Supermicro SC847 Fan Choices

[MRobi]

I recently picked up a Supermicro SC847E16 36 bay chassis. I keep it in the basement on a rack underneath the stairs. I personally don't find the noise level to be terrible, but the wife is complaining because she can hear it when she's down there. She wants it to be "whisper quiet".

So I've ordered a pair of PWS-1K28P-SQ power supplies to replace the 1400w versions that came with it. Now I'm looking at the fans.

I do have them set to "Optimal" in the IPMI settings, but they're still quite loud. The case comes with 7 FAN-0126L4 fans all mounted behind the HDD trays (1 row of 4, 1 row of 3), and no exhaust fans.

I've seen people replacing with 120mm Noctua fans or piecing some things together which is not really something I'm interested in. I'd like to replace with other Supermicro fans. I've seen lots of threads with people talking about FAN-0074L4 and FAN-0104L4 but the threads all seem to die off after the "I'm going to try putting these in". There doesn't ever seem to be a definitive answer on will they provide enough airflow. Ultimately I'd love to use 7x Fan-0104L4 because they're 24dBa vs the 0126 which are 53.5dBa but I worry there won't be enough static pressure to move the air through. I also worry the FAN-0074L4 won't be enough of a difference to make it quiet enough.

FAN-0126L4
80x80x38
7,000RPM
CFM: 72.5
Static Pressure: 1.09
dBa: 53.5

FAN-0074L4
80x80x38
5,000RPM
CFM: 68.3
Static Pressure: 0.53
dBa: 45

FAN-0104L4
80x80x25
2,800RPM
CFM: 32.9
Static Pressure: 0.14
dBa: 24

For those who have taken this route in the past, what were the final results? Would I be able to run a combination of FAN-0074L4 and FAN-0104L4 to achieve enough cooling? Maybe 4 of 1 and 3 of the other? Should I just order 7x FAN-0074L4 and hope it's quiet enough or 7x FAN-0104L4 and hope there's enough airflow to keep things cool?

Any and all input is greatly appreciated.

 

[K D]

I have used both 74L4 and 104L4 with an 846 chassis.

74L4 - direct drop in replacement. Noise level is not too bad. I use a script that adjusts fan levels based on Hdd temps and I target around 35deg idle Temps. Fan runs at 2800rpm most of the time.

104L4. - I just let it run at full speed. It is completely inaudible. The HDD noise is more. When used with 12 drives in alternative rows in an 846 chassis, drives idle at around 32deg and go to around 35 degree at load. When used with 20 drives, drives idle at 37 degs and go up to 42 degs at load.


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[MRobi]

I have used both 74L4 and 104L4 with an 846 chassis.

74L4 - direct drop in replacement. Noise level is not too bad. I use a script that adjusts fan levels based on Hdd temps and I target around 35deg idle Temps. Fan runs at 2800rpm most of the time.

104L4. - I just let it run at full speed. It is completely inaudible. The HDD noise is more. When used with 12 drives in alternative rows in an 846 chassis, drives idle at around 32deg and go to around 35 degree at load. When used with 20 drives, drives idle at 37 degs and go up to 42 degs at load.


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So having used both, from what I gather here you opted to keep with the 74L4 with the script? Can you share a bit more information on this script? At 2,800rpm I'm sure these are quieter than at full speed.

At this point I'll only have 16 drives, but will likely be up to 24 within the next 12 months and eventually 36 but that's a ways away still. 42 deg at load with 20 drives to me says the 104L4 would not move enough air with all 36 drives in there and may even cause some issues with 24.

 

[StammesOpfer]

Just FYI the Lower Rear drives don't get great airflow even with the original fans. Air tends to stay in the upper half. So watch the drive temps closely.

 

[MRobi]

Just FYI the Lower Rear drives don't get great airflow even with the original fans. Air tends to stay in the upper half. So watch the drive temps closely.

Ya I figured that just by looking at the case. No fans in the lower half at all. The lower rear drives will be the last to get filled

 

[K D]

I use both.
The 74L4 in an 846 with 24 4TB drives and the 014L4 in an 846 with 12 8TB drives.


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[MRobi]

I use both.
The 74L4 in an 846 with 24 4TB drives and the 014L4 in an 846 with 12 8TB drives.


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Thanks, I opted for 7x FAN-0074L4. If it's still too loud for her I'll look at insulating the area under the stairs and putting a door there to help block the sound a bit.

Would you be able to share some info on that script you're using to control fan speed based on temps?

 

[K D]

I use a modified version of the script posted here.

Script: Hybrid CPU & HD Fan Zone Controller

 

[sfbayzfs]

As long as it isn't in a super hot environment, you can quiet an 847 chassis down a lot.

In a JBOD SC847, there is no user control of the fan speeds (maybe with the IPMI JBOD power controller, but I don't have one), and the backplanes seem to run your fans at about 1/2 - 2/3 full speed. In the 36-bay 847 chassis with a motherboard, you can get a lot quieter with PWM fan control

Step 1 is setting the energy efficient fan profile if the board is the correct generation to have that profile, optimal is a bit louder
Step 2 for me quieting an 847 case down is to pull 3 of the fans, you don't need them and removing them cuts power draw and noise nicely
Step 3 is to trade fans for lower speed ones - with an 847 JBOD full of drives, and my cool intake temps, Noctua NF-A8-PWM move just enough air at full speed with 7 of them. I am also fine with 4x 0.17A Panaflos, but I opted for 4x 0.35A rear exhaust Supermicro fans in modded carriers to give me more of a safety margin, and in the recent heatwave, I was fine with 37-49C drives, mostly 43ish at the top of the rack, 39ish mid-rack.

 

[bwfan]

I have used both 74L4 and 104L4 with an 846 chassis.

74L4 - direct drop in replacement. Noise level is not too bad. I use a script that adjusts fan levels based on Hdd temps and I target around 35deg idle Temps. Fan runs at 2800rpm most of the time.

104L4. - I just let it run at full speed. It is completely inaudible. The HDD noise is more. When used with 12 drives in alternative rows in an 846 chassis, drives idle at around 32deg and go to around 35 degree at load. When used with 20 drives, drives idle at 37 degs and go up to 42 degs at load.


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Good morning KD,

SC846 owner here.

Are both the fans you mentioned above a direct drop in to the SC846 chassis? I assume that...

1) The connection from each fan and the fan hot swappable beige housing are directly swappable?

or

2) The fans can be swapped between beige and green housing and dropped in?

Can you post pictures?

Thanks!

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[Rand__]

I had to physically modify my 74L4's to fit the original beige housing and I don't think the green one fits (iirc). Fan connector is fine though.

 

[bwfan]

I had to physically modify my 74L4's to fit the original beige housing and I don't think the green one fits (iirc). Fan connector is fine though.

View attachment 7866

Why was it required to Dremel the fan?

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[K D]

The original green housing for both fans should fit in the 846 fan carriers as is. I did not have to make any modifications.

I'll try to post some pics tonight after I get home.

 

[Rand__]

Ahh sorry, misread, in 846 green housing fits, but in 847 it does not

 

[bwfan]

Ahh sorry, misread, in 846 green housing fits, but in 847 it does not

Thanks!

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[bwfan]

The original green housing for both fans should fit in the 846 fan carriers as is. I did not have to make any modifications.

I'll try to post some pics tonight after I get home.

Please do post them. Thank you!

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[bwfan]

The original green housing for both fans should fit in the 846 fan carriers as is. I did not have to make any modifications.

I'll try to post some pics tonight after I get home.

I have confirmation from Supermicro via email this fan works on the SC846 chassis. Not officially supported but it does work.

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[bwfan]

The original green housing for both fans should fit in the 846 fan carriers as is. I did not have to make any modifications.

I'll try to post some pics tonight after I get home.

Good morning KD,

Can you post those photos please? Do you replace all 5 fans or just the front 3 in the fan wall?


Thanks

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[K D]

Here you go. Sorry for the delay. I didn't have a 74L4 available as a spare to take pictures and could shutdown my file server only today.

 

[K D]

All 3 fans on an 846 fan wall.