Any way to make IBM Bladecenter H 2880W fans quieter?

[VirosaGITS]

Hi all,

I just hooked up three different IBM Bladecenter H 2880W PSU's to my brand new S7's, and boy the fans on these PSU's are incredibly loud! These PSU's have a high pitched sorta whistle sound, almost kinda like the whistle you hear on a turbo. These PSU's have a pitch more noticeable than the actual miners in the room.

My question is, is there any way to make these fans quieter at all? Or a replacement for the stock fans that are quieter? Otherwise, do I have any other options? I ideally wanted to run platinum PSU's to these miners, so if there is no solution, is there a recommended replacement that you guys suggest?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

Server PSU's are not known for being quiet.  I doubt you are able to make it what you consider "quiet".   If going for less noise I traditionally would send someone twords ATX vs server psu.   I don't know that I have seen much as far as making them quiet.  If someone can think of one please post, I could not find quickly.

I think they are just loud PSU's at end of day. They are great for their price and amount of power, not for quietness.

But the problem with this is the 10 PCIE cables the S7 want's.   That get's most ATX psu's where they are not to good for the job.

I think that EVGA 1300 with two extra PCIe extenders is OK for S7 batches 2, 4 and 6.
For batch 1 could be OK, depending on your optimal mhz setting and without overclocking
For batch 3, 5, 7 (and especially 7), EVGA is probably insufficient.
Batch 3,5 were close to borderline w/o overclocking, but probably insufficient if overclocking to 625.
batch 7 jumped to 1345w at the wall on EVGA 1300 from the getgo without any oveclock, so 1600 is probably needed, but they are expensive.
Batch 6 is OK even when overclocked to 650-4.3Th at 1160W at the wall.
batch 8-also probably needs Bitmain's PSU or EVGA 1600 (or 2880W IBM for two, of course).

EVGA G2 1300w at 1345w at the wall is just fine, that is only 1224W and they can feed 100% of their rated load 24/7 for their whole MSRP and they are garanteed 10 years, so...

Anyways TLDR; that is 94% load, no problem for a EVGA G2.

Phil was saying on some other thread that he was running EVGA 1300 at 1320W at the wall and it was OK short term, but became weird (probably unstable or "spiky') after 1-2 month of constant load.
I would like (if possible) to set up PSU and keep it going for the duration.

I don't have that problem on any of my miners and they're all running EVGA G2's. If the PSU spike after so little time, then its defective and should be RMA'd.

If you dont already have a 1300, then you can get the more expensive 1600W if you're looking for peace of mind.

[Prelude]

If that PSU was having issues, it's a lemon. I think Phil was running on 120V back then too. 240V is easier on the PSUs, I hope you'll be using 240V with 6 S7s?

EVGA says you can pull 1300W DC from them, IE ~1450W at the wall for 10 years. That's good enough for me! Worse case they replace the PSU for free.

[adaseb]

You sure you guys can't put a resistor between some of the pins to regulate the fan speed?

[Prelude]

You sure you guys can't put a resistor between some of the pins to regulate the fan speed?

I'm sure it's possible, but I wouldn't want to risk them overheating. Modding 120MM deltas on top of them is probably the best way to go.

[VirosaGITS]

You sure you guys can't put a resistor between some of the pins to regulate the fan speed?

I'm sure it's possible, but I wouldn't want to risk them overheating. Modding 120MM deltas on top of them is probably the best way to go.

Definitively do it this way.

Even my Platinum server PSU heat up with their ear-rape fan at full blast. Modding them to use big fans would make then cooler and much more quiet.

[Prelude]

You sure you guys can't put a resistor between some of the pins to regulate the fan speed?

I'm sure it's possible, but I wouldn't want to risk them overheating. Modding 120MM deltas on top of them is probably the best way to go.

Definitively do it this way.

Even my Platinum server PSU heat up with their ear-rape fan at full blast. Modding them to use big fans would make then cooler and much more quiet.

What platinum server PSU are you referring to? LOL at ear rape fan.

[VirosaGITS]

You sure you guys can't put a resistor between some of the pins to regulate the fan speed?

I'm sure it's possible, but I wouldn't want to risk them overheating. Modding 120MM deltas on top of them is probably the best way to go.

Definitively do it this way.

Even my Platinum server PSU heat up with their ear-rape fan at full blast. Modding them to use big fans would make then cooler and much more quiet.

What platinum server PSU are you referring to? LOL at ear rape fan.

These;
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/PFE1100-12-054RA/PFE1100-12-054RA-ND/3535541

Got mine from Quakefiend, they're pretty small/thin so modding them would be a pain. So to save my ear, i just put 50% load on them. At 70%+ its like a car that need to replace its breaks. The noise become ultra high pitch.

At 50% load they're better than S5 fans at 2600 RPM

[Prelude]

I love those PSUs, I'm 20 of them. There's 2 models, RA and NA. NA sounds like a cat in a bag being kicked down the street, RA is much less whiny. Inaudible at 50% load or less, while NA is still loud at 20%.

I use 2 RAs with load sharing mode enabled in my house to power a 5 cube Titan space heater.

[VirosaGITS]

I love those PSUs, I'm 20 of them. There's 2 models, RA and NA. NA sounds like a cat in a bag being kicked down the street, RA is much less whiny. Inaudible at 50% load or less, while NA is still loud at 20%.

I use 2 RAs with load sharing mode enabled in my house to power a 5 cube Titan space heater.

Yeah, i'd like some nice enclosure but indeed at 50% load, they are quiet enough.

I went crazy and put ton of electric tape around the ground and 12V, just in case my cat decide to go there. And then i added a milk crate over it. It makes me a bit fidgety, i'd rather have ATX. But hey for now they work. Later on i might sell them in Canada.

[Prelude]

Let me know when you do, I might be interested in them.

[methodlimp]

That's what I'm looking for too. Maybe I'll end up using the 2000W PSU and be very careful about picking quiet fans? Not sure.

I'd still love to hear how to add the two fans to the top of the 2880w PSU I have right now. That might solve the problem entirely.

[notlist3d]

That's what I'm looking for too. Maybe I'll end up using the 2000W PSU and be very careful about picking quiet fans? Not sure.

I'd still love to hear how to add the two fans to the top of the 2880w PSU I have right now. That might solve the problem entirely.

Keep in mind it's still a server PSU so it will not be quiet.  But yes it's more quiet then that beast of 2880w server PSU.

Most server environments noise is not a big deal... so most server PSU's quiet was not a concern specifically on higher wattage ones.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

You sure you guys can't put a resistor between some of the pins to regulate the fan speed?

If the resistor is put in the +12v line feeding the fan, sure it will work as a brute-force way to do it. Question is it a 3 or 4 wire fan? With either 3 or 4 wire it will be reporting it's speed, 4-wire gives it built-in PWM control.

With 4-wire most often no signal = fan ON (for safety and convenient way to let fan go full speed if wire 4 is open) and +5v = Fan min speed. Play with the signal duty cycle to set the speed between it's min and max speed.. Dunna know if the PSU's fan circuit does anything re: monitoring the speed except for maybe checking for a stalled fan.

[Biodom]

If that PSU was having issues, it's a lemon. I think Phil was running on 120V back then too. 240V is easier on the PSUs, I hope you'll be using 240V with 6 S7s?

EVGA says you can pull 1300W DC from them, IE ~1450W at the wall for 10 years. That's good enough for me! Worse case they replace the PSU for free.

That's good to know as i was getting nervous after reading what Phil had to say. Looking at graphs, efficiency is decreasing at least 5% at or above 90% load.
Yes, I was running at 110/120V, but I sent them all out to hosting with sidehack- posted my review in Hosting service thread.
TL;DR: I like his arrangements and service.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

If that PSU was having issues, it's a lemon. I think Phil was running on 120V back then too. 240V is easier on the PSUs, I hope you'll be using 240V with 6 S7s?

EVGA says you can pull 1300W DC from them, IE ~1450W at the wall for 10 years. That's good enough for me! Worse case they replace the PSU for free.

That's good to know as i was getting nervous after reading what Phil had to say. Looking at graphs, efficiency is decreasing at least 5% at or above 90% load.
Yes, I was running at 110/120V, but I send them all out to hosting with sidehack-posted review in Hosting service thread.
I like his arrangements and service.

Aside from the decreasing efficiency which for ATX supplies actually largely is from the fans running near/at full speed and taking more power to do it, with ANYTHING dealing with power be it plug/circuit ratings and including PSU ratings always follow the 80% rule. For the feeders it keeps plugs/cords/wiring behind walls at safe temps when under a constant near-max load - which miners present - for the PSU's you need that margin to handle the random (hopefully) short-term events all powerlines have.

For example of pushing ratings just talk to Bitmain and their experience with early s2 PSU's.... But as long as you have spares to cover ya while EVGA ships a replacement then your call. Und ja, as has been often said, any PSU is much happier on a 208-240v line because of the lower currents on the AC-line side of the power conversion.

[MarkAz]

I'm pretty close to my solution for making a quieter version of the 2880w... It works really well so far, here's a picture of my almost-complete version:



I replace the front fans with a 120mm server-class fan blowing directly down - I block the front of the device to force all the airflow out the back.  Above the hottest part of the PSU I have a thermal PWM fan controller, so it varies the speed of the fan based on the units temperature, and seems to do a pretty good job.  How loud it is depends on a couple factors, such as ambient temps and which 120mm fan you use - but it is MUCH quieter than the stock option, much closer to a slightly above-normal ATX PSU (because the fan is a much higher airflow and SP fan than a normal ATX PSU would use).

I've changed the latest design to use primarily zip-ties to hold everything together - works super well, is inexpensive, and non-conductive. 

[hawkfish007]

I'm pretty close to my solution for making a quieter version of the 2880w... It works really well so far, here's a picture of my almost-complete version:

http://www.analogx.com/images/2880w/DSCF3428s.jpg

I replace the front fans with a 120mm server-class fan blowing directly down - I block the front of the device to force all the airflow out the back.  Above the hottest part of the PSU I have a thermal PWM fan controller, so it varies the speed of the fan based on the units temperature, and seems to do a pretty good job.  How loud it is depends on a couple factors, such as ambient temps and which 120mm fan you use - but it is MUCH quieter than the stock option, much closer to a slightly above-normal ATX PSU (because the fan is a much higher airflow and SP fan than a normal ATX PSU would use).

I've changed the latest design to use primarily zip-ties to hold everything together - works super well, is inexpensive, and non-conductive. 

Can you post a picture of how did you connect fan wires to the Jabber board?

Thanks.

[yun9999]

Yes definitely interested in this MOD!  Please post more info!

[MarkAz]

Can you post a picture of how did you connect fan wires to the Jabber board?

There's no secret sauce to it - the fans are 12v so I just made a PCIe adapter to connect it.  Just positive to positive, negative to negative - the only trick is whether or not the fan will be full speed without a PWM signal (most work like this), or use a 3 pin fan.

My first rev I hard-wired it, but I had a fan die on one of them and it was a huge PIA, so I switched to making an adapter - and finally added the thermal PWM board.

[J4bberwock]

Can you post a picture of how did you connect fan wires to the Jabber board?

There's no secret sauce to it - the fans are 12v so I just made a PCIe adapter to connect it.  Just positive to positive, negative to negative - the only trick is whether or not the fan will be full speed without a PWM signal (most work like this), or use a 3 pin fan.

My first rev I hard-wired it, but I had a fan die on one of them and it was a huge PIA, so I switched to making an adapter - and finally added the thermal PWM board.

To save some time and work, you can use the original connectors 4 pins microfit, I'll dig the reference. I still have a handful of connectors and crimp pins laying somewhere.
The original fans are 4 pins, and temperature controlled.