Fan Mod for SuperMicro 3U Case?

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ViciousXUSMC

Active Member
Nov 27, 2016
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I am finding many more 3U chassis that have the hardware/price combo that fit my needs for a NAS, lesser of the 4U ones.

Noise is a big worry, so I know I will modify the stock fans with a DIY solution. I have seen mods done on the 4U cases where enough room is there to add large fans. I have not seen any mods on a 3U case.

Just curious if the 3U cases are big enough for an easy DIY solution, or if it would be a bit of a risk and 4U is the way to go.
 

cheezehead

Active Member
Sep 23, 2012
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Midwest, US
If your fans are the 4-pin PWM ones, then once fan control kicks in, you should be good to go. If you just have the 3-pin fans, pickup a pci bracket fan controller.

The only reason you may want to go complete DIY would be is if your sleeping next to your rack.
 

diobgh1

New Member
Jan 24, 2017
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Noctua D9DX i4 3u is perfect for 3u chassis, and actually cools better than the Supermicro/Intel 2u Active-cooler screamers.
 

gigatexal

I'm here to learn
Nov 25, 2012
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alexandarnarayan.com
the reason the fans are screamers is that they have to overcome a lot of obstructions to get airflow over all the components. That said with a good push pull setup and some tolerable fans I bet you could get similar performance.
 

FlashEngineer

Member
Jan 27, 2016
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I'm interested as well but seeing most even 120mm fans don't have good static pressure (that are quiet). I have only 2 more gentle typhoons left, even if I had 1 more, not sure how to place them in my 836 chassis, remove fan wall? Then what, use tie straps?
 

herby

Active Member
Aug 18, 2013
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San Ace 120mm 1850 RPM
PWM, good pressure and CFM. My favorite at the moment, but you need to crimp and put the plugs on yourself if you buy from mouser.

I've got six of the 80mm 2800 RPM San Ace that are (generally) nice and quiet in two 2U chassis right now.
 

herby

Active Member
Aug 18, 2013
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Those 80mm ones are the 104L4 ones from supermicro correct?
No, I don't think so. These top out at 2800 RPM and are 25mm deep. I know some Supermicro's are San Ace rebrands but I think they also use Sunon and maybe Deltas.
 

FlashEngineer

Member
Jan 27, 2016
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I think you do have these:

FAN-0104L4
SC743 (SQ Middle)
80
80
25
0.13
2,800
32.9
0.14
24.0

So these adequately cool your 2U chassis with 6 or 8 HDD? I assume you have SC822/823 or SC825/SC826
 

herby

Active Member
Aug 18, 2013
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Woops, that does look about same.

I like those fan quite a bit but I can't give you an apples to apples comparison. I use them in generic 2u chassis (iStar and Norco) blowing on a Supermicro board no disks on either side of the fans.
 

FlashEngineer

Member
Jan 27, 2016
96
3
8
Woops, that does look about same.

I like those fan quite a bit but I can't give you an apples to apples comparison. I use them in generic 2u chassis (iStar and Norco) blowing on a Supermicro board no disks on either side of the fans.
I got the fans, they aren't what I expected them to be. I'm not sure why but all these SanAce or Nidec fans have a characteristic hum, sort of like a swarm of bees. No matter how low the RPM, unless I turn it down to 800rpm, which is useless at that point. But even at 2000RPM they hum.

Now if you compare these fans with other 80mm fans like Arctic Cooling, Noctua, etc they don't have this hum, at least the sound is more higher pitch and not as loud. The major sound is hearing air pass by.

I've bought more of those Arctic Cooling 80mm fans, I'll put them in my 836 see if they can keep HDD relatively cool. For the 2U chassis they somehow don't really need that much airflow to keep cool for some weird reason.
 

K D

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2016
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Watching this thread. Working on a SC835 right now. Removed the rear fans and replaced the middle fans with PanaFlos. Noise is bearable but would like to bring it down further. Have 8 drives running at an average of 36 degrees. It's an old X8 board with dual 5630Ls. Ipmi states that the CPU temp is low. Power consumption is at 180w. Have ordered a couple of artic cooling and noctua pwms and will check them out and post results once I get them.
 

K D

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2016
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Watching this thread. Working on a SC835 right now. Removed the rear fans and replaced the middle fans with PanaFlos. Noise is bearable but would like to bring it down further. Have 8 drives running at an average of 36 degrees. It's an old X8 board with dual 5630Ls. Ipmi states that the CPU temp is low. Power consumption is at 180w. Have ordered a couple of artic cooling and noctua pwms and will check them out and post results once I get them.
Switched to Noctua 8omm PWM fans. CPU idle temp went up to 48degrees. All other temperatures went up 12-15 degrees. And hard drives are around 49-52 degrees.

That was a bust. Have to continue looking at options.
 

Fritz

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2015
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Switched to Noctua 8omm PWM fans. CPU idle temp went up to 48degrees. All other temperatures went up 12-15 degrees. And hard drives are around 49-52 degrees.

That was a bust. Have to continue looking at options.
Good luck. I gave up and bought a set of ear plugs.
 

diobgh1

New Member
Jan 24, 2017
28
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Switched to Noctua 8omm PWM fans. CPU idle temp went up to 48degrees. All other temperatures went up 12-15 degrees. And hard drives are around 49-52 degrees.

That was a bust. Have to continue looking at options.
I noticed before you said you removed the rear fans.

I should point out that out of all case fans, the rear exhaust is the most important. Would recommend you get the rears back. They're 80mm on the rear I think? Again I would try Noctuas.

It's a shame Noctua don't produce iPPC 80mm fans with 3000+ rpm, they had them at Computex 2015, but when I asked them about them said they weren't a priority and might not even appear in 2017. Wonder what they've been doing for 2+ years.
 
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Rand__

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Mar 6, 2014
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I should point out that out of all case fans, the rear exhaust is the most important. Would recommend you get the rears back. They're 80mm on the rear I think?
Even if the CPU fans follow the flow and push air out? Thought to save those on mine as well;)
 

K D

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2016
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replaced 2 of the middle fans with FAN-0074L4 and added one Cooler Master 80mm in the rear exhaust. The noise reduction is significant ( Slightly more than the noctuas running at full speed). All components except CPU are cool. the CPU is idling at 46 degrees. I havent checked the HDD temps. (Dropped and stepped on the USB stick that had ESXi o_O and have to re-install before I can get to smart stats. But they dont feel warm to the touch.) Will continue to experiment.

Even if the CPU fans follow the flow and push air out? Thought to save those on mine as well;)
Mine is a XeonD with the supermicro 1U active heatsink. So no push-pull.