Recommendations to quiet a loud SuperMicro requested

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Chambers2

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Jul 21, 2017
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Hi Everyone,

I bought a SuperMicro chassis (45 bay) earlier this year and have been struggling trying to quiet the sucker down. I went and bought different case fans but it's still super high pitched. I went so far as to buy special sound reducing blankets and trying to put it into a box with them, but as you know temperature is an issue. Now I'm out of ideas

I was reading this post from 4 years ago: https://hardforum.com/threads/supermicro-super-quiet-sq-series.1758617/ and they talk about getting a PWM controller. Is there a place I could buy this? I'm struggling finding anything because this has 4 pins and the 4 pin controllers i've found have the wrong notches on the plastic.

I think i might want to swap out the power supply with a quieter one as well but having a hard time finding the right one.

Been a lurker for over 10 years and always found folks on here to be really knowledgeable and helpful, so I'm hoping someone can guide me to what i should do next. The supermicro case I have is the following: https://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/4U/847/SC847E26-RJBOD1

I've probably already put close to $1000 into trying to quiet this guy down (blankets + new quieter fans) so i'm open to suggestions.

Thanks all!

Tom
 
What MB? Did you check the BIOS for fan control settings? If it's a Supermicro server board, some have the fan control setting in IPMI.
 
What are the current drive temperatures? What is controlling the fan speed? What speed are they running at? What is ambient temp where the case is located? I am assuming the fans are just running full blast with no PWM control? The page states "PWM fans", but the manual states the fan connections in the case are only 3 pin, which would mean no PWM control and the fans are running at the full blast 7,000RPM. If that is the case, then getting a PWM controller would indeed help, but you would have to find the sweet spot for temps, some standalone controllers also have temp sensors you can program for what drive temp you want and it will control speed on its own.
 
1: Finished basement or rough?
2: Open to the whole basement? Or in it's own room?
3: What kind of SOUND insulation do you have in the area around the server besides the sound blankets? Is there any insulation in the ceiling above the server area? Is it SOUND insulation or thermal insulation?

If you have no insulation or no SOUND insulation in the ceiling above the server, consider putting in something like this: UltraTouch R-13 Denim Insulation


Note: The link leads to the 3.5" version for 2x4's. They also make 5.5" R-19 (for 2x6) and 8" R-30 (for 2x10). The 8", if you have joist space, is probably what you'd want to use.

Note: The above links are simply examples. What width and thickness you buy would depend on your framing situation (joist/stud width and spacing (16" or 24" on-center).

If the server isn't off in it's own little room and is out in the open basement, consider BUILDING a small room for it (and plan to ventilate the room), possibly a vent through an outside wall. Though, if your home uses an HRV/ERV system, you could probably put in a new vent and return loop for the room and watch your heating costs nose-dive.

Sufficient sound-insulation in a room should kill most of the audible signature.
 
For PSU replacements, the SQ PSUs are the quiet ones, but a couple others aren't really much louder.

PWS-920P-SQ and PWS1K28P-SQ, very quiet, but usually harder to find and expensive.
PWS-721P-1R and PWS-920P-1R, still pretty quiet, easier to find and much cheaper.

I put a pair of PWS-721P-1R PSUs in our SC846 at work, and it made a noticeable difference. And even here in Oz, the land of ridiculously priced hardware, it was only $150 for the pair. I imagine they're much cheaper just about anywhere else.
 
JBark said:
For PSU replacements, the SQ PSUs are the quiet ones, but a couple others aren't really much louder.

PWS-920P-SQ and PWS1K28P-SQ, very quiet, but usually harder to find and expensive.
PWS-721P-1R and PWS-920P-1R, still pretty quiet, easier to find and much cheaper.

I put a pair of PWS-721P-1R PSUs in our SC846 at work, and it made a noticeable difference. And even here in Oz, the land of ridiculously priced hardware, it was only $150 for the pair. I imagine they're much cheaper just about anywhere else.
Click to expand...

Very true. I have a couple pair of PWS-1K28P-SQ in a workstation right next to my head and I can barely hear them. I also have a pair of PWS-721-1R's in another server and they're not loud enough to be heard over the 5 case fans in an SC-846 chassis.
 
Thanks guys, I got the sq' s ordered and plan to use some of that denim insulation above the server rack. Hoping the combination will work.
 
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