Build’s Name: Supermicro 4U EPYC Build
Operating System/ Storage Platform: VMware esxi
CPU: EPYC 7252 (will be upgrading to Milan 7313P eventually)
Motherboard: Supermicro H12SSL-CT
Chassis: Supermicro 4U CSE-846
Drives: Samsung 980 Pro PCIe 4.0 2TB NVME, 6x 18TB Western Digital White Label Easystores
RAM: 4x 32GB 3200Mhz ECC
Add-in Cards: Nvidia RTX 3070
Power Supply: 2x PWS-920P-SQ
Other Bits:
- 2 x Supermicro 2x2.5" Hot-Swappable Rear Drive Kits (MCP-220-82616-0N) (4x SATA SSDs in Rear panel)
- 3x Noctua NF-F12 iPPC 3000 PWM (mid wall)
- 2x Noctua NF-A8 PWM Fans (rear panel)
- CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9 TR4-SP3
Usage Profile: General duties include home media server, various docker containers, VMs, homelab projects, and mining with any remaining CPU/GPU performance.
Other information:
There is an interesting thread on this topic here but I did not want to hijack it. I built an EPYC server in a Supermicro 4U chassis currently using a 120w TDP 7252 but plan to upgrade to something a bit hotter later. This server lives in a home so there is a focus on reducing the jet engine sounds. As you can see in the specs above, I have replaced the mid fan wall with 3x Noctua NF-12's and the 2x rear window 80mm fans with Noctua NF-A8's. Well, I guess I was not paying enough attention to the listing when purchasing the CPU cooler and got the Noctua NH-U9 TR4-SP3 which is oriented for workstation airflow and NOT front to back for a server. I added a couple of photos below for reference.
That being said, thus far in testing the performance of the Noctua cooler is just fine (albeit with a relatively small CPU), never getting over 55C in stress tests.
I know there is the Supermicro SNK-P0064AP4 available which is oriented in the correct direction for a server, but it only has one fan on it and I am unsure how much performance would be lost replacing it with a quieter Noctua NF-A9 92mm fan.
My questions are:
1. How much does the orientation of the cooler REALLY matter? It seems it gets both the perpendicular cooling plus the fan wall pushing through the front of the heatsink and evacuating all the heat to the rear regardless. Maybe I am just trying to convince myself to keep the Noctua, but there is the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!
2. I'm concerned the Supermicro cooler might be insufficient if I replace the fan, especially in a case without jet engine server fans to begin with. Does anyone have any experience with this cooler (bonus if it has a quieter fan installed)?
EDIT: Would this better fit in the "DIY and Makers Spot" section?
Operating System/ Storage Platform: VMware esxi
CPU: EPYC 7252 (will be upgrading to Milan 7313P eventually)
Motherboard: Supermicro H12SSL-CT
Chassis: Supermicro 4U CSE-846
Drives: Samsung 980 Pro PCIe 4.0 2TB NVME, 6x 18TB Western Digital White Label Easystores
RAM: 4x 32GB 3200Mhz ECC
Add-in Cards: Nvidia RTX 3070
Power Supply: 2x PWS-920P-SQ
Other Bits:
- 2 x Supermicro 2x2.5" Hot-Swappable Rear Drive Kits (MCP-220-82616-0N) (4x SATA SSDs in Rear panel)
- 3x Noctua NF-F12 iPPC 3000 PWM (mid wall)
- 2x Noctua NF-A8 PWM Fans (rear panel)
- CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9 TR4-SP3
Usage Profile: General duties include home media server, various docker containers, VMs, homelab projects, and mining with any remaining CPU/GPU performance.
Other information:
There is an interesting thread on this topic here but I did not want to hijack it. I built an EPYC server in a Supermicro 4U chassis currently using a 120w TDP 7252 but plan to upgrade to something a bit hotter later. This server lives in a home so there is a focus on reducing the jet engine sounds. As you can see in the specs above, I have replaced the mid fan wall with 3x Noctua NF-12's and the 2x rear window 80mm fans with Noctua NF-A8's. Well, I guess I was not paying enough attention to the listing when purchasing the CPU cooler and got the Noctua NH-U9 TR4-SP3 which is oriented for workstation airflow and NOT front to back for a server. I added a couple of photos below for reference.
That being said, thus far in testing the performance of the Noctua cooler is just fine (albeit with a relatively small CPU), never getting over 55C in stress tests.
I know there is the Supermicro SNK-P0064AP4 available which is oriented in the correct direction for a server, but it only has one fan on it and I am unsure how much performance would be lost replacing it with a quieter Noctua NF-A9 92mm fan.
My questions are:
1. How much does the orientation of the cooler REALLY matter? It seems it gets both the perpendicular cooling plus the fan wall pushing through the front of the heatsink and evacuating all the heat to the rear regardless. Maybe I am just trying to convince myself to keep the Noctua, but there is the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!
2. I'm concerned the Supermicro cooler might be insufficient if I replace the fan, especially in a case without jet engine server fans to begin with. Does anyone have any experience with this cooler (bonus if it has a quieter fan installed)?
EDIT: Would this better fit in the "DIY and Makers Spot" section?
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