Zalman 9700 LED mod

dave_w · 02-06-2008, 07:56 PM

Okay...I'm building a comp for my girlfriend, so I have an excuse to get a new 9700--the one with the PWM fan control, since I now have a fan controller with a PWM port on it.

Problem...I really really don't want the smaller 9500 series (it's a "my CPU fan is bigger than yours" thing). At the same time, the green LEDs of the PWM-equipped 9700 would seriously clash with my blue CCFL daytime lighting, and my UV w/orange reactive cable sleeving. My feng shui would be ruined!

Question...is it possible to replace the green LEDs on the Zalman CNPS9700NT with orange ones? If so, does anyone know if they're 3mm or 5mm? Has anyone performed this mod before, and if so, are there any tricks/issues/complications?

Voiding the warranty is not an issue.

Edit: I have seen places which offer replacement fans. However, these are exclusively Zalman-built direct replacements--the appropriately-sized blue ones are 3-pin powered, green ones are the only 4-pin units.

PC eye · 02-06-2008, 11:47 PM

The NT is a totally different model from the average copper colored 9700 seeing the blue leds on that. I don't know of anyone that ever attempted to modify the leds on any premanufactured cooler. They simply install them as they come.

dave_w · 02-07-2008, 03:36 AM

Yeah. I always found it kinda silly that Zalman doesn't offer any kind of color options. I really find performance to be more important, but I spent a lot of time getting the aesthetics of the case to my liking...LED case feet, four 12" cold cathodes hot-glued in place (plus a CCFL case fan for the rear), sleeving every cable in the thing in orange...

...now it seems I either have to lose my beloved 110mm CPU fan, or have a bunch of green lights screwing up my hard work.

PC eye · 02-07-2008, 04:02 AM

The 3pin models work on a 4pin connector without problems. One of the pins simply remains seen on the outside of the plug for the other models there. The walls for the plug are made thin to allow for this.

What cpu are you running there? The complete copper model not aluminum/copper one you are running works on Socket 775 as well as on AMD 754/939/AM2 boards. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118019

makmillion · 02-07-2008, 04:07 AM

I don't see why you couldn't swap out the LEDs.. I've not seen the 9700 in person, but I'm sure a simple snip of the legs, some new LEDs and a bit of soldier would do the trick.. just take note on which leg is + and which is - using a multi-meter, and make sure to not bridge the connections when re-fitting the new LED's with soldier.

-mak

ThatGuy16 · 02-07-2008, 04:46 AM

you can get replacement fans here, so you have the choice of black, clear, blue, or green

http://www.sharkacomputers.com/cpucoolprod.html

mep916 · 02-07-2008, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatGuy16

you can get replacement fans here, so you have the choice of black, clear, blue, or green

http://www.sharkacomputers.com/cpucoolprod.html

Good call, Corey.

Looks like you need this one, Dave: http://www.sharkacomputers.com/za11rpfanbl.html

Cleric7x9 · 02-07-2008, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatGuy16

you can get replacement fans here, so you have the choice of black, clear, blue, or green

http://www.sharkacomputers.com/cpucoolprod.html

"This fan has a 3-pin power connector, not recommended for use with PWM."

Otherwise it would have been perfect...

mep916 · 02-07-2008, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleric7x9

"This fan has a 3-pin power connector, not recommended for use with PWM."

Otherwise it would have been perfect...

I think you quoted the wrong person, but, yeah, that sucks. Oh well.

PC eye · 02-07-2008, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makmillion

I don't see why you couldn't swap out the LEDs.. I've not seen the 9700 in person, but I'm sure a simple snip of the legs, some new LEDs and a bit of soldier would do the trick.. just take note on which leg is + and which is - using a multi-meter, and make sure to not bridge the connections when re-fitting the new LED's with soldier.

-mak

The leds are prefitted inside the fan's assembly requiring the entire fan to be replaced. You can't simply get in there with a soldering iron. You would first have to split the preformed insulating wrap the wires are inserted through.

02-06-2008, 07:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
dave_w Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 154	Zalman 9700 LED mod Okay...I'm building a comp for my girlfriend, so I have an excuse to get a new 9700--the one with the PWM fan control, since I now have a fan controller with a PWM port on it. Problem...I really really don't want the smaller 9500 series (it's a "my CPU fan is bigger than yours" thing). At the same time, the green LEDs of the PWM-equipped 9700 would seriously clash with my blue CCFL daytime lighting, and my UV w/orange reactive cable sleeving. My feng shui would be ruined! Question...is it possible to replace the green LEDs on the Zalman CNPS9700NT with orange ones? If so, does anyone know if they're 3mm or 5mm? Has anyone performed this mod before, and if so, are there any tricks/issues/complications? Voiding the warranty is not an issue. Edit: I have seen places which offer replacement fans. However, these are exclusively Zalman-built direct replacements--the appropriately-sized blue ones are 3-pin powered, green ones are the only 4-pin units. Last edited by dave_w; 02-06-2008 at 08:07 PM. Reason: Additional data

02-06-2008, 11:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,687	The NT is a totally different model from the average copper colored 9700 seeing the blue leds on that. I don't know of anyone that ever attempted to modify the leds on any premanufactured cooler. They simply install them as they come. __________________ Users Fight to Save Windows XP! http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4646547 Microsoft Not Ruling Out XP Extension http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4716159

02-07-2008, 04:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,687	The 3pin models work on a 4pin connector without problems. One of the pins simply remains seen on the outside of the plug for the other models there. The walls for the plug are made thin to allow for this. What cpu are you running there? The complete copper model not aluminum/copper one you are running works on Socket 775 as well as on AMD 754/939/AM2 boards. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118019 __________________ Users Fight to Save Windows XP! http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4646547 Microsoft Not Ruling Out XP Extension http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4716159

02-07-2008, 04:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
makmillion Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ~/.mak/ Posts: 762	I don't see why you couldn't swap out the LEDs.. I've not seen the 9700 in person, but I'm sure a simple snip of the legs, some new LEDs and a bit of soldier would do the trick.. just take note on which leg is + and which is - using a multi-meter, and make sure to not bridge the connections when re-fitting the new LED's with soldier. -mak __________________ Mainboard: MSI K9NBPM2-FID CPU: AMD x2 3800+ RAM: Kingston / 3GB (1GB + 1GB + 512MB + 512MB @ 4-4-4-12) Video Card: evga 7600GT (256MB GDDR3) HDD: Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200.10 (16MB Cache) x2 Optical: LG H41N + LG H44L Case: Xclio 188A (Black/Blue) OS: XP Pro Display: Acer AL2016W Audio: Logitech x-230 (Arrived - man these things rock!)

02-07-2008, 04:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
ThatGuy16 Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 4,688	you can get replacement fans here, so you have the choice of black, clear, blue, or green http://www.sharkacomputers.com/cpucoolprod.html __________________ CPU: C2D E8400 @ 4Ghz 1.216v HSF: Apogee GTX MB: Gigabyte X38-DS4 Ram: 2x2GB G. Skill DDR2-1068 HDD: 320GB Seagate PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700w OS: Vista Home Premium 64bit GFX: 2x HD3870 Crossfire @ 837/1152 LCD: LG 22" L226WTQ 3DMark06: 19661

02-07-2008, 03:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
dave_w Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 154	Yeah. I always found it kinda silly that Zalman doesn't offer any kind of color options. I really find performance to be more important, but I spent a lot of time getting the aesthetics of the case to my liking...LED case feet, four 12" cold cathodes hot-glued in place (plus a CCFL case fan for the rear), sleeving every cable in the thing in orange... ...now it seems I either have to lose my beloved 110mm CPU fan, or have a bunch of green lights screwing up my hard work.

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