How To Replace Noisy Fans In Your Networking Equipment

[@fastmaxr]

What about the power supply? I imagine it has fans. I replaced two 4 cm fans (one narrow, another wide) on my QNAP 8-bay NAS power supply with Noctuas. Those were noisy after having replaced the 2 12cm main fans also with Noctuas. Also, there is now an industrial version of this switch without fans and with DC power so that the power supply is external (qsw-im1200-8c)… what do you think?

[@MikeFaucher]

Yes some power supplies have fans but the QNAP does not. I really like this new version but it was not out when I was buying mine.

[@PhilipJMayo]

I opened a QSW-M408-C. It’s not a standard fan. It’s a blade connected to the heat sink. The fan itself is not loud. Instead it vibrates the case, which is plastic. All the noice comes from a combination of fan vibration and cheap case.

[@MikeFaucher]

Have not opened the M408 so thanks for the heads up. The one I have is very quiet but have an issue with one of the SFP+ port. Thanks for the input.

[@PhilipJMayo]

I’ve just been using the 10 GbE ports so I do not know if my SPF+ ports are working or not.

[@MikeFaucher]

@@PhilipJMayo I have a mixture. The port works but all the transceivers get stuck.

[@aeroturner]

Has anyone done this and can comment how the temps were after the change? I know these have about 1/4 the airflow of the stock fans, does this cause temps to sometimes get to problematic levels?

[@MikeFaucher]

These actually have more airflow than the fans I removed. It depends on the fan model. You do have to match air flow but on the switches I have put these in (3 total) all have received improved air flow.

[@czaszi]

Stock fans FD124020LB are rated 4600 RPM and 5.2 CFM with 2.7 static pressure and 20 dB noise level. Noctua A4x20 PWM is 5000 RPM and 5.53 CFM with 2.26 static pressure and 14.9 dB noise level. In summary Noctuas spin faster and quieter while pushing more air and generating less noise. Only 'downside' is the reduced static pressure but since there is hardly anything directly in front of the fans it matters little. Stock fans and Noctuas were similar to start with but some switches have fans that push >10CFM and Noctuas in that case might not be the best choice.

[@DavidM2002]

It's really important to note that decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale. So for example, when you go from 50 db to 60 db, that 60 db isn't 20% louder ( ie 10 / 50 ), it's 10 times louder. I'll let you calculate what that works out to going from about 62 db down to 53 but, it's significant.

[@MikeFaucher]

Thanks for the extra detail. Appreciate the feedback.

[@wellingtonfreirerosa]

but it has a much lower CFM too, monitor the temperature, as you may have a cooling deficiency. A normal fan has an average of 15CFM, the Noctua has 5.5CFM

[@MikeFaucher]

The factory fas were well beloe the 15CFM. Based on the what came out of thre.they were more like 5-6 and very noisiey