ML110 G5 System Fan LOUD

[Ossian Birch]

New ML110 G5 Tower case - system fan is running at MAX constantly, from what I believe this should normally spin down after about 30 seconds, the machine is FAR TOO noisy to be in the same room with. From other posts on external sites people say its really quiet after the first spin up. Server has latest BIOS dated 2008/15/7.
No fan speed options in BIOS either.
If this is not a simple fix then its getting returned -
Noise figures are quoted as around 36dBA - which seems comparable with 'normal' workstations (even though this is designed as a server - but this is nothing close. Any help would be much appreciated.

[srossbach]

Same Problem here (470064-918)! One hour ago the HP Technican has changed Systemboard and Systemfan... Nothing changed!!! Systemfan is running at 3500rpm CPU fan at 3000rpm. Without load! Newest Firmware.
I have 2 other ML110 G5 (470064-639) with load Systemfan and CPU Fan at 1500rpm.

[Ossian Birch]

I have opened a case with HP - only suggestion is to reflash the BIOS -
Found a similar case BUT for G4 servers:

There was a BIOS fix for that issue -

Do you have the Xeon E3110 3.0Ghz processor?

[srossbach]

I've reflashed the BIOS on the old board -> no change
The HP technican reflashed BIOS on the new board -> no change
Yes, I have the Xeon E3110 3.0Ghz processor. The 2 other silent ML100 G5 have Xeon E3065 2.33Ghz processors.

Perhaps we have to wait for the next firmware update...

@HP Support: I'am have no problems to flash a Beta Firmware ;-) At the moment the server sounds like a DL...

[Ossian Birch]

Yes - Mine is 470064-918

This is the same issue reported on G4 models - according to the following article also Xeon Processor - BIOS unable to read temp sensors on Xeon CPU - Therefore spun fans at Max. Pretty poor programming - again.

http://www13.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en&docId=emr_na-c01139157-2

[srossbach]

Found in revision history for "Systems ROMPaq Firmware Upgrade for HP ProLiant ML110 G5 Servers":

Version: 2007.12.07 (A) (11 Dec 2007)
Fixes
...
Resolved an issue with the system fan speed operating too low when the XEON E3110 processor is installed.
...

So it's not a first time problem with the fan

[Ossian Birch]

I see you are also in switzerland - Who is your reseller? - I got mine from ITRIS.

Right now I would settle for fan speed too low! unless the CPU overheats :( I Dont know how to escalate HP further - have informed reseller of the problems and asked for leverage there, and have open support case - as I have next day support contract - but I can wait a few more days. I guess swapping for a different CPU bsaed model might be an alternative possibility.

[Ossian Birch]

-Update
HP have said they have seen a similar problem and by replacing the CPU heatsink this solved the problem - It is being dispatched to me - will update results here.

[srossbach]

Sounds interessting, but why not. The CPU fan is also included in the heatsink. Perhaps the System fan speed is connected with the CPU fan speed. We will see.
I'm looking forward for your update...

[Ossian Birch]

Oh tried stepping back to previous BIOS with no change in fan speed - apart from the message "processor not supported" my gut feeling is that this is still BIOS code related, but happy to go along with HP to fault find.
Changed back to latest BIOS again no change.

[Romano Banchieri]

We receive 3 ML110 G5 CPU E3110, and each are different.

The first is good, with the temp sensor around 37° and the fans less than 2000 rpm.
The second have the temp sensor at 40° and the fans at 2500 rpm, little bit noisy.
The third have the temp sensor fixed at 45° and the fans are every time at max speed, too noisy.

I don't know what to think about the quality of these servers.

[kopper2 kopper2]

any resolution so far?

[harry haw]

new bios haved released you can try it.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=3580646&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3580609&swLang=8&taskId=135&swEnvOID=1005


Type: BIOS - System ROM
Version: 2008.10.02 (29 Oct 2008)

[Ossian Birch]

Nothing arrived yesterday - one box turned up this AM - havent opened it so dont know what they have sent - from its size looks like a system fan only????? , but I wont be able to check or install it today - the post above BIOS is for a ML150.

[Urs Koehler]

Just bought a brand new ML110 G5 in Switzerland at ARP Datacom. The System FAN starts with high RPM when powering up the server which is normal. Then after 20 seconds or so the server reduces the system FAN speed to 3100RPM, where it stays. The CPU Fan stays at around 2500 RPM. The CPU Temperature reads 37 Celsius and remains there. The server is very loud this way.
Is this normal? I do not think so!!
Is the CPU temperature read out sensor the source of the problem as somebody said in this forum? What can be done to get this resolverd / fixed?
Does enybody had success in getting this problem resolved already?

Many thanks in advance for a encouraging posting :-) Urs

[andrea dal zovo]

Hi. I've buyed here in switzerland directly from HP the same model (ML110, 3GHz Xeon dual core) and my fan is always at the max speed. the bios is reporting that the CPU is 46C (even on a fresh boot....). I think there is a bios problem. I've tried to flash again the last version of the bios but nothing's changed. My friend has buyed another one (from Techdata) and this one is reporting 37C and the fan speed is low. I think I will call HP monday for support.

[srossbach]

Today I received the new parts from HP a Heatsink and a new CPU. The CPU HP delivered is a Xeon E3065 2.33Ghz and not the version which was originally delivered with the server a Xeon E3110 3.0Ghz!
For sure with the new CPU the server will work silent, I've 2 others with this CPU and no problem...

I think I have to call HP on monday...

[srossbach]

OK new Call is opened. I will see what HP is answering. It can't be a solution to replace the CPU with a slower one.
As I mentioned above there was a problem before with this CPU. I think the solution is to fix the BIOS/Firmware...

BTW: It's interesting, 5 of the posters with problems are from Switzerland and 1 from US...

[andrea dal zovo]

maybe is it possible that the special price for that server (390CHF with E200 and 2 hd) is linked directly to this defect... For me if HP will change the processor to a slower one is not a problem, but they can send me a quad core instead of a dual one :-)
I'm always buyed Dell server and I can say that i never experienced a problem like this (even on the cheapest line).
does anyone has checked the sensor on the cpu? Maybe there is a line of defected sensors instead of bios problems. Or maybe the change made on old release of the bios (on 2007) that reported a too low fan speed with this cpu has fixed the rotation ignoring the sensor data....

[Romano Banchieri]

> maybe is it possible that the special price for that server (390CHF with E200 and 2 hd) is linked directly to this defect...

I can't believe that ;-)

> does anyone has checked the sensor on the cpu? Maybe there is a line of defected sensors instead of bios problems.

Temp sensor is inside the CPU, right ?
A lot of Defective CPUs ?

> Or maybe the change made on old release of the bios (on 2007) that reported a too low fan speed with this cpu has fixed the rotation ignoring the sensor data....

On 2 of my 3 server the fans rotation speed change with temperature. I fell like the report of the temperature is wrong.

[andrea dal zovo]

If the sensor is inside the CPU, maybe there is a problem on this series of Xeon processor.
As I can see, my system is reporting 46C even if the system was started 1 minute before: that's pretty impossible, isn't it?
You can agree: if I should write a Bios feauture that control the fan speed based on the CPU temperature, if there is an error reading that value the best way to keep the system running is to take the fan at the maximum speed.
I really don't know if the price is linked to the problem, or HP is simply giving us a christmas present =) but you should agree that this is a strange problem on a strange offer...
I will post the result with HP support , and if they will find a solution (as you can see in this thread someone has already changed some hardware but the problem is still there....)

[andrea dal zovo]

I've see on HP biz support that someone is suggesting to clear the CMOS as describe on "HP Proliant ML110 Generation 5 Server Maintenance and Service Guide", on page 71.
Monday I will try this "magic" jumper!
Can the solution be so simple?

[Stéphane Duvoisin]

Hi all,

I have exactly the same problems. FAN's run at full RPM. HP changed my system board, then it was ok. After changing something in the bios, it started again running at full speed.
There is also another bios bug. Try to disable the nx bite. You will see that the server will not boot at all. You will have to remove the bios battery to reset. Be carefull, that was the reason that my new board started to go full power again. I have a case open by hp and hope to have more info next week.

PS: i'm also from Switzerland...

[Ossian Birch]

HP sent a new CPU heatsink/fan assembly and a system fan - despite my requesting that this case be escalated for BIOS programming - aparantly they need logs..? what a waste of time sending these fans as the fans are controlled by BIOS. But I played along and NO change. Tried the above suggestion of resetting BIOS and CMOS to defaults NO change. Its amazing how HP can release such a bad batch - don't they ever switch a machine on after assembly... This is really bad. I have worked with Compaq/HP servers for 13 years, seems they are going the way of a lot of companies - bad service/faulty goods/no quality control.

[Ossian Birch]

Another couple of points - the CPU diode readout in the BIOS - realtime sensor data
CPU0 Diode reads N/A
CPU Dmn 0 Temp reads 43.00 deg C
CPU Dmn 1 Temp reads N/A
and I dont see any fan data whatsoever - where are other people seeing fan RPM info?
yeah - quad core CPU would Be OK with me too. Compensate for loosing 2 weeks dev time on this box.