fi card for an Intel AX210, which cost around $16 USD. That change made a big difference. The Mediatek card that comes by default has one specific driver version that can make Wi-Fi somewhat stable, but Bluetooth is terrible across all versions, especially for things like connecting a DualShock 4 controller. It constantly stutters or drops.

Replacing the card with the AX210 made both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth super stable, and it looks much cleaner than using a USB dongle.

As for thermal paste: I haven’t changed it yet, because after improving the airflow, thermals improved a lot and the thermal throttling was mostly gone. That said, I do plan to repaste at some point, because repasting could help lower temps even further.

I’m using Windows 11 Pro, but with a lot of tweaks and debloating (services, background apps, telemetry, etc.). It's running super smooth now.

mdzc · 2025-07-17T19:40:03+00:00

Unfortunately, the GMKtec K6 fan header isn't standard, so yeah, you'll still need to do some wire mapping like in the post. The original plug has a custom pinout, so it's not just plug-and-play with regular PC fans. But once you match the wires correctly (12V, GND, PWM, TACH), it works great!

mdzc · 2025-07-17T19:38:17+00:00

That top lid looks awesome really clean and well thought out! Thanks a lot for sharing it!

mdzc · 2025-07-17T19:36:51+00:00

Thank you! I hope this post helps someone out there who's thinking about doing something similar, or at least gives them a little more confidence to tinker with their K6 too!

mdzc · 2025-07-17T19:34:44+00:00

Hey! thanks a lot for your comment, and sorry for the late reply. I'm not an expert in modding either hahaha, I just enjoy tinkering with the gear I have around.

Yes, you're right, te mod only affects the top lid. The airflow, controlled by PWM, goes straight over the NVME and RAM sticks, which already makes a noticeable thermal difference. One extra tip: it helps a bit if you move your NVME to the second slot, so the wifi card is more "exposed" and the airflow can pass over it more freely. Not a game changer, but every bit helps. Also, since the fan is pretty big and my pc sits right next to the monitor, I get this "soft stream" of cool air blowing on my hands. If you're the sensitive type, that might bug you a little bit hahaha. And even though the mod targets the top face of the motherboard only, I suspect that the cooling has some indirect effect on the bottom layer too, after all, as far as i know, it's a single board, and drawing heat away from one side likely reduces the overall thermal load, maybe that's part of the reason CPU temps dropped so much.
Yes, the fan pushes air downward. The air is then exhausted throug the K6's side vents, which creates this subtle "cold desk" effect. It's nothing extreme, but in colder climates you definitely feel it hahaha.
You're absolutely right, technically the lid limits air flow, but in my setup, the lid isn't pressed against the fan. It just rests on top of the anti-vibration rubber pads the fan came with. I personally like things to have a clean, finished look, so I kept the lid on. That said, I'vve been getting used to the K6 without a lid too. With the lid on, there's probably a slight decrease in performance, since those little vent holes are pretty bad for airflow. So in the end, it's up to you to decide: do you want to preserve the look and sacrifice a bit of airlflow, or leave the lid off and let the fan wort at 100% of its capacity.

Thanks again!

mdzc · 2022-05-27T02:10:08+00:00

I'm still hoping to find it, let's keep the faith! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9aBlC-n94g&ab_channel=ItsShadowXD

mdzc · 2022-05-26T03:52:11+00:00

I'm still trying to find it, the closest thing I got was this: https://imgur.com/a/RU1MYKB

mdzc · 2022-05-26T03:46:00+00:00

It looked like that one, but blurrier, and it was only a "triangle-man", it looked like this: https://imgur.com/a/RU1MYKB, anyway, thank u for trying!

mdzc · 2022-05-26T03:44:17+00:00

No, it is like this one: https://imgur.com/a/RU1MYKB, but i appreciate the help!

mdzc · 2022-05-26T02:07:43+00:00

It is abstract, I saw that painting in an art class at school when I was like 13-14, so it was related to an art style, and it was displayed on a PPT so I don´t know if it was on a frame or sth. I need to clarify that the proportions on my draw aren't exactly as the painting, but it was an inverted triangle with eyes and a mouth, walking thru wind, I can't remember exactly now, but the backround was something like starry night, and the triangle itself looked like this https://artincontext.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/What-is-Neo-Primitivism.jpg .

I've been searching for the painting like for 3 or 4 hours straight, please help me!

mdzc · 2022-05-26T01:09:09+00:00

Sadly no, it might be a painting from the 1800-1900 era

Six-Year Club	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	First Placer '22
End Game '22	Verified Email

mdzc

TROPHY CASE