Cube fan install NIGHTMARE

[Joel Pelletier]

I attempted the fan install into my Cube as descried on many sites (I 
have a 64MB nVidia card in the machine, with a rather loud little 
fan, and was hoping to disconnect it and run a larger, quieter one on 
the bottom of the unit). I aquired a couple of Panaflo 80x80x15mm 
fans, but the faster model than the one generally mentioned. I found 
that this model at 5-6 volts was REALLY quiet, and still pushed a 
good amount of air. I carefully opened the Cube, pulled out the DVD 
and HD, and inserted the fan into its mounts (this method requires 
only 2 of the 4 screws for the fan, but you don't have to take the 
whole thing apart). I didn't have the proper connector to power it 
off the DC card, so instead I tried option 2 - a "Y" adapter off the 
DVD drive power source. I tapped into the 5V lead off the Y adapter 
for the fan (along with one of the grounds) and hooked it up to the 
fan. I reassembled the unit, slid it back in the case, and plugged in 
the power supply.

Immediately, all of the red "status" lights inside the bottom of the 
Cube lit up (I never powered it up), and it started to SMOKE!

Ouch.

I have disconnected everything (fan, HD and DVD) and tried this again 
- same results. I am visiting another Cube owner and experienced tech 
today to see what I burned out. If it's the motherboard, perhaps now 
is the time to get that 1gz board. If it's more (and much worse) it's 
time to decide to either buy another Cube (either stripped, or with 
as little in it as possible, selling off the good components of my 
dearly departed), or take the plunge and buy a Titanium Powerbook.

Besides the "are you stupid," "you got what you deserve," etc., 
comments, any ideas on what could have gone wrong, and where I might 
find the individual component boards and/or another cheap Cube 
without RAM/HD/DVD/video card would be much appreciated.

Joel Pelletier
http://www.joelp.org