HP Microserver N54L - Fans

Halestorm · 22 Apr 2015 at 08:52

Sorry if this has already been asked, but I couldn't really find anything (my forum search skills are poor at best)

The OEM fan in my Microserver is noisy, very very noisy.

Has any one ever changed the fan? What fan would you recommend? I thought maybe a Noctua NF-P12?

I've seen reports if the fan RPM goes below 500 the server wont boot? Would I be safe using an aftermarket fan aslong as the minimum rpm is sufficiently high?

Thanks guys

TheBiznes · 22 Apr 2015 at 09:49

This might help you although it's not really the main fan that is noisy it's the power supply fan.

I changed to this as described here, be careful of the pin outs.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1193-page7.html

Halestorm · 22 Apr 2015 at 11:07

Excellent thanks for the link

Is it possible to change the PSU fan? or PSU entirely to quieten it down?

TheBiznes · 22 Apr 2015 at 11:25

Yes I have a Pico PSU google it

Halestorm · 23 Apr 2015 at 10:06

Sweet, any recommended brands for Pico PSUs or am I looking for the same good OEMs as full size ATX PSUs?

edit: Ignore that, i replied before I googled, so a Pico PSU basically replaces the normal PSU with a power brick?

Conan257 · 24 Apr 2015 at 10:37

I replaced both fans on mine and it made quite a difference to the noise level.

The replacement PSU fan has now died so I put the original in, which reminded me of why I replaced it in the first place!

You need to disect the PSU to change the fan, not very difficult, but leave it for a few hours after removing the power or you'll get the odd shock off coils etc!

All in, a fiddly job, but works when done right.

flame696 · 26 Apr 2015 at 12:01

My n54l is over a year old but its still quiet cannot hear it even when its deadly quiet

Halestorm · 28 Apr 2015 at 08:47

I think it might actually be the drives that are noisy, got 4x 1TB Western Digital Blue single platter versions.

Plan is to upgrade to some 3TB WD Reds after my current house purchase is done and we are moved in and settled

When I put my ear to the server the noise seems to be mainly from the front rather than the rear where the fans are

Silent Bob · 30 Apr 2015 at 16:54

I changed my fans to the ones below. The power supply fan required a molex to 3 pin converter cable as it couldn't be plugged into the fan header in the power supply. They made a big difference but I'm running 3 Seagate 5900RPM drives which are pretty quiet to start with.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-017-NB
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-026-NB

furby88 · 6 May 2015 at 14:32

I did this but with a spare Noctua fan I had lying round: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=24671250&postcount=6457

I trimmed an extension to plug into the board to save ruining the fan connector and fitted a 7V resistor. Also replaced the PSU with a Pico 150W one which was far louder than the case fan, now I can't hear a thing (which is handy as my N40L sits in the living room).

Scam · 2026-04-13T13:25:07+0100

Super bump! I bought a HP N54L off a user on these forums and although it's perfect for my needs (first basic NAS, homelab etc.) it's just too noisy even in my desk cupboard.

There's some great info here but all the links are broken

Any updated guides/links?

Silent Bob said:
I changed my fans to the ones below. The power supply fan required a molex to 3 pin converter cable as it couldn't be plugged into the fan header in the power supply.

Did you change the fan in the PSU? Does that require soldering? :confused: