What the Retro Frog plate actually changes
The Retro Frog adapter plate lets a GameCube use a standard 40mm fan in place of the console's original proprietary fan. The kit is a mounting plate plus a 3-pin-to-2-pin fan adapter cable, so the replacement fan can plug into the GameCube power board.
The fan itself is not included. The supplied information specifies a 40mm x 10mm thick, 12V fan, and names a Noctua 40mm as the ideal choice. If you already have a fan of those dimensions, the plate is the part that makes it fit.
Kit contents and the fan you need to supply
- 40mm Fan Adapter Plate and Fan Cable for GameCube - Retro Frog: Kit includes a black 40mm fan adapter plate and a 3-pin fan to 2-pin GameCube fan adapter cable. These are the two parts that adapt a standard fan to the GameCube's fan opening and power connector.
40mm Fan Adapter Plate and Fan Cable for GameCube - Retro Frog - 40mm Fan Adapter Plate and Fan Cable for GameCube - Retro Frog: The fan is not included; the supplied information specifies a 40mm x 10mm thick, 12V fan. Buying the plate alone will not complete the mod, and a fan outside those dimensions or voltage is not supported by the supplied instructions.
Installing the plate and fan
The steps below follow the supplied install instructions. Work on a stable surface and keep the original screws together, since they are reused.
- Open the console: Remove the four 4.5mm Gamebit screws from the bottom of the GameCube, then lift the top of the cube off and set it aside.
- Remove the stock fan: Take out the stock fan's four screws, unplug its cable, and set the screws aside for reuse.
- Mount the fan to the plate: Attach a 40mm x 10mm thick fan to the rear of the plate between the standoffs, using the screws supplied with the fan. Position the fan so its cable sits on the top side.
- Secure the plate: Place the plate in the GameCube fan opening and fasten it with the four original fan screws.
- Connect and close up: Route the fan cable up through the slot in the top of the fan shroud. Plug the fan's 3-pin connector into the supplied adapter cable, then plug the adapter into the GameCube power board. Reassemble the cube.
Where the adapter cable fits in
The GameCube fan header is a 2-pin connection, while many replacement fans, including the suggested Noctua 40mm, use a 3-pin connector. The included adapter cable bridges that difference so you do not have to modify the fan's plug or the board.
Because the fan is not included, check the connector on your chosen fan before ordering. The supplied information covers the 3-pin-to-2-pin adapter; a fan with a different connector type is not addressed by those instructions.
Product facts
- 40mm Fan Adapter Plate and Fan Cable for GameCube - Retro Frog: The Retro Frog 40mm Fan Adapter Plate and Fan Cable for GameCube is listed at USD 6.59, with a catalog comparison price of USD 9.99. The kit covers the mounting and cable adaptation; the fan remains a separate purchase.
- 40mm Fan Adapter Plate and Fan Cable for GameCube - Retro Frog: The supplied instructions describe removing four 4.5mm Gamebit screws and reusing the stock fan's four screws to secure the new plate. You need a Gamebit driver for the opening step, and the original fan screws stay in service.
