Replacing the fan in ReadyNAS Duo - possible?

[axxe]

How do I access the minimum fan speed utility on OSX? Is it in Raidar or the web interface or....?

Thanks!

[Pjotr]

It is available from within FrontView. But you have to install the EnableFanMinRPMOverride add-on first from here: http://www.readynas.com/?page_id=617 (under Miscellaneous Patches).

[benfrain]

Just replaced the stock fan in my duo a couple of days ago with a Fractal Design Silent Series 60mm fan and everything is working great! Actually it´s better than great! The duo with two 500gb barracudas installed are running much cooler now, 35-36C as opposed to 40-41C with the stock fan with no modification to the automatic fan speed controls. And the best part is; it is almost quiet! It is almost as if the disks are noisier than the fan I have been really annoyed about the noise of the stock fan, especially as they market the duo as quiet! "Our designers went so far as to sleep with the Duo at night to make sure it was quiet so you can be sure it can fit in discretely anywhere in your home." yea right!

My advice to everyone out there, buy a new fan! But be careful, look for a fan that moves enough air to cool your drives!

________________________________________
http://komponenttoppen.blogspot.com

Hi Sibe, are your drives still running cool enough? I'm looking to replace the stock fan with one of these:

http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/60mmfans/afdp-6025b - However, I'm concerned that the CFM value looks low (13.7).

However, it is similar to the one you have installed, which on this same site lists the CFM as only 16? See here: http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/fractaldesignfans/fd-fan-60

Can anyone else who has successfully quietened their Duo relate the CFM rating of the fan they have used?

[axxe]

I used one of these:

http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=9&lng=en

They only quote in m^3/h so you'll have to convert.

I opened up the back of the case with a dremel tool so the whole 80mm is flowing without obstruction. It works great - no noise and cool temps!

[benfrain]

Well, I've managed to find and order the Silent Series 60mm here:
http://www.aquatuning.co.uk/product_inf ... etail.html

So will make a note of current running temperatures before installing this new one...

[wixi]

i'm also unhappy about the noise my DUO is making ... not excessive, but noticeable when it's only 4 ft away.
i, too, read the bit about the guy sleeping with it - perhaps his partner snores, or it's a huge bedroom, but it would keep me awake.

so why should you spend so much for a premium 'quiet; product and then have to bother about swapping the fam it order for it to meet the advertised standard?

beginning to think i should have lashed out on the Thecus Mini instead.

John

[benfrain]

Yes, the noise is a definite problem. I've tried the Fractal Design Fan Silent Series in there instead and whilst the temp came down a couple of degrees the noise isn't much better, just different.

I'm going to try the Acousti AcoustiFan DustPROOF fan in there as well to see if it improves matters. If not, I think I'll be selling up and ordering the Thecus mini myself...

[Pjotr]

Yes, the noise is a definite problem. I've tried the Fractal Design Fan Silent Series in there instead and whilst the temp came down a couple of degrees the noise isn't much better, just different.

It is not that difficult. Buy a 60mm --> 80mm fan adapter as shown by Javic and a 80mm silent Nexus fan. Will cost no more than $10 – $15 total and you are done.

Noise of the fan is less than the noise of the HD itself, WD GP enterprise disks in my case.

[axxe]

A word of warning: I found using a 60x80 adapter nearly impossible (this was my first plan). 2 of the 4 mounting holes for the original fan are so close to the side of the unit that it's impossible to put the side cover on once the adapter is mounted to the back case. I puzzled over the order of assembly for a long time, trying different configurations of mounting hardware, and ended up cutting open the back of the case and mounting the 80mm fan directly to it.

A different style of adapter might have worked, I suppose.

[benfrain]

Yes, the noise is a definite problem. I've tried the Fractal Design Fan Silent Series in there instead and whilst the temp came down a couple of degrees the noise isn't much better, just different.

It is not that difficult. Buy a 60mm --> 80mm fan adapter as shown by Javic and a 80mm silent Nexus fan. Will cost no more than $10 – $15 total and you are done.

Noise of the fan is less than the noise of the HD itself, WD GP enterprise disks in my case.

Sorry Pjotr, I don't fancy a fan stuck on the back of the unit. If I can't get a 60mm one that is quite enough and keeps everything cool enough I'd rather just opt for a different NAS solution. The NAS sits next to me and the noise is currently a major irritation. There are units like the Thecus that promise silent operation and that's more important to me than some of the other features the ReadyNAS offers.

[axxe]

Sorry Pjotr, I don't fancy a fan stuck on the back of the unit. If I can't get a 60mm one that is quite enough and keeps everything cool enough I'd rather just opt for a different NAS solution. The NAS sits next to me and the noise is currently a major irritation. There are units like the Thecus that promise silent operation and that's more important to me than some of the other features the ReadyNAS offers.

Don't they all promise silent operation?

Make sure to search the web for people complaining about noise from the Thecus before you believe it's silent.

[benfrain]

Sorry Pjotr, I don't fancy a fan stuck on the back of the unit. If I can't get a 60mm one that is quite enough and keeps everything cool enough I'd rather just opt for a different NAS solution. The NAS sits next to me and the noise is currently a major irritation. There are units like the Thecus that promise silent operation and that's more important to me than some of the other features the ReadyNAS offers.

Don't they all promise silent operation?

Make sure to search the web for people complaining about noise from the Thecus before you believe it's silent.

You're absolutely right of course!

[Pjotr]

Ok then. If you want something else, indeed look for something else and spend a lot more of bucks. But no one is perfect.

The DUO costs less than 200 bucks without HD. For that you get a big bang for the bucks. But I admit getting more out if it requires a bit of D.I.Y. My DUO sits in my living room also serving as a music server and is inaudible a few meters away, even late at night.

[wixi]

after much hanging on phones talking to level 1 support and being 'put through' (aka listening to muzak for 20 minutes at a time) to level 2, i was finally directed to;
http://www.readynas.com/?p=1912#more-1912

unfortunately, this refers to a ReadyNAS Pro, not a 2150 DUO so doesn't really fit my problem.

i can't face the prospect of ringing India again ...

[ernhamDjinn]

In looking at possible replacement fans for the Duo on Newegg, these models might be viable candidates. In my opinion, it's not so much the noise level of the Duo that's the problem, it's the tone of the stock Crown fan.

VANTEC TF6025
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999615

Dynatron DF126025PL-3/4G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835114064

Those are the top 2 rated 60mm fans from the product category
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000110573+1372726523&Configurator=&Subcategory=573&description=&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

Can any of the Jedi's comment on the compatibility of the replacement fans listed above?

Thanks,

Jason

Be careful with the connectors the fan you purchase provides. The VANTEC TF2065 comes with a 3/4 pin connector, but the 3-pin connector does not work - it doesn't power the fan. You would have to purchase an adapter, and the two 4-pin connectors that come standard with the fan already take a bit of space. I purchased that fan but will return it since it cannot work in the unit.

http://www.frozencpu.com has a TON of different fans and fan accessories. I was wondering if buying a simple rubber fan silencer wouldn't do the trick. It seems to me that a lot of the noise caused by the fan is the vibration of the back plate the fan is attached to.