GigaBit, GigaShit!
I plugged in my new Netgear 16 port GS716T Gigabit switch on the weekend, and immediately thought that the Airport Authority had changed the flight path to be directly over my house!
This thing was noisy!!! courtesy of two 40mm fans running at a constantly high RPM on the side of the unit.
Now this is equipment that is designed to go in a rack in a computer room, so airflow is given priority over noise reduction. In it's current form, this box will not be living in the A/V rack, I'm considering several options in order of preference:
- Modify the unit to drop the voltage and therefore the speed of the fans, thereby sacrificing some cooling for some noise reduction.
- Build a dustproof box for it and leave it somewhere in the ceiling space, with all the wiring coming down to the patch panel in the rack.
- Disable the fans altogether
- Return it and get a non-rack mounted unit that hopefully won't have cooling fans.
- Live with it (in your dreams!)
UPDATE 1:
I've received an unprecedented number of replies by email, many of them great ideas, here's a quick summary:
- "Buy a 4 rail enclosed rack box to act like a hush box within the rack" ...very practical, thanks Glenn
- Numerous messages saying "Get a smaller one"... but where's the fun in that?! ;-)
- "I recall a time when a "gig-a-shit" meant a whole lotta pr0n." ...thanks Khang, brilliant stuff!
- "Disable both fans, cut a big hole at the top of the chassis and put some 120mm fans on them (even 1 will do)"
- "try a different brand of gigabit switch"
- "You could disable the fans if they were just attanced via push on clip. If the unit fails just push them back if still under waranty make a claim".... I love this suggestion too, thanks Ben :)
- "Consider some small fanless switches/hubs designed for the home"
I've now found what I believe to be the best solution to this little problem;....it's the Netgear GS116 16 Port Gigabit Desktop Switch.
"Its durable metal case has no fan for silent operation"
Now this begs the question; it's a similar product from the same company, so I'd expect that it would use the same processor as the rack-mount switch, so does the rack-mount switch really need the fans?
The only obvious differences between the desktop and rack-mount switches is the inbuilt management, and the power supply is externalised.
....anyone want to buy a 5 minute old rack-mount 16port Gigabit switch?!
posted by Foggy at 9:19 pm
6 Comments:
I know this word is not in you dictionary, "DOWNGRADE" to 100mbps switch, you're not running an ISP or a network suppoting dozens of servers. Better still, if you're running just a streaming media server, why not just run a cable down without any Hub or Switches at all... now that would be silent!
I'm having the same problem in my studio. My HP Netserver is just too damn noisy. Once I replace it with a Dell Poweredge server, it will be even noisier. I'm thinking along the lines of the Cooler master absorbing foam.
http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=cmprostudio&page=2&cookie%5Ftest=1
Also, acoustic theory tells us to diffract the direction of the noise. eg. put acoustically-treated material in the path of the fan, possibly encapsulate it in an tube (similar to aircon) of some sort without blocking airflow.
I have seen two blueprints for studios to control HVAC (aircon) noise. Whilst they do not utilise absorption (just use regular aircon tubing), they do use diffraction. Both recommended having two 90 degree bends in the tubing. This can reduce the decibel rating by two thirds. So, maybe combine DIFFRACTION + ABSORPTION without affecting AIRFLOW.
Good luck, and keep an eye on the calendar. ARL and AFL grandfinals are not too far away.
Mike F
I also think stay with the gigabit in preparation for streaming movies from the Internet. Whilst an excessive approach, do as the Romans did!!
Get some higher voltage replacement fans. I did this in my Yamaha P2500 amplifier. The factory fans were just a little too loud, so I removed the 12V ones and installed 24V. It's nice and quiet now. My only issue is the beating sound you get from slightly different fan speeds. Oh well...
If you're still running, removing/disabling the fans (or dropping the voltage to slow them down), then looking at how your rack is set up, you could easily get away with it.
Rackmounted stuff is designed for high density stacking, where you are doing the opposite and have a very low density filled rack.
Yes, you're absolutely right anonymous. I've been running with the fans disconnected for the last few months, and whilst it's a little bit warm, it's certainly no toasty!
That's also the reason why I placed the switch at the top.
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