Comments on: Quiet Server Cooling http://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/ Personal Blog of Adam Byers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:11:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Adamhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-116 Adam Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:18:58 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-116 @8buttonsThanks for the tip - at the time the server was running VMWare ESX so I don't think that SMBus or anything like it would have worked. It's still a good tip for those running an OS naively. @8buttons

Thanks for the tip – at the time the server was running VMWare ESX so I don’t think that SMBus or anything like it would have worked. It’s still a good tip for those running an OS naively.

]]> By: 8buttonshttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-115 8buttons Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:09:19 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-115 Hi,Really instead of chopping the wires you should use the SMBus to control the fan speed according to temperatures. Software like SpeedFan can talk to alot of system management chips. The opteron systems are likely to use ADM102x management chip which SpeedFan supports. There is also a SpeedFan service out there so you dont need to keep a user logged on.Hope this helps.8buttons Hi,

Really instead of chopping the wires you should use the SMBus to control the fan speed according to temperatures. Software like SpeedFan can talk to alot of system management chips. The opteron systems are likely to use ADM102x management chip which SpeedFan supports. There is also a SpeedFan service out there so you dont need to keep a user logged on.

Hope this helps.

8buttons

]]> By: Adamhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-114 Adam Tue, 14 Jun 2011 01:19:35 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-114 Got ya. Just saying - kludges, like the one detailed in the post, and putting the fans on the 5v rail, are acceptable in some situations but not all. Got ya. Just saying – kludges, like the one detailed in the post, and putting the fans on the 5v rail, are acceptable in some situations but not all.

]]> By: Chrishttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-113 Chris Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:50:39 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-113 Adam, Thank you for the heads up and don't worry about my client. He is provided with FREE service and this server is on my dollar. Also he works from home in an upstairs quiet office. So with those factors in place, I'm sure he won't mind if I perform a minor surgery to his FREE server in order to provide some quietness to his work environment But your overall concern was noted ! Adam,
Thank you for the heads up and don’t worry about my client. He is provided with FREE service and this server is on my dollar. Also he works from home in an upstairs quiet office. So with those factors in place, I’m sure he won’t mind if I perform a minor surgery to his FREE server in order to provide some quietness to his work environment But your overall concern was noted !

]]> By: Adamhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-112 Adam Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:25:55 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-112 Use a multimeter to work out where the 5v is on your power supply. The standard is RED is 5v and YELLOW is 12v, and ORANGE is 3.3v but I'd check.Should just be a matter of snipping the wires coming from the fan, splicing a Molex connector onto the fan leads (with the appropriate connections being made to the 5v supply) and plugging it in to an available Molex plug. Or, you could splice it directly to a 5v lead from the PS.I will say that I find it disturbing your going to do this on a clients system. Read the post again and you'll find that the original modification was for a server I have at home. I'd never do something like this (or lower the fan speed) in a production environment. Use a multimeter to work out where the 5v is on your power supply. The standard is RED is 5v and YELLOW is 12v, and ORANGE is 3.3v but I’d check.

Should just be a matter of snipping the wires coming from the fan, splicing a Molex connector onto the fan leads (with the appropriate connections being made to the 5v supply) and plugging it in to an available Molex plug. Or, you could splice it directly to a 5v lead from the PS.

I will say that I find it disturbing your going to do this on a clients system. Read the post again and you’ll find that the original modification was for a server I have at home. I’d never do something like this (or lower the fan speed) in a production environment.

]]> By: chrishttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-111 chris Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:00:02 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-111 Good morning, I wanted to see how Manny and others that followed switched the wires on the fan backplane. I see the yellow and a black but it leads to the same 12v 5V settings. My fan backplane looks like its glued in there. Do I need to perform surgery or is this easy. BTW, I'm deploying this server in the a.m so it would be great to receive a response before then so my client does not see me jimmy rigging his server.Thanks guys,Chris Good morning,
I wanted to see how Manny and others that followed switched the wires on the fan backplane. I see the yellow and a black but it leads to the same 12v 5V settings.
My fan backplane looks like its glued in there. Do I need to perform surgery or is this easy. BTW, I’m deploying this server in the a.m so it would be great to receive a response before then so my client does not see me jimmy rigging his server.

Thanks guys,

Chris

]]> By: Adamhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-110 Adam Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:07:29 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-110 @LandmineTried it on another 1U server I have and it works well. Just keep an eye on the temp and make sure the room or space it's in is well ventilated. @Landmine

Tried it on another 1U server I have and it works well. Just keep an eye on the temp and make sure the room or space it’s in is well ventilated.

]]> By: Landminehttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-109 Landmine Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:08:08 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-109 I have a couple of U1 servers in my home office that I need to make silent. I'm going to try Manny's idea and see if that helps.Anyone else have any other ideas that work? I have a couple of U1 servers in my home office that I need to make silent. I’m going to try Manny’s idea and see if that helps.

Anyone else have any other ideas that work?

]]> By: Adamhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-108 Adam Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:13:10 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-108 @FritzExplain to me how that's a possibility when the CPU is running well within the temperature specs of the processor?Oh, and posting the same exact comment once is all that's needed. @Fritz

Explain to me how that’s a possibility when the CPU is running well within the temperature specs of the processor?

Oh, and posting the same exact comment once is all that’s needed.

]]> By: Fritzhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-107 Fritz Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:08:37 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-107 Soon of later, the CPU is going to burn the motherboard. You need to bring the temperature down a bit lower. I am having the same noisy problems with two 1U Supermicro severs installed in my living room. Here is another stupid ideas. Make hole in the top cover the size of the a larger quiet fan. Put the larger quiet fan sitting on top of the hole with the server cover on. Now you can shutdown the noisy fan and problem solved. I don't have a picture to show you but it works. Soon of later, the CPU is going to burn the motherboard. You need to bring the temperature down a bit lower.
I am having the same noisy problems with two 1U Supermicro severs installed in my living room.
Here is another stupid ideas. Make hole in the top cover the size of the a larger quiet fan. Put the larger quiet fan sitting on top of the hole with the server cover on. Now you can shutdown the noisy fan and problem solved. I don’t have a picture to show you but it works.

]]> By: Adamhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-106 Adam Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:42:06 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-106 @BradI actually followed Manny's advice and did the same... works great! @Brad

I actually followed Manny’s advice and did the same… works great!

]]> By: Bradhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-105 Brad Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:32:43 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-105 @Manny I have the same Rackable systems 1U server as you guys do, and I chose to follow Manny's technique. The fans still run at a decent amount, being 13,000rpm 40mm fans at full 12v, and the noise level is VERY MUCH reduced. I could hear this thing through the entire house, now I can barely hear it in the same room. @Manny
I have the same Rackable systems 1U server as you guys do, and I chose to follow Manny’s technique. The fans still run at a decent amount, being 13,000rpm 40mm fans at full 12v, and the noise level is VERY MUCH reduced. I could hear this thing through the entire house, now I can barely hear it in the same room.

]]> By: Adamhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-104 Adam Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:27:44 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-104 @MannySorry for the delay in replying – I was on vacation…That's a good idea... my method works out because I am using a secondary hard (not pictured) drive that does not fit in the case with the cover on but I like your method too. @Manny

Sorry for the delay in replying – I was on vacation…

That’s a good idea… my method works out because I am using a secondary hard (not pictured) drive that does not fit in the case with the cover on but I like your method too.

]]> By: Mannyhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-103 Manny Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:08:53 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-103 I have the same Rackable systems 1U server. All I did was reverse the red 5v lead and the yellow 12v lead on the power plug that goes to the fan backplane unit. it runs the fan unit 60% less. Less power to push the fans. They run quiet now. With the cover on. The CPU's run 34 to 39 degrees celcius. quiet machine now and it's awesome. Hope this helps. I have the same Rackable systems 1U server. All I did was reverse the red 5v lead and the yellow 12v lead on the power plug that goes to the fan backplane unit. it runs the fan unit 60% less. Less power to push the fans. They run quiet now. With the cover on. The CPU’s run 34 to 39 degrees celcius. quiet machine now and it’s awesome. Hope this helps.

]]> By: Adamhttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-102 Adam Sun, 03 May 2009 03:16:27 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-102 @RobertEven just *one* of the small rack fans is too loud. @Robert

Even just *one* of the small rack fans is too loud.

]]> By: Roberthttp://awaitinginspiration.com/2009/02/quiet-server-cooling/#comment-101 Robert Sun, 03 May 2009 02:12:29 +0000 http://awaitinginspiration.com/?p=1295#comment-101 What about, you know, unplugging only a couple of the fans? I have a similar 1U server, and it's loud! I might try this. What about, you know, unplugging only a couple of the fans? I have a similar 1U server, and it’s loud! I might try this.

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