XServe 2009 Fan Array - Interchangeable with 2008?

[MisterBiro]

I have a 2009 XServe and it seems like one of the fans in the array has failed.

As the 2009 arrays are more expensive, can I replace this with an array from a 2008?

Or... Can I 'just' replace the failed fan with a fan from a 2008 array?

 

[osxster]

I have a 2009 XServe and it seems like one of the fans in the array has failed.

As the 2009 arrays are more expensive, can I replace this with an array from a 2008?

Or... Can I 'just' replace the failed fan with a fan from a 2008 array?

I can't give you an answer with 100% certainty and this would be at your own risk, but if it were me I would buy it and try it if it were a lot cheaper. The 2008 PDU board which the fan array, motherboard, RAID controller, and hot swappable power supplies plug into DID work in my 2009 xServer. The 2008 PDU board does have a different part number than the 2009, but all of the chips, power traces, and everything else line up with the 2009 model. Since the fan board just plugs into the PDU board, I would be VERY surprised if it didn't work. I would just check to make sure the bolt holes line up if you compare the two of them on eBay. If it didn't work, since the voltages are the same between the 2008 and 2009 PDU board, the only thing I can think of that would possible be different would be something like a temperature sensor. But that is probably unlikely.

osxster

 

[nos1609]

I have a 2009 XServe and it seems like one of the fans in the array has failed.

As the 2009 arrays are more expensive, can I replace this with an array from a 2008?

Or... Can I 'just' replace the failed fan with a fan from a 2008 array?

I am building a noctua 40x20 fan array since 2009's original one is not just an expensive but a noisy option, 67dbi comared to 15 is a huge difference. maybe sometime in the future I'll opt in for a watercooled solution.

 

[osxster]

I am building a noctua 40x20 fan array since 2009's original one is not just an expensive but a noisy option, 67dbi comared to 15 is a huge difference. maybe sometime in the future I'll opt in for a watercooled solution.

Whenever you finish this, if you’d be willing to share your work, that would be great! I guess my primary concern was the temperature sensors and / or rpm sensors if I were to replace my fan array. But if off the shelf components will work to replace that, it would be great.

Osxster

 

[nos1609]

Whenever you finish this, if you’d be willing to share your work, that would be great! I guess my primary concern was the temperature sensors and / or rpm sensors if I were to replace my fan array. But if off the shelf components will work to replace that, it would be great.

Osxster

At first I was really worried about the overheat, but since I have plans to use the VLP RAM sticks instead of the original ones and as they are 40% less in heght, so there would be less airflow obstruction inside,I personally don't think it is gonna overheat. And I am also using only two ADMs leaving the slot in the middle empty also contributes to a better airflow. And since Noctua's fans are only performing at 1/4 of stock grid performance in terms of cfm, I see no issues, as it corresponds to the stock "1500" rpm, with "5000" rpm max. Especially considering the fact that "5000" rpms reported by the SMC are 15000 real rpm according to the fan's datasheet. So you gain a huge benefit in terms of noise 15 db vs 67 db with the same air pressure performance like which is the key indicator that matters there, because we have still the same heatsink on the CPUs and what is important is how powerful istthe air propulsion (air pressure) and not the amount of air measured in cfm. And if you add liquid metal "sauce" to that "sandwich" it will draw the whole heat generated by two 130W CPUs and a 50W GPU away really easily. But that's still a theory and I can't check it out till I haven't get the two CPUs mobo. By the way I will try to get the fan array done within this week, so keep looking in the thread.

 

[osxster]

Hello,

Are you planning on replacing all 14 fans with the $15.00 Noctua fans? While I appreciate the idea of making it quieter, that works out to be $210 for just the fans, which is more than I paid for my xServe! Unless you had another idea which I am not aware of. I’m wondering if there could be a cheaper solution with larger fans which are quieter because they push more air at less speed. I’d like to upgrade my cpus with the w5590’s, but if I put in the faster CPU’s the fans go at full blast even though the W5590 Xeon’s run cooler then my existing CPU’s. The server is just too loud when the fans are running full blast, so I had to put back the stock Xeons.

Osxster

 

[MisterBiro]

I am building a noctua 40x20 fan array since 2009's original one is not just an expensive but a noisy option, 67dbi comared to 15 is a huge difference. maybe sometime in the future I'll opt in for a watercooled solution.

What is the pin assignment for the XServe fans?

 

[P1ratz]

At first I was really worried about the overheat, but since I have plans to use the VLP RAM sticks instead of the original ones and as they are 40% less in heght, so there would be less airflow obstruction inside,I personally don't think it is gonna overheat. And I am also using only two ADMs leaving the slot in the middle empty also contributes to a better airflow. And since Noctua's fans are only performing at 1/4 of stock grid performance in terms of cfm, I see no issues, as it corresponds to the stock "1500" rpm, with "5000" rpm max. Especially considering the fact that "5000" rpms reported by the SMC are 15000 real rpm according to the fan's datasheet. So you gain a huge benefit in terms of noise 15 db vs 67 db with the same air pressure performance like which is the key indicator that matters there, because we have still the same heatsink on the CPUs and what is important is how powerful istthe air propulsion (air pressure) and not the amount of air measured in cfm. And if you add liquid metal "sauce" to that "sandwich" it will draw the whole heat generated by two 130W CPUs and a 50W GPU away really easily. But that's still a theory and I can't check it out till I haven't get the two CPUs mobo. By the way I will try to get the fan array done within this week, so keep looking in the thread.

Have you made any progress on this installation? I am looking to install the same fans in my xserve and am curious as to how it will work.

 

[sirpickles666]

At first I was really worried about the overheat, but since I have plans to use the VLP RAM sticks instead of the original ones and as they are 40% less in heght, so there would be less airflow obstruction inside,I personally don't think it is gonna overheat. And I am also using only two ADMs leaving the slot in the middle empty also contributes to a better airflow. And since Noctua's fans are only performing at 1/4 of stock grid performance in terms of cfm, I see no issues, as it corresponds to the stock "1500" rpm, with "5000" rpm max. Especially considering the fact that "5000" rpms reported by the SMC are 15000 real rpm according to the fan's datasheet. So you gain a huge benefit in terms of noise 15 db vs 67 db with the same air pressure performance like which is the key indicator that matters there, because we have still the same heatsink on the CPUs and what is important is how powerful istthe air propulsion (air pressure) and not the amount of air measured in cfm. And if you add liquid metal "sauce" to that "sandwich" it will draw the whole heat generated by two 130W CPUs and a 50W GPU away really easily. But that's still a theory and I can't check it out till I haven't get the two CPUs mobo. By the way I will try to get the fan array done within this week, so keep looking in the thread.

did you ever get further with this project, or did you drop it?