HP DL380 G9 – P840 Controller Active Cooling Bracket (PCIe Slot Fan Mount)

The Problem

The HP P840 HBA/RAID controller runs hot. Really hot. Even in a homelab with fans deliberately tuned down to 23% for noise reasons, the controller was hitting temperatures close to 90°C — not exactly confidence-inspiring for a card managing your storage.

The Solution

A 3D-printed bracket that mounts into a standard PCIe slot and holds an 80mm fan directly above the P840 heatsink. Simple, effective, and it works.

Results

Before (fans at 23%, quiet homelab profile): ~90°C

After: <70°C

That's a 20°C+ drop with zero changes to system fan configuration.

Print Settings

Material: PLA | Orientation: upright with supports | Infill: 15%

No exotic filament needed — the bracket sits in airflow so it never gets hot itself.

Fan Compatibility

Tested with ARCTIC P8 Slim PWM PST (80×80×15mm). A standard 80mm fan (80×80×25mm) fits too and moves more air — use slim only if clearance above the heatsink is tight.

Power

The DL380 G9 has no fan headers for add-in cards. Solution: AKASA 5V→12V DC Step-Up Converter Cable (USB to 3-pin/4-pin fan), plugged into one of the two internal USB headers on the motherboard. No soldering, no modding.

Notes

• Check clearance above your P840 heatsink before printing
• Uses standard PCIe slot retention, no extra screws needed
• Tested on HP DL380 G9, should work on similar 2U servers with a free PCIe slot next to the controller