rx1620 server fan are very noisy? Any workaround?

[TY 007]

Hi,

rx1620 server fans are very noisy. Would like to convert it as noiseless-friendly as rx2620.

Any workaround? Assume rx1620 server is only powered-on in a Air-Conditioned Room. Take out the Cover? Take ALL the server fans?

Thanks

[tkc]

hi ty007, have you tried replacing the fans already?

[TY 007]

Tried before, no luck :(

[whiteknight]

TY

This Server is designed to be placed at the data center.

I would recommend you upgrade your office friendly RX2620

refer to this link:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12142_div/12142_div.HTML#Technical%20Specifications


Check the environmental characteristics

Environmental Characteristics Acoustics (operator/bystander)
at 25° C 7.1 Bels LwA
Operating Temperature
(up to 3000 ft/ 900m)* 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Non-operating Temperature -40° to 158° F (-40° to 70° C)

WK

please assign points

[TY 007]

>> This Server is designed to be placed at the data center

How to convert rx1620 to non-data center, noiseless-friendly version? For example, rx2620?

[TY 007]

I am thinking to modify the rx1620 Server Fans using PC-Based Fans.

At the same time, the rx1620 Server able to boot-up the OS.

For example - DC Fan:
http://www.evercool.com.tw/oemodm.htm

[tkc]

there are 3 fans in a rx1620, i.e. cpu fan, memory fan and power supply fan.

there is a isensor command at the efi prompt where you can check the fan status e.g.

fs0:\MISC> isensor read

11 Fan 1 (PSU) = 01 --- 0001 (00) transition to OK
12 Fan 2 (Mem) = 01 --- 0001 (00) transition to OK
13 Fan 3 (CPU) = 01 --- 0001 (00) transition to OK

...

E0 Fan 1L Tach = 69 ES- 00C0 12600.00 RPM
E1 Fan 1R Tach = 68 ES- 00C0 12480.00 RPM
E2 Fan 2L Tach = 5F ES- 00C0 11400.00 RPM
E3 Fan 2R Tach = 65 ES- 00C0 12120.00 RPM
E4 Fan 3L Tach = 67 ES- 00C0 12360.00 RPM
E5 Fan 3R Tach = 6F ES- 00C0 13320.00 RPM
E8 Fan 1L Health = 00 ES- 0001 (00) performance met
E9 Fan 1R Health = 00 ES- 0001 (00) performance met
EA Fan 2L Health = 00 ES- 0001 (00) performance met
EB Fan 2R Health = 00 ES- 0001 (00) performance met
EC Fan 3L Health = 00 ES- 0001 (00) performance met
ED Fan 3R Health = 00 ES- 0001 (00) performance met


if all the fans appeared ok, there is nothing wrong with the server. the design of this server is such that it is supposed to be rack mounted and placed in a computer room rather than an office equipment.

changing the fan yourself with a less noisier one will not be a supported configuration by hp.

i think this is not support issue. this is more like a sales issue to me whereby you shld contact the local sales who proposed this unit to you to follow up on the matter.

[TY 007]

>> if all the fans appeared ok, there is nothing wrong with the server

Confirm via isensor the fans are OK.

I know modifying rx1620 Server Fans is not a HP Supported Configuration.

Anyone know how to convert rx1620 Server Fans using PC-Based Fans?

For example - DC Fan:
http://www.evercool.com.tw/oemodm.htm

[tkc]

there is a similar technical document in itrc for isensor command :

http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en&docId=emr_na-c00916469-1

[Torsten.]

In fact most servers are designed for data centers where noise is not aproblem.

To be honest, I cannot say how noisy this box is. Between all other servers you cannot hear it.

For office use there are special "office friendly" models of rx2600 and rx2620.

The problem is, the server will track the number and speed of the fans. Any change in the wrong directing and the server will go off to prevent an overtemp damage.

[Sameer_Nirmal · Accepted solution]

I think the fans are supposed to be running at their appropriate (high) speed with this type of server. The first thing comes to my mind about its high accoustic level (7.1 Bel LwA)is the design of this server. The server's design is ultra dense 1U rack design. This design provides one of the smallest form factors in the industry within space-contrained environments.The small form factor requires efficient cooling and hence the fans are supposed to be run at appropriate speed but then their speed constitues to the high accoustic level.

The accoustic level of rx2620 is <6.8 Bels LwA.

So I don't think there is a workaround especially when there is tracking/control of no of fans and their speed through system firmware.

The only tweaking which I can think of is to modify the firmware ( which could only be done by HP) to make the Fans run at lower speed. But again it is not safe and against the design of the server and won't be done by any OEM.

[TY 007]

>> The accoustic level of rx2620 is <6.8 Bels LwA.

Just wondering is there anyway that we can use rx2620 fans in rx1620 by modifying the rx1620 fans cabling etc so rx1620 firmware still believe rx1620 fans is still in use?

[TY 007]

Anyone has any idea what if I leave the rx1620 server casing/cover open, would it able to boot-up the OS?

Does rx1620 have any server casing/cover sensor same as some x86 boxes?

[Marcel Burggraeve]

The RX1620 is a 1U size server, the RX2620 is a 3U server.
The fans used in both systems are totally different ( in size and maybe in specs as well ) so you cannot simply exchange them.
Regarding leaving off the top cover, even if there is a switch to detect if the cover is not there and you 'sabotage' that switch you will totally destroy the airflow in the casing.

[Torsten.]

If you remoce the cover the system will likely complain about overtemp and speed up the fans first = more noise.
Sometime later it will probably power off.

But it will be very silent then.
;-)

[Marcel Burggraeve]

Mistake in my earlier reply, the RX2620 is a 2U server and not 3U.

[rick jones]

As already pointed-out the rx2620 is a 2U system and as such will have fans which do not physically fit into an rx1620.

The suggestions to upgrade the rx1620 to an rx2620 - ie a box swap - are good, but I would probably take it one step further and suggest upgrading (again box swap) to an rx2660. It is my experience that even in the rack configuration rather than the OFS (Office Friendly Server) configuration, the rx2660 is quieter than an rx2620.

Any hardware mods with respect to changing fans and whatnot in your rx1620's would indeed void any remaining HW warrantee. Whether or not there are quieter 1U fans out there and whether or not they would work in an rx1620 is an open question.

[TY 007]

>> rx2660 is quieter than an rx2620

Great, this is something new to be considered :)

[Torsten.]

From the quickspecs:

rx2660
Acoustics (operator/bystander) at 77° F (25° C) 7.0 Bels LwA

rx2620
Acoustics (operator/bystander) at
77° F (25° C)- Rackmount Server <6.8 Bels LwA

rx2620 office friendly
Acoustics (operator/bystander) at 77° F (25° C) - Office Environment Server <5.5 Bels LwA

see
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12698_na/12698_na.HTML
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12141_na/12141_na.HTML

You may consider to put the server in another room and access via network.

[TY 007]

Thanks everyone. Got necessary information. Would discuss with my Comrades on the rx1620 future enhancement. Thanks again.