Framework 12 CPU Fan Vent Guide

Framework 12 Laptop? Make it cooler! (Slightly. But also alot)

Speed holes! This is a drill guide that allows you to easily and neatly add some intake holes directly below the fan to allow more cool air directly in to the cooler. I'll post the screenshots of a couple of cinebench runs with the new holes, vs covered. Since these laptops are basically always thermal throttling to keeps temps lower, every bit of added cooling improves performance. Plus the fan runs much slower and quieter in most tasks. 

Actual performance improvement seems to be about 5% give or take. But it does result in cooler keyboard and lap. 

Some may have concerns about changing the factory arflow pattern, which is intended to draw intake air from vents inside the hinges and along the right half of the back edge, across all of the motherboard components. This will diminish some of that flow, as the majority of the cooling air will come through these new holes. But there is still flow across the intended path, and from looking at the temps in HW monitor after 30 mins or so of cinebench tests, the temps on motherboard and SSD were virtually identical. 

One more note, the intended drill size is 5/64", or 2mm.

As always, continue at your own risk! 

I hope some of you may find it useful.

Thanks!

Step 1

Remove Input Cover. Then Remove CPU Fan, These 2 Screws Marked In Red. You can leave the fan plugged in, or unplug and remove completely. Up to you. 

Step 2. 

Place the printed guide in place of the fan. It should fit snugly, with less than 1mm clearance around the edges. 

Step 3. 

Proceed with drilling all the holes! Of course, make sure your workpiece is placed in a way that you wont be drilling holes in your leg etc. 

Whe you're finished, you'll have 30 tidy little holes in the shape of the framework logo!

Step 4.

The last step is to deburr any little bits from the back of the holes. I tried a countersink bit first, but what worked best was just to scrape it with my finger nail. 

One final note, the included torx driver fits neatly in the holes to clear out any plastic burr that may stick in there.

Spent about 30 minutes on it, and voila! Enjoy your cool new Framework 12!