SxM CONFIGURATIONS
Cooling System
The cooling system can be configured with one of two high-quality Noctua fan models that are both optimized for high static pressure that drives cooling airflow into the Mac Mini or Mac Studio cold air intake vents. The new G09 ultra-quiet fan model is recommended for most users with a high-speed setting that provides significant cooling airflow while still staying quiet, and a low-speed setting that provides ultra-quiet noise levels. The G17 fan model is only recommended for users looking for maximum cooling with a high-speed setting that provides an overwhelming amount of cooling airflow and a low-speed setting that provides high-airflow with moderate noise levels. The bolt and snap modular cooling system and fans allow for easy exchange through accessories, and the cooling system will work with most any standard 120x120x25mm fan. See the Specifications section below for additional details.
Optional Laptop Support Arms
Optional Laptop Support Arms: The arms can be quickly bolted on to support and cool Apple and PC laptops. The laptop support arms are available in a 2nd generation design, or in a 3rd generation design featuring improved cooling airflow and dual laptop support pads.
Aluminum Color
The aluminum support is available with the following anodize colors as shown in the above image and listed below from left to right (see Specs for details):
- Silver: A clear anodize with light gray color similar to Apple’s Silver finish available on all Mac laptops.
- Space Gray: A gray similar to Apple’s Space Gray finish available on MacBook Pros from 2016 to 2023 and MacBook Airs from 2018 to 2024+.
- Space Black: A nearly black dark gray similar to Apple’s Space Black finish available on MacBook Pros from 2023 to 2024+.
- Black: A full black that pairs well with Apple’s Midnight finish available on MacBook Airs from 2022 to 2024+.
Future Configurations
The Cooling Stand product line is a fully modular system where one model can be converted into another or individual components can be replaced or upgraded in the future through accessories. We also offer a variety of upgrade options to our customers.
ORDER AND SHIPPING POLICIES
- SVALT makes products locally with each product hand built to a customer’s selected order configuration. Aluminum parts are hand finished and anodized in weekly batches by color, and estimated build lead times for a single item are listed with anodized color.
- SVALT is a local company based in Portland, Oregon. Oregon does not collect sales tax.
- International customers are solely responsible for their country’s compliance and are responsible for paying their country’s import fees and taxes upon delivery, as well as providing a valid email address and phone number for the shipping carrier to contact. International orders are limited to one item per shipment.
- 15-day return and replacement for incorrect or defective items in new, unused and undamaged condition to US customers.
- 1-year limited warranty for defects in materials and manufacture to US customers.
- See SVALT’s company policies page for details and additional policies.
SxM DESCRIPTION
Internal Active Airflow Cooling for Mac Mini
The Cooling Stand model SxM supports and quietly cools Mac Mini and Mac Studio desktops (see specs) with active internal airflow cooling from an extra large and powerful dual-speed fan cooling system with new ultra-quiet Noctua fans. Optimized for pre-2024 Mac Mini models with bottom cover removed. Note that this model is not recommended for 2024 Mac Mini, and the Fx Cooling Fan is recommended instead (place the Fx in front of the Mac Mini so that cool air blows towards the Mac Mini to drive cool air into the front intake vents and pull hot air out of the back exhaust vents).
The SxM and all Cooling Stand models feature a fully modular system with exchangeable components and model reconfigurability, as well as hidden cord clutter and extra rigid no-bounce device support.
All SVALT cooling systems use modular bolted / snapped assemblies and ship with the tools required for right-to-repair servicing, exchanging, upgrading and extending product life span.
SVALT designs innovative patented and/or patent pending products made locally in the Pacific Northwest with a focus on sustainability, and use solid aluminum for enduring metal construction.
SxM FEATURES
Features Overview
- Cooling directed at Mac Mini and Mac Studio intake vents.
- Optimized for direct pre-2024 Mac Mini internal processor cooling.
- Pushbutton dual-speed for quiet and max cooling.
- Quiet and powerful active airflow cooling system.
- Exchangeable snap-in 3/4-pin 120x120x25mm fan.
- Exchangeable bolt-in modular cooling system.
- User reconfigurable bolt-in modular components.
- Compatible with Mac Studio and Mac Mini models.
- Heavy duty no bounce support w/ adj height feet.
- Hidden cord clutter and user accessories.
- Made from aluminum and steel in Portland, Oregon.
Active Airflow Cooling Features
- Fan drives cooling airflow at Mac Mini and Mac Studio intake vents.
- With bottom cover removed, fan drives airflow directly onto pre-2024 Mac Mini processors for immediate cooling.
- Dust filter for protecting internal components with bottom cover removed.
- Thumb nuts hold washable dust filter for customer cleaning and reuse.
- Fan drives airflow onto aluminum enclosure for improved cooling.
- Finger guard spaced off of fan for increased cooling airflow and reduced noise.
- Open space below fan for increased cooling airflow and reduced noise.
- Optimized passive airflow cooling so fan can be turned off for silent operation.
- External outlet power supply for increased power with reduced internal laptop heat gain.
- Large 120x120x25mm 12-volt fan for powerful yet quiet cooling.
- High-speed for max cooling and low-speed for quiet cooling.
- Aluminum front facing pushbutton switch with high- and low-speed LEDs for effective and simple to operate dual-speed control.
Workstation Productivity Features
- Four adjustable height feet for level stability on uneven surfaces.
- Four threaded base holes for bolting stand to media carts or for theft prevention.
- Non-slip feet pads and heavy weight for increased stability.
- Solid front panel for hiding cable clutter.
- Solid front panel for hiding user accessories, drives and docking stations.
Device Compatibility Features
- Optimized for pre-2024 Mac Mini models with bottom cover removed.
- Compatible with Mac Mini and Mac Studio models, but not recommended for 2024+ Mac Mini models.
- Soft-touch non-slip pads for protecting devices.
- Support pads work with or without the Mac Mini bottom cover in place.
- May also work with compact PC desktops and other electronic devices.
Right-to-Repair Modularity Features
- Bolt-on modular components for multiple product model configurations.
- Modular bolt/snap assembly for customer servicing, replacement, exchange or upgrade.
- Bolt-on speed control circuit board for servicing, replacement, exchange or upgrade.
- Bolt-on fan with standard 3/4-pin fan connection for customer servicing, replacement, exchange or upgrade with nearly any 120x120x25mm fan.
- Product ships with all of the tools required for disassembly.
- Packaging system works with all Cooling Stand Sx models.
Material and Component Quality Features
- Quarter-inch thick 6061 aluminum support base for extra strength and durability.
- Anodized aluminum finish for matching Mac laptop finishes.
- Black powder coated steel cooling unit frame for extra strength and durability.
- Metal construction for long life span and end-of-life recyclability.
- High-quality fans with long life performance.
- High-quality components over-specced for increased performance and life.
- Minimal use of plastic for reduced environmental impact.
- Biodegradable package cushioning for reduced impact.
Company Features
- Designed and crafted with care in and around Portland, OR, USA (includes foreign electronic components).
- Design driven by a passion to make best-in-class products.
- Innovative design with patents issued and/or pending.
- Support for anyone with a SVALT product.
Additional Laptop Arm Support Features
- See Sx product page for associated features with Laptop Arm Supports and accessories.
SxM SPECIFICATIONS
Cooling System Specifications
- G09 Fan: Noctua NF-P12 redux-900 120x120x25mm 12-volt case fan with 9 gray blades and a long life ball bearing. The low-speed cooling mode (lower LED) runs at approximately 700 RPM and produces up to 24 CFM airflow and approximately 10 dB(A) noise level. The high-speed cooling mode (upper LED) runs at approximately 900 RPM and produces up to 37 CFM airflow and approximately 13 dB(A) noise level.
- G17 Fan: Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PMW 120x120x25mm 12-volt case fan with 9 gray blades and a long life ball bearing. The low-speed cooling mode (lower LED) runs at approximately 1200 RPM and produces up to 77 CFM airflow and approximately 16 dB(A) noise level. The high-speed cooling mode (upper LED) runs at approximately 1700 RPM and produces up to 97 CFM airflow and approximately 26 dB(A) noise level.
- Modular Cooling System: Bolted connection for easy upgrade, exchange, servicing or cleaning. Cooling systems are available to purchase separately.
- Modular Fan: Standard 2/3/4-pin fan connector for easy upgrade, exchange, servicing or cleaning with virtually any 120x120x25mm fan. User/customer supplied replacement fans must meet the following specifications: 1) 120x120x25mm +/-1mm in thickness, 2) 2-pin, 3-pin or 4-pin compact fan connector, 3) 12V, 4) 0.42A max, and 5) low-speed resistor 68 Ohms 3 Watt resistor compatibility.
- Replacement Fans: G17 and B14 fans are available through accessories.
- Dust Filter: Users can choose to install the dust filter to help reduce dust accumulation for users that choose to remove the Mac Mini’s bottom cover for direct internal component cooling. Use of a dust filter slightly decreases airflow and increases noise.
- Setup: See Product Setup page for product setup, operation and additional user guide resources. Please note that achieving cooling performance potential requires proper product and workstation setup.
- Right-to-Repair: See Right-to-Repair page for product assembly/disassembly and component installation/removal.
Power Supply Specifications
- A North American power supply is included with USA, Canada, Mexico or Japan, while an international power supply is included with other locations.
- North America Power Supply Specs: 100-240V AC input and 12V output power supply with a fixed Type A (USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan) plug.
- International Power Supply Specs: 100-240V AC input and 12V output power supply with Type A (USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan), Type C (Europe, South America, Asia), Type G (United Kingdom, Ireland), and Type I (Australia, New Zealand, China) interchangeable plugs.
- Replacement: SVALT products may only be used with the certified and marked LPS (Limited Power Supply) power supply. A replacement power supply is available through accessory.
Device Compatibility Specifications
- Works with Mac Studio and Mac Mini computers as listed below. For Mac Minis that have a removable bottom cover, the support pads have been design to work with the cover on or off. When the cover is off, the padding locks the Mac Mini in place so that cooling air is driven directly onto the internal components for immediate system wide cooling. Note that operating the Mac Mini with the bottom cover removed may not be considered normal operating conditions for the Mac Mini by Apple, and could impact warranty. A user installed dust filter accessory is included to help reduce internal dust accumulation, however, the user needs to first install the filter, and then to clean accumulated dust from the filter and computer as required. Dust filters reduce airflow and increase noise levels for a given airflow.
- 2005 - 2009 Mac Mini: 1st and 2nd generation include a taller silver aluminum and white plastic enclosure that uses cool air intake vents along the front and side bottom edges.
- 2010 - 2017 Mac Mini: 3rd generation includes a thinner silver aluminum enclosure that uses a cool air intake vent along the front edge of a removable round bottom cover that once removed exposes components for increased cooling performance.
- 2018 - 2019 Mac Mini: 4th generation includes the thinner space gray aluminum enclosure that uses cool air intake vents around the edge of a removable round bottom cover that once removed exposes a perforated metal screen covering for increased cooling performance. An iFixit pry bar is included to assist users who choose to remove the bottom panel.
- 2020 - 2023 Mac Mini: 5th generation includes Apple Silicon and that uses cool air intake vents around the edge of a removable round bottom cover that once removed exposes a perforated metal screen covering for increased cooling performance. An iFixit pry bar is included to assist users who choose to remove the bottom panel.
- 2024+ Mac Mini: 6th generation includes a major redesign to a much smaller package. While the S/RxM models will work with this generation of Mac Mini, it is not a recommended configuration. Instead it is recommended to use the Fx Cooling Fan placed in front of the Mac Mini with cool air blowing towards the Mac Mini to drive cool air into the front intake vents and pull hot air out of the back exhaust vents.
- Note User Accessories: The Cooling Stand’s solid front panel blocks cooling fan airflow and noise, as well as hides cord clutter and user accessories. When placing user accessory items that generate heat, then some portion of that heat will transfer to the Mac Mini / Studio through line-of-site proximity heat radiation, rising hot air currents, and/or fan driven air movement. To lessen heat transfer, or when maximum cooling is desired, then avoid placing items that generate heat close. When placing items under the cooling fan, then note the maximum available open space under the fan is 2.125 inches in height. Placing large and/or tall items directly under the fan will reduce fan efficiency, lower airflow and/or increased noise. To lessen these effects, do not place tall user accessories directly under the fan intake, and for maximum cooling efficiency, do not place anything under or around the fan.
Dimensional Specifications
- Product Side to Side: 9.9 inches.
- Product Front to Back: 9.0 inches.
- Product Top to Bottom: 4.6 inches.
- Product Weight: 4.5 lbs.
- Shipping Weight: 6.1 lbs.
Content Specifications
- Contents
- 1 x Support Base: anodized aluminum modular system component onto which other components mount, ships mounted to packaging.
- 4 x Support Base #10 adj height fasteners: user installed accessory for leveling uneven surfaces, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- 4 x Support Base #10 packaging fasteners: secures base to packaging cardboard insert, ships installed.
- 1 x Support Base #10 hex key: tool for installing modular system components, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- 1 x Cooling Unit: active airflow cooling modular system component, ships installed.
- 1 x Cooling Unit power supply: see power supply notes below, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- 2 x Cooling Unit #10 mounting fasteners: fasteners to mount Cooling Unit to Support Base, ships installed.
- 1 x Cooling Unit #8 hex key: tool for servicing and accessing Cooling Unit internal components, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- 2 x Cooling Unit Mac Mini / Studio supports: Mac Mini / Studio modular system component, ships installed.
- 4 x Cooling Unit Mac Studio retention pads: Optional user installed add-on pads can be installed to lock a Mac Studio in place, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- 4 x Cooling Unit Mac Mini retention pads: Optional user installed add-on pads can be installed to lock a Mac Mini in place with the bottom cover removed, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- 1 x Cooling Unit Mac Mini / Studio dust filter: Mac Mini / Studio modular system component, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- 1 x Cooling Unit Mac Mini / Studio dust filter frame: Mac Mini / Studio modular system component, ships installed.
- 4 x Cooling Unit Mac Mini / Studio #8 thumb nuts: Mac Mini / Studio modular system component, ships installed.
- 4 x Cooling Unit #8 long fan fasteners: Mac Mini / Studio modular system component, ships installed.
- 1 x iFixit Mac Mini bottom case opener: tool for users who wish to remover bottom cover on 2018+ Mac Minis, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- 1 x Reusable accessory box: holds accessories.
- 1 x Reusable product packaging: modular product box works with all Cooling Stand S series models and ships directly without additional outer shipping box.
- Additional/Replacement Contents for Optional Mac Mini/Studio Supports
- 2 x Laptop Support Arms: steel 2nd or 3rd generation laptop support arms, ships uninstalled in foam pocket.
- 8 x Adjustable Laptop Support Pads for 2nd gen Arms (adjustable laptop support pads, ships uninstalled in accessories box) or 4 x Support Arm leveling pads for 3rd gen Arms (optional user installed non-slip 1/32” thick pads to level arm contact pad locations, ships uninstalled in accessories box).
- 4 x Laptop Support Arm cable straps: user installed Velcro straps, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- 4 x Laptop Support Arm #10 mounting fasteners: fasteners to mount Support Arms onto Support Plate, ships uninstalled in accessories box.
- Note: Assembly required. Follow packaging labels and see Product Setup page for product setup, operation and additional user guide resources.
Aluminum Finish Color Specifications
listed from left to right
- Silver bead blasted matte anodize aluminum finish is similar to Apple Silver.
- Gray bead blasted matte anodize aluminum finish is similar to Apple Space Gray.
- Dark Gray bead blasted matte anodize aluminum finish is similar to Apple Space Black.
- Black bead blasted matte anodize aluminum finish is a full and deep black.
- Notes
- Anodized parts are pre-finished by hand and then anodized by hand in small batches. The anodize color may vary slightly between parts.
- Anodized part’s bottom and/or back surfaces are considered non-cosmetic finish.
- Satin silver and glossy black anodized finishes are brighter than matte anodize.
- Cooling Stand arm, leg and cooler cover parts are made from steel and have a matte black powder coat finish. The parts have non-cosmetic conditions around the through holes used for mounting holes.
Fan Model Color Specifications
listed from left to right
- G07 and G12 120x120x25mm Noctua fan with light gray frame and dark gray blades.
- G09 and G17 120x120x25mm Noctua fan with light gray frame and dark gray blades.
Additional Laptop Arm Support Specifications
- See Sx product page for associated specifications with Laptop Arm Supports and accessories.