SOLVED Loud Noctua PWM Fans

[Mark Francis]

Hello all,

I have recently built a personal FreeNAS build based on the recommendations in the pinned threads. The highlights are:

Supermicro X10SL7-F
Noctua NF-F12PWM Case Fan 120 mm

Based on this[1]- thread I have set my fan mode to optimal:

Code:

ipmitool raw 0x30 0x45 0x1 0x0 (Set Mode to Standard)
ipmitool raw 0x30 0x45 0x1 0x1 (Set Mode to Full)
ipmitool raw 0x30 0x45 0x1 0x2 (Set Mode to Optimal)
ipmitool raw 0x30 0x45 0x1 0x4 (Set Mode to Heavy I/O)
ipmitool raw 0x30 0x45 0x0 (Get Fan Mode)

[root@freenas ~]# ipmitool raw 0x30 0x45 0x0																						
 02

I have also set the sensor thresholds as mentioned:

Code:

ipmitool sensor thresh "FANA" upper 1700 1900 2100
ipmitool sensor thresh "FANA" lower 200 300 400
ipmitool sensor thresh "FAN2" upper 1700 1900 2100
ipmitool sensor thresh "FAN2" lower 200 300 400
ipmitool sensor thresh "FAN3" upper 1700 1900 2100
ipmitool sensor thresh "FAN3" lower 200 300 400
ipmitool sensor thresh "FAN4" upper 1700 1900 2100
ipmitool sensor thresh "FAN4" lower 200 300 400

...which can be seen here:

Code:

[root@freenas ~]# ipmitool sensor list all																						  
CPU Temp		 | 29.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| 0.000	 | 0.000	 | 0.000	 | 95.000	| 100.000   | 100.000			
System Temp	  | 57.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| -9.000	| -7.000	| -5.000	| 80.000	| 85.000	| 90.000			
Peripheral Temp  | 41.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| -9.000	| -7.000	| -5.000	| 80.000	| 85.000	| 90.000			
PCH Temp		 | 53.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| -11.000   | -8.000	| -5.000	| 90.000	| 95.000	| 100.000			
VRM Temp		 | 36.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| -9.000	| -7.000	| -5.000	| 95.000	| 100.000   | 105.000			
DIMMA1 Temp	  | 28.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| 1.000	 | 2.000	 | 4.000	 | 80.000	| 85.000	| 90.000			
DIMMA2 Temp	  | na		 |			| na	| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na				
DIMMB1 Temp	  | 28.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| 1.000	 | 2.000	 | 4.000	 | 80.000	| 85.000	| 90.000			
DIMMB2 Temp	  | na		 |			| na	| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na				
FAN1			 | na		 |			| na	| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na				
FAN2			 | na		 |			| na	| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na				
FAN3			 | 1100.000   | RPM		| ok	| 200.000   | 300.000   | 400.000   | 1700.000  | 1900.000  | 2100.000		  
FAN4			 | na		 |			| na	| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na				
FANA			 | 1500.000   | RPM		| ok	| 200.000   | 300.000   | 400.000   | 1700.000  | 1900.000  | 2100.000		  
Vcpu			 | 1.773	  | Volts	  | ok	| 1.242	 | 1.260	 | 1.395	 | 1.899	 | 2.088	 | 2.106			  
VDIMM			| 1.327	  | Volts	  | ok	| 1.096	 | 1.124	 | 1.201	 | 1.642	 | 1.719	 | 1.747			  
12V			  | 12.000	 | Volts	  | ok	| 10.164	| 10.521	| 10.776	| 12.918	| 13.224	| 13.224			
5VCC			 | 4.969	  | Volts	  | ok	| 4.225	 | 4.380	 | 4.473	 | 5.372	 | 5.527	 | 5.589			  
3.3VCC		   | 3.299	  | Volts	  | ok	| 2.804	 | 2.894	 | 2.969	 | 3.554	 | 3.659	 | 3.689			  
VBAT			 | 2.985	  | Volts	  | ok	| 2.400	 | 2.490	 | 2.595	 | 3.495	 | 3.600	 | 3.690			  
AVCC			 | 3.284	  | Volts	  | ok	| 2.399	 | 2.489	 | 2.594	 | 3.494	 | 3.599	 | 3.689			  
VSB			  | 3.269	  | Volts	  | ok	| 2.399	 | 2.489	 | 2.594	 | 3.494	 | 3.599	 | 3.689			  
Chassis Intru	| 0x1		| discrete   | 0x0100| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na 

As you can see I have FAN3 and FANA in use.

QUESTION: Can anyone explain why the Noctua NF-F12PWM is so much louder than the default case fans I have (Fractal silent series R2).

[1] https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/thermal-and-accoustical-design-validation.28364/

 

[skyline65]

Have you read this thread...

https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/script-hybrid-cpu-hd-fan-zone-controller.46159/

 

[Ericloewe]

Regular NF-F12s? Loud? I have a whole bunch of IndustrialPPC3000 PWM fans in several computers here, and they're essentially inaudible when being controlled.

 

[Mark Francis]

So I did some digging, as noted here: https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...-fan-zone-controller.46159/page-4#post-327841

I don't think many people check that thread, so I'm going to return to this one.

Using the above suggested script, the fans initially slow down and go inaudible, then at aprox 12 seconds into the execution of the script, they spin back up to full, with nothing being logged by the script.

Code:

2016-11-27 16:10:08: Setting fan mode to 1 (full)
2016-11-27 16:10:13: CPU Temp: 27.0
2016-11-27 16:10:13: CPU Temp: 27.0 <= 35, CPU Fan going low.
2016-11-27 16:10:13: CPU Fan: low
2016-11-27 16:10:13: CPU Fan changing... (low)
2016-11-27 16:10:13: Setting Zone 0 duty cycle to 40%
2016-11-27 16:10:13: /dev/ada1: 24
2016-11-27 16:10:13: Maximum HD Temperature: 24
2016-11-27 16:10:13: Drives are cool enough, going to 40%
2016-11-27 16:10:13: Setting Zone 1 duty cycle to 40%
2016-11-27 16:10:14: CPU Temp: 27.0
2016-11-27 16:10:14: CPU Fan: low
2016-11-27 16:10:15: CPU Temp: 28.0
2016-11-27 16:10:15: CPU Fan: low
2016-11-27 16:10:16: CPU Temp: 27.0
2016-11-27 16:10:16: CPU Fan: low
2016-11-27 16:10:17: CPU Temp: 27.0
2016-11-27 16:10:17: CPU Fan: low
2016-11-27 16:10:18: CPU Temp: 27.0
2016-11-27 16:10:18: CPU Fan: low
2016-11-27 16:10:19: CPU Temp: 27.0
2016-11-27 16:10:19: CPU Fan: low
2016-11-27 16:10:20: CPU Temp: 27.0
2016-11-27 16:10:20: CPU Fan: low

These are my fan thresholds (taken from https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...or-thresholds-with-ipmi-using-ipmitool.23571/) :

Code:

CPU Temp		 | 28.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| 0.000	 | 0.000	 | 0.000	 | 95.000	| 100.000   | 100.000  
System Temp	  | 39.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| -9.000	| -7.000	| -5.000	| 80.000	| 85.000	| 90.000	
Peripheral Temp  | 37.000	 | degrees C  | ok	| -9.000	| -7.000	| -5.000	| 80.000	| 85.000	| 90.000	

FAN3			 | 1400.000   | RPM		| ok	| 400.000   | 500.000   | 600.000   | 3700.000  | 3800.000  | 3900.000  
FAN4			 | 1500.000   | RPM		| ok	| 400.000   | 500.000   | 600.000   | 3700.000  | 3800.000  | 3900.000  
FANA			 | 1100.000   | RPM		| ok	| 400.000   | 500.000   | 600.000   | 3700.000  | 3800.000  | 3900.000  

Assuming the first column is the actual current fan speed, I can see it drops to about 500 and then spins back up high, as shown below:

Code:

[root@freenas] ~# ipmitool sensor list all | grep FAN
FAN1			 | na		 |			| na	| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		
FAN2			 | na		 |			| na	| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		
FAN3			 | 600.000	| RPM		| nc	| 400.000   | 500.000   | 600.000   | 3700.000  | 3800.000  | 3900.000  
FAN4			 | 600.000	| RPM		| nc	| 400.000   | 500.000   | 600.000   | 3700.000  | 3800.000  | 3900.000  
FANA			 | 500.000	| RPM		| cr	| 400.000   | 500.000   | 600.000   | 3700.000  | 3800.000  | 3900.000  
[root@freenas] ~# ipmitool sensor list all | grep FAN
FAN1			 | na		 |			| na	| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		
FAN2			 | na		 |			| na	| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		| na		
FAN3			 | 1300.000   | RPM		| ok	| 400.000   | 500.000   | 600.000   | 3700.000  | 3800.000  | 3900.000  
FAN4			 | 1400.000   | RPM		| ok	| 400.000   | 500.000   | 600.000   | 3700.000  | 3800.000  | 3900.000  
FANA			 | 1000.000   | RPM		| ok	| 400.000   | 500.000   | 600.000   | 3700.000  | 3800.000  | 3900.000

I'm wondering if the fans are hitting the Lower Non-Recoverable or Lower Critical thresholds and the system panics and spins then to full.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ericloewe]

I'm wondering if the fans are hitting the Lower Non-Recoverable or Lower Critical thresholds and the system panics and spins then to full.

So drop them.

 

[Stux]

Certainly happens in my system. I have my lnr /cr set to zero. Which prevents it.

Thought I posted this somewhere :-/

 

[Stux]

And FANA isn't affected by Optimal.

My script is the right solution, although it might need 'improving' for your system.

 

[Mark Francis]

So drop them.

I was sure I had tried this, but clearly I had in a different variation than I do now, because it seems to be working correctly when I drop the thresholds in half.

 

[Mark Francis]

Thank you both for your help, im marking this as solved for now.