Cooling problems

octafish

octafish

octafish

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Joined
17 Jul 2024
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60
Location
Oxfordshire
I'm a bit concerned about the cooling (or lack of it) for my new server. The config is this:
- Asus Z13PE-D16 EATX board with 2x Xeon 6530s with Noctua NH-U9 air coolers. These have 2 fans/cpu and are oriented such that the airflow is vertical, exiting upwards.
- Fractal Meshify 3 case, with 2 140mm fans on top (venting out) and 3 on the front (venting in)
- a Quadro RTX4000 gpu
- a Thermaltake 1200w psu

With the cpus even on about 20-25% load I'm seeing processor 1 (the one furthest from the rear fans) getting to ~77C. This worries me (shouldn't it?).

What options are there to reduce the temp, given that the cpus have a TDP of 270 watts?
 
are you able to move your intakes to the bottom? Might get better airflow. The dual CPUs make airflow a bit trickier. Could be worth a try
 
Unfortunately not, unless I change the case. I guess I could do that though, as my old PC has a Phanteks Enthoo case which (apart from being humungous) has room for 2 fans at the bottom.
 
Have you tried with just one exhaust at the rear instead of 2 exhausting at the top?

I’d imagine the top exhaust fan closest to the top front intake is simply pulling the cool air that front intake fan is bringing in.

Alternative is to have the rear top fan as exhaust but the front top fan as an intake.
 
Yes, unfortunately the board connectors (ethernet etc) are in the way of wherer a rear fan could be.
I find it's quite a bit cooler if I remove the top cover - it has quite a fine mesh on it.
 
octafish said:
I'm a bit concerned about the cooling (or lack of it) for my new server. The config is this:
- Asus Z13PE-D16 EATX board with 2x Xeon 6530s with Noctua NH-U9 air coolers. These have 2 fans/cpu and are oriented such that the airflow is vertical, exiting upwards.
- Fractal Meshify 3 case, with 2 140mm fans on top (venting out) and 3 on the front (venting in)
- a Quadro RTX4000 gpu
- a Thermaltake 1200w psu

With the cpus even on about 20-25% load I'm seeing processor 1 (the one furthest from the rear fans) getting to ~77C. This worries me (shouldn't it?).

What options are there to reduce the temp, given that the cpus have a TDP of 270 watts?
Click to expand...
I'm more concerned with NH-U9 not being able to cool Xeon 6530 than case airflow. NH-U9 is 3x 6mm heatpipe cooler. 6mm heatpipes are good for about 40-50watts each, so 3x heatpipes is about 120-150w total on CPUs rated 280w TDP.

I don't like AIOs, but in this case (no pun) 2x 240mm AIOs are probably a better way to go. 240mm AIO in front as intake with a 280mm AIO in top as exhaust might be better with front on mounted as high as possible so intake fan below AIO can flow cool air to GPU.
 
Thanks, that's good info - I did wonder if the NH-U9's were goaing to be up to the job. The ones with larger fans (NH-D9?) would have been nice but the two CPUs are just too close for them.

I'll take a look at AOIs, I didn't really want to gown that route but it seems like its the only way.
 
octafish said:
Thanks, that's good info - I did wonder if the NH-U9's were goaing to be up to the job. The ones with larger fans (NH-D9?) would have been nice but the two CPUs are just too close for them.

I'll take a look at AOIs, I didn't really want to gown that route but it seems like its the only way.
Click to expand...

All the AIOs designed to properly cool those sockets are expensive. Circa £650 IIRC.
 
What's the temp difference between the 1st and 2nd CPU? A different case is probably a cheaper solution. I would first test them in a full load scenario to see if one or both hit throttle temp, though.
 
What jigger said.

Being a dedicated server motherboard and CPU system means components are usually more expensive, and that's assuming you can find what you need.
 
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