Intel server board and Supermicro chassis = full speed fans all the time. How to fix ?.

RimBlock · 21 Sep 2012 at 03:18

I have a build using the Supermicro 846A-R1200B chassis (BPN-SAS-846A backplane - manual here -pdf).

To this I have added an Intel S1200BTL with the latest BIOS.

Everything works fine but the chassis fans run full speed (6,000 rpm). I have discovered that the motherboard expects the chassis intrusion to be a closed circuit but the Supermicro chassis provides an open (broken) circuit when the case is closed resulting in the fans running at 3,000 rpm with the chassis open and then ramping up to 6,000 rpm when the chassis is closed (i.e. the wrong way round). I have jumpered the chassis intrusion jumper on the m/b which has worked around that issue but still at 3,000 rpm the fans are still very loud.

I suspect that connecting the backplane I2C / SGPIO to the motherboard may help resolve this bases on teh motherboard getting decent temp readings from the backplane but cannot fine a cable that fits the backplane (Supermicro do not list one on the chassis parts list, optional or included) and the two cables that cam with the motherboard SAS controller module do not fit.

The distributor has suggested a fan extension cable but that also does not fit. Can anyone suggest an I2C / SGPIO cable that will fit this backplane and the Intel motherboard or another way to get the motherboard to ramp down the fans to a more respectable level. The drives will be getting low usage and the chassis will be mounted in an aircon controlled room but with IT staff working in there as well hence the preference of lower noise levels.

Can anyone suggest the right cable or anything else (pulling 1+ fans is no good as the board then ramps the others to 6,000 rpm thinking it is a failure) to get this build to a more audibly acceptable level.

Thanks
RB

nightmare99 · 21 Sep 2012 at 14:00

When you flashed the BMC did you select other chassis?

RimBlock · 23 Sep 2012 at 06:48

Yes I did. Is there a better match I could have chosen out of the Intel chassis ?.

Thanks
RB

nightmare99 · 23 Sep 2012 at 11:22

I think you will have to choose one of the Intel chassis but make sure you are using all the fan headers that the Intel chassis would be using if that makes sense?

Ringiho · 23 Sep 2012 at 19:07

There is normally a setting in the BIOS to do with cooling settings. There is something like CLTT. It's been a while since I've been near an Intel machine!

RimBlock · 24 Sep 2012 at 02:38

nightmare99 said:
I think you will have to choose one of the Intel chassis but make sure you are using all the fan headers that the Intel chassis would be using if that makes sense?

Looks like I am going to need to check out the chassis specs for the Intel offerings and try to find one to match then. Thanks. The Supermicro chassis has 5 fans but the board has only 4 fan headers. Unfortunately using a fan splitter results in only one fan running and an alarm reporting fan failure. Swapping fans over makes no difference and both fans work fine if attached directly to the motherboard. I did try a molex to fan converter but that blew after a while in a large puff of smoke when the wires melted. Luckily the ontl think affected was the molex to 3pin fan cable.

Ringiho said:
There is normally a setting in the BIOS to do with cooling settings. There is something like CLTT. It's been a while since I've been near an Intel machine!

Seems these boards only have altertude settings and no fan speed or profile settings like I have seen on other boards. Quite annoying as they are fairly good boards but Intel seems very keen on kneecapping them to the point where it is very hard to justify them over offerings from Supermicro.

RB