HP Z6 G4 Memory Fan Mounts 3D Printer Model
The file 'HP Z6 G4 Memory Fan Mounts 3D Printer Model' is (stl) file type, size is 1.4MB.
The file 'HP Z6 G4 Memory Fan Mounts 3D Printer Model' is (stl) file type, size is 1.4MB.
These are 3D-Printable OpenSCAD models to mount memory fans in an HP Z6 G4 workstation. These are in no way endorsed by HP. Also, the author is not responsible for any damage resulting from their use.
The mounts aren't an exact replacements for HP's fans or memory shroud; they do not guarantee sufficient air flow in all cases; they have not been tested under most conditions. The dual mount is also a tight fit, and if you use the upper 5 1/4" drive area it may be impossible to use. Also, it doesn't work with a second CPU. Finally, it can make it more difficult to disassemble and reassemble your machine on a frequent basis. In all these cases, you may wish to go in a different direction. With all that said, if you wish to add a couple DIMMs or increase your memory size past 32GB on a single CPU setup, it's probably sufficient. Use your own judgment.
If you attempt to boot a larger memory configuration and are missing a fan or two, the relevant HP Post Error messages you may encounter are:
Adding fan(s) may workaround these problems. You can do it without modifying your workstation's motherboard or existing cabling by adding a 3D-printed single fan mount or a dual fan mount with a constructed cable. Alternatively, for the later case, you can use the cable without the mount to add a second fan elsewhere.
Four models are produced:
Replacement fan mount for the HP front memory fan. It is installed just like the OEM mount between the drive cage and the motherboard in the middle part of an HP Z6 G4 workstation.
Replaces the single front memory fan with a dual 80-mm fan setup. The secondary fan width is 20 mm which allows a little breathing room at the rear of the mount if you have disk caddies installed. Installed in the area between the drive area and motherboard on an HP Z6 G4 workstation. The secondary fan hangs off the primary memory fan and is centered close to the set of DIMMs between the CPU and PSU. Note that this is a wide model - a little less than 200 mm.
Like the Dual 80/80x20, replaces the single front memory fan with a dual 80-mm fan setup. The secondary fan housing accommodates a 25-mm width fan. This places the rear of the mount (and 25-mm width fan intake) very close to the rear of the disk caddies.
This is a set of 4 countersunk washers used to secure fans in the mounts using fan screws. They make the fan screws flush.
The "standard" 4-pin HP Workstation fan connector is somewhat proprietary mechanically. Older fans tend to have four color-coded wires and a reddish-brown connector (e.g. JWT A2548H00-4P). Newer fans come with black wires and a white connector (e.g. Molex 22-01-3047). These connectors are polarized - both ends of the connector have small ribs. They differ from 4-pin PC-style PWM fans which have a 3+1 keying (see Molex 47054-1000).
Electrically, PC- and HP-style signals are compatible and are in the same order: Ground, +12 VDC, RPM Sense, PWM Control.
If you want to connect a PC-style PWM fan to an HP-style motherboard header, you need to modify the connector. You can do this either by shaving the middle key on the PC-style connector or by transplanting the terminals to an HP-style connector.
If you're missing a front memory fan, then you'll need a fan. Otherwise, you can reuse the existing fan and get case fan screws.
Generally, if you don't have a stock front memory fan, you'll want to buy (or scavenge) an HP-compatible 80 mm x 25 mm PWM +12 VDC fan that has an HP-specific 4-pin connector and a cable length of about 3 inches or more.
The stock fan is a Foxconn PVA080G12Q (0.65A max, 0.35A nominal) (HP: 907246-001) +12 VDC PWM fan. Note that this fan is very common on ebay with PC-style connector, so make sure you know what you're getting into. 80-mm fans with the HP-style connector seem somewhat rare, so you might be stuck ordering a stock fan. Some 80-mm fans I spotted with an HP-style connector:
I reused the stock fan and have not tested any other fans as a primary memory fan.
These seem more or less standard - silver or black, about 10 mm in length, very coarse thread. Make sure these are on the long side since they have to go through 4 mm of plastic instead of <1 mm of metal before reaching the fan.
The dual mount adds an additional secondary fan that hangs off the primary mount. So in addition to everything necessary for the single mount, you'll be adding a second fan connected to a fan adapter cable - a cable which you'll have to build.
For reference, the HP Z6 memory shroud contains a single blower-style fan. The OEM fan is a Foxconn PVB090G12L-P01-AB +12 VDC (0.88A max, 0.70A nominal) 90-mm PWM Fan (HP: 907245-001).
With a 25-mm width fan, the rear of the secondary fan ends up very close to the rear of the disk caddies (~1 mm), so you may prefer to use a 20-mm width fan. In any case, choose a secondary fan with a cable long enough to reach your fan adapter cable (about 6 inches with my constructed fan adapter cable).
For an 80x80x25 mm secondary fan, the Foxconn PVA080G12Q matches the primary fan, with a PC- or HP-style connector, and seems like a safe and obvious choice. They are cheap and plentiful on ebay. Other choices are listed above.
For an 80x80x20 mm secondary fan, the Foxconn PVA080F12R (0.36A) / AVC DASA0820R2U (0.60A) +12 VDC PWM fan (both Dell: 05NPYY) with a PC-style connector is cheap and plentiful on ebay.
I tested both the Foxconn PVA080G12Q and PVA080F12R as secondary fans and both worked well. I preferred the 20-mm width for the spacing.
See above for recommendations on the case fan screws.
This information was taken or derived partially from: u/chestertonfan, Doug Lomax (Youtube video), and Snoopmasta.
The connector on the motherboard for the second memory fan is intended to attach to the HP Z6 G4 Memory Shroud (HP: 2HW44AA, 916799-001). Mechanically it is, of course, nonstandard.
The motherboard's 4-pin (2x2) box header is from the Molex Micro Fit 3.0 family and is actually a Blind-Mate Interface (BMI) part Molex 44432-0401, which makes the part on the shroud Molex 44133-0400. The location and pin-out are shown in the pinout image (all pictures oriented in the same direction - left = case rear, up = case top).
We can connect a 2x2 Molex 43025-0400 to the header and bring the signals out to a "standard" fan connector by building a cable. Because the header is a BMI part, it is not designed for locking so you'll need to remove the connector's lock to insert it. The connector is polarized correctly to the mating part; it fits in only one orientation. It seems reasonably secure without the lock.
I purchased a pre-crimped Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 pig-tail cable and crimped a 4-Pin fan housing on to the other end using parts from Aliexpress:
Cut off the lock on the Molex connector, observe the orientation of the connector when plugged in to the motherboard, and map the pin numbering to the above pinout (for me, Motherboard {1,2,3,4} → Wire {Black, Red, White, Yellow} → Fan {Ground, +12 VDC, RPM Sense, PWM Control}) based on the header pinout. Crimp on the fan connectors, insert the pins into the fan housing in the correct positions (PWM fan reference pinout), and you get something like this:
Test your cable by connecting a known-working 4-pin PWM fan to the motherboard. The Z6's BIOS automatically detects the fan from the RPM Sense input.
On Linux kernel > 6.5, verify fan presence detect and RPM by using lm-sensors and the hp-wmi-sensors module. "Memory Fan0" is for the fan connected to the shroud header and "Memory Fan1" is for the front fan:
% sudo modprobe hp-wmi-sensors% sensors...hp_wmi_sensors-virtual-0Adapter: Virtual deviceCPU0 Fan: 4580 RPMRear Chassis Fan0: 2945 RPMFront Chassis Fan0: 2426 RPMMemory Fan0: 2614 RPMMemory Fan1: 4501 RPM...On Windows, install the HP Performance Advisor software and verify the fan presence by looking for "Memory Fan0" presence and RPM under "Your Computer" → "System Sensors".
For the washers, print from PLA with a layer height of 0.12 mm and infill density of 50% or higher. Print one set of washers per fan.
For the mounts, print from PLA with a layer height of 0.2 mm and infill density of 20% with support generation. In Cura, I set "Support Placement" to "Touching Build Plate" and "Support Overhang Angle" set to 45 degrees (the default). After printing, remove the generated supports (at least 4 pieces: two under the bottom tangs, two under the top tabs) and clean-up the print with utility knife.
Set your computer on its side and open up the side.
Remove the existing front memory mount and fan. Refer to the HP Z6 G4 Maintenance and Service Guide, page 27. Take note of the fan orientation (fan label forward) and cable routing. Once out the case, if you want to reuse the OEM 80-mm fan, it unclips easily from the rear of the OEM mount. There is no need to remove the rear fan guard from the OEM fan.
For a dual setup, rearrange any cable flow between the 5 1/4" drive bays and the motherboard to open up space. For example, push unused drive and CD-ROM power cables into the drive bays. Essentially, create a hole in the area that fits the secondary fan. If you're building a dual setup, you should probably check your electrical cabling prior to assembly. Also, it's not a bad idea to trial fit your 3D-printed part at this point, prior to adding fans, etc..
Assembly the new mount with your 3D-printed part:
Insert fans from back (fan labels forward), ensuring that the cables are routed nearest to connectors.
Install the mount in the computer. If you removed the OEM fan, then the installation is essential the reverse. The easiest sequence seems to be tilt the mount slightly forward, insert the bottom tangs in the cases slots, push the top tabs down a little and push the top tabs into the top slots. Verify a tight and secure fit.
For added security, you can add a twist-tie (or wire) from the mount to the case at one of these locations: through the top thumbnail holes in the top of the primary fan mount, through the holes in top sides of each fan mount, or around the mount's bridge between a dual fan setup.
The source is supplied at github. See that repository for full build information.
| hp-z6-memory-fan-mount-dual-80-80x20.stl | 3.3MB | |
| hp-z6-memory-fan-mount-dual-80-80x25.stl | 3.3MB | |
| hp-z6-memory-fan-mount-single-80.stl | 2.0MB | |
| hp-z6-memory-fan-mount-washers.stl | 3.5MB |
