RB1100 Fan issue

bobcopro · Wed Jun 23, 2010 4:13 am

Just got a new RB1100 and the thing sounds like a turbo prop. Drowns out the 4 PC's running and the cooling fan for the POE interfaces. Thinking maybe there was a setting to slow it down I went into Health and found the auto/man main/aux settings. When on auto and either fan selected and applied, it always goes to the aux fan. Set on manual and applied the Aux fan runs, but set to main fan and nothing. I'm hoping for not only a defective fan (the non-working one) but also that the one that is working is WAAYYY louder than it's supposed to be.

It's worse when put in the rack as it echos out even louder! Anybody?

bobcopro · Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:34 pm

MikroTik?

Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:45 pm

Yes, and that's completely normal for any 1U device. Do you have any other 1U rackmount servers that make less noise? Of all devices we have, the RB1100 is actually one of the quietest.

THG · Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:46 pm

Doesn't everything sounds like a turbo prop? For example 3com switches and HP servers. If I were complaining of the fan noise of RB1100, I would complain about anything made for corporate networks.

Where do you use your RB1100, in your living room or bedroom?

bobcopro · Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:58 pm

I'm more concerned that the main fan will not power up, even when set manually. I assume the 2 fan option is a backup for cooling and with one fan already down (from the factory) it doesn't bode well for the remaining fan.

Fortunately the AC is drowning the unit out now!

pssara · Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:03 pm

I heard it was noizy. But I was not expecting this!!!

mdaitc · Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:26 pm

i have one RB1100 running without fans - it's in a rack where there's fans at the back sucking air through that's pretty quiet (quiet enough to be in my office) - the CPU temp hovers @ 40C - the secret here was to take the heatsink off, and apply CPU thermal compound - there just didn't seem to be enough on there.

I've got some of these fans http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835706027 on order (cheaper @ http://www.primelec.com/PC-Accessories/ ... 75074.html )they should be a lot quieter...

roc-noc.com · Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:31 pm

Yes, and that's completely normal for any 1U device. Do you have any other 1U rackmount servers that make less noise? Of all devices we have, the RB1100 is actually one of the quietest.

Normis,

Since you asked....

Supermicro has some very quiet 1U servers. They use 100mm blowers with a vertical axis. They make much less noise than tiny 1U fans and run at 4200 rpm.

Here is a chassis with 2 of them installed.

http://www.supermicro.com/products/chas ... 1S-260.cfm

Tom

bobcopro · Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:45 pm

You might want to check and see if both fans even work. That was the point of my first post, but was ignored my MikroTik (no offer to send me another fan, nothing!) Nothing like a backup fan that doesn't work! I ended up removing the factory fans, removed the top and cut a 4" hole in it and mounted a standard PC chassis fan on top. I fabricated a cover that exhausts to the side. It's VERY quiet now and the highest the temp has ever gone is 32 degrees. It is now takes up a 2U space, but I've plenty of room in the rack.

mdaitc · Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:35 am

ok:

I've now replaced the fans on two units I've described in previous posts, and the results are great! running on my desk, I can't hear the fan at all in the RB1100 when powered up.

First off, I took the heat-sink off the CPU and applied thermal paste - there wasn't enough in the first place IMHO.

Temperature wise, the test RB1100 with no fans has been at 40C the past two week. Putting the fans in it (one active, one backup), it now sits at 30C.

Overall, I'd have happily paid $10 extra for these fans to have been in it - the only downside was I had to solder the connectors from the original fans on it.

If noise is an issue, then I'm very happy with the results of this - it cost $4 USD for the fans, and 20 mins soldering connectors on.

SethM · Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:21 am

For me the amount of noise a rackmount device makes is irrelevant. It can be as noisy as at likes because it's going in the server room with stuff that's just as loud if not louder. I suspect this was MikroTik's design planning as well. I would not want to pay extra for a "quiet" version.

bobcopro · Tue Jan 25, 2011 7:14 pm

I would have been happy if both fans would have worked! Or, if after the original post someone from MikroTik would have said "sorry, where can we send a replacement fan to?"

ODIN679 · Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:45 pm

i have one RB1100 running without fans - it's in a rack where there's fans at the back sucking air through that's pretty quiet (quiet enough to be in my office) - the CPU temp hovers @ 40C - the secret here was to take the heatsink off, and apply CPU thermal compound - there just didn't seem to be enough on there.

I've got some of these fans http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835706027 on order (cheaper @ http://www.primelec.com/PC-Accessories/ ... 75074.html )they should be a lot quieter...

Did the fans work? I have the same problem... They seem to screem! Its not a normal fan noise, got 6 servers and none make this mutch noise... 3 of them are 1U servers from supermicro.... There fans work good....

hedele · Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:26 am

The RB1100AH I just got has a CPU temp of about 75°C, while doing absolutely nothing...
Also, the Fan sounds like a turbine

Is that normal? I would suppose the CPU Temp should be a lot lower...
The other Temperature measured (Board/Environment) is about 29°C.

mdaitc · Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:36 am

Did the fans work? I have the same problem... They seem to screem! Its not a normal fan noise, got 6 servers and none make this mutch noise... 3 of them are 1U servers from supermicro.... There fans work good....

the fans are great - i have one sitting 3 feet away from me 8 hours a day on a shelf, and i don't even know it's there.

i've gotten two units converted, and haven't seen any issues with heat.

good luck!

Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:10 am

If you don't like the fans, we now have a fanless rack device - RB1200

hedele · Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:35 am

Thanks normis - by the way, would you mind telling me if 75°C CPU Temp on a RB 1100AH is normal, problematic or just a wrong display?

Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:43 am

Thanks normis - by the way, would you mind telling me if 75°C CPU Temp on a RB 1100AH is normal, problematic or just a wrong display?

It's ok, it won't affect anything

eplejuz · Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:19 pm

I disabled both fans. (pull the connectors out from the board)
I then mod a 80mm fan to a USB connector and then place the fan at the exhaust holes of the RB1100. (USB is powered by a server nearby)
Temp is 32 deg celsius.
Silent and better than the default fans.
Cons: it look messy

Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:27 pm

I disabled both fans. (pull the connectors out from the board)
I then mod a 80mm fan to a USB connector and then place the fan at the exhaust holes of the RB1100. (USB is powered by a server nearby)
Temp is 32 deg celsius.
Silent and better than the default fans.
Cons: it look messy

I would be very much interested to see your changes. Could you please make some photographs and send to support@mikrotk.com? It doesn't matter that it looks messy. If you send us more info (also fan specifications please), it would help us to improve design for next revisions. We would choose a better fan, or change airflow design

chrapaszcz · Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:46 pm

I changed this problem in another way: I connected two fans in serial and plugged into socket on the board (main or aux - doesn't matter). Now I have 2 running fans but powered by 6V DC each (instead of 12). Their speed is low and temperature is 33C.

wtsvenezuela · Thu May 24, 2012 4:39 am

It can be incredible but those fans sucks, if you take them out they don't make any noise, but when you put them in their site they make high vibrations, this is what make that terrible sound, about if someone of us have it in his room, I have it, and its terrible, what about RB1200 ?, wasnt in the market when I bought RB1100AH.

But like someone said above, Just add more thermal compound and its ok, I just quit those little noisy fans and used a bigger aluminum sink with thermal compound nothing else is necessary. I think Mikrotik used these noisy fans to make RB1100 series look and sound like a monster

I'm working that way at 35c max, no fan...

Claudio,

Maggiore81 · Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:35 am

Any news about 1100 fans?
I am about to buy a 1100Hx2 but if it is terribly noise I am concerned... Ok that it will be in the server room but I prefer fanless or low-noise devices (as routers).

Ehman · Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:44 pm

I bought myself a 1100AHx2 a while ago, and it does sound like a turbo prop, louder then my 2 servers, and office pc, I tried to turn it off by selecting manual but it only made the aux fan turn on, so I just left it and lived with it, but now I need another 1100AHx2 on another site, and this puppy sits in someone sleeping room near the power and network and it gets HOT in the summer, so I'm screwed when it come to noise... and a 1200 is almost the same price of a 1100AHx2, but the 1200 is kinda out of stock

Will my 1100AHx2 burn out if I unplug the fans, the device will be in a unventilated place, I've been running RB750's in there for a long time without any problems, but in summer, the heat gets extreme

hoze76 · Fri Nov 22, 2013 1:53 am

Hello!

We are using a 1100AHx2 to Core router, for almost a year.
Recently we upgraded to ROS 6.x, now using 6.6.
Is there a CPU throttle in this board, or in ROS?
Because the cpu cooler is not working properly, but in the 5.xx time, there is nothig wrong happened, but this week second time happaned the same.
Smokepings are in the sky, cpu load is not over 20-30%, and bandwith usage is 20-30% only.

Board ambient temperature 30C, CPU is 65C, but in the summer, there was over 70C, and nothing goes wrong.

So, I replace the coolers only, hopefully not the controller (board) are wrong, or use an auxillary cooler, or replace the whole board?

sanya · Fri Jan 31, 2014 9:24 am

Solution - absolutely silent, no moving parts

It's home installation in separate section inside the wardrobe. Board temperature is 35C, CPU temperature is 37C

honzam · Fri Jan 31, 2014 9:34 am

nice

sanya · Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:19 am

I changed this problem in another way: I connected two fans in serial and plugged into socket on the board (main or aux - doesn't matter). Now I have 2 running fans but powered by 6V DC each (instead of 12). Their speed is low and temperature is 33C.

I was trying this solution on RB1100HX2 but it doesn't really help. First of all, power supply starts whistling, and fans goes running not immediately after power on but after some time. I suppose power supply chains expect more load and can't start normally. Second, even on lower rotation speed fans are still noisy enough. Actually fans are disbalanced and that produces vibration. Trying to replace fans with new ones with better quality and lower noise level results in whistling problem described above.

kabracity · Wed Sep 24, 2014 10:28 am

Sorry for reopening this thread, but as the matter is really related I preferred it over creating a new post.

I just got my RB1100 yesterday, and I agree it sounds like a turbo prop. Of course it doesn't matter if the router is on a separate room with a lot of noisy devices, but in my case the router is next to my computer, so the noise is really annoying.

First thing I did yesterday was unplugging the fans, and now I'm taking a look at the temperature: it idles at 44ºCMB/74ºCPU. It won't be heavily loaded because I'm using it for my home (bought it because I wanted to learn some RouterOS), so I was wondering if having it 24/7 at this temperature would be dangerous for the router.

In the meantime, I'm trying to look for a fan replacement that won't be that noisy (I have a server in there, a computer and a managed switch, and none of them is as noisy as RB1100 with stock fan).

The problem is that I would like to know what are the requirements I should consider for the fan to be compatible with it (the ones purchased by mdaitc are not available in Amazon Spain).

Basically I'm looking for 4cm fans and taking a look at the noise level and the min/max rpm. I guess I should only consider the max rpm as I don't think there is fan control in the RB1100.

I have 3 models as candidates, could someone please take a look and give me some advice (and if there is some incompatibility with RB1100):

http://www.amazon.es/Noctua-NF-A4x10-FL ... ilador+4cm
http://www.amazon.es/Noiseblocker-Black ... ilador+4cm
http://www.amazon.es/Noiseblocker-Black ... ilador+4cm

Thanks in advance!

janisk · Wed Sep 24, 2014 3:05 pm

temperatures you list are not critical at the moment, however, with load temperatures will increase. Board temperature will not change much CPU can go as high as 100°C (well at that level that is critical)

So, if you can get a fan that has similar parameters as ones you have installed from the factory you should be on the safe side as long as there is an air draft over the heatsink. Using fan with higher power requirements can damage the router.

kabracity · Wed Sep 24, 2014 3:47 pm

Thanks for the reply janisk. I don't think any of these fans has higher power requirements, so it should be safe on that side. I will anyway take a look at the stock fans to see if the specs are written on them (couldn't find any spec on the brochure).

janisk · Wed Sep 24, 2014 3:50 pm

and i forgot - your RB model does not have fan speed control.,as a result fans will run at constant speed. Or you introduce some external device for speed control.

kabracity · Wed Sep 24, 2014 3:55 pm

and i forgot - your RB model does not have fan speed control.,as a result fans will run at constant speed. Or you introduce some external device for speed control.

Thanks

. The noctua I listed seems to come with a cable that allows fan control, so that is indeed what I want as I know my RB1100 will never be under high loads:

The NF-A4x10 comes with a Low-Noise Adaptor (NA-RC10) that
allows you to reduce the fan speed from 4500 to 3700rpm in order
to achieve even quieter operation.

kabracity · Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:50 pm

Little update: I finally bought the Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=prod ... =47&lng=en and installed it today.

On one side, it's not the best fan for this router because it's smaller than the included fans, so there is a gap now which is not the best for air flow. I'm posting a pic to make myself clearer (sorry for being blur, it was under artificial light and didn't noticed it when I took it):

On the other side, I'm quite happy with it for the moment. It's noiseless (specially compared to the stock one, which was not an option if the router is sitting next to you). I have configured it on the low noise mode (spinning around 3.3k rpm), but it keeps right now my board at 37ºC and the CPU at 44ºC. Until now, I was using the router in fanless mode, with board 44ºC and CPU at 68ºC.

Cheers!

jebz · Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:20 pm

Little update: I finally bought the Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=prod ... =47&lng=en and installed it today.

On one side, it's not the best fan for this router because it's smaller than the included fans, so there is a gap now which is not the best for air flow.

You need to close the gap between the fan and shroud. Use duct tape or a spacer. You could cut a slice off your old fan (just the frame not the motor or blade part) to make a spacer.

..

skot · Sat Oct 04, 2014 11:50 pm

I found that the fans are much quieter holding in my hand than when they are in the case. Simply touching the fan body to the case causes vibration sounds. So, I added some self adhesive padding where the fans touched the case and each other.

s1.png

s2.png

After putting screws back in, there was some increase in noise (from screws touching fan body and case I think). Instead of the metal screws I put plastic ties through the screw holes to hold the fans in place.

s3.png

Result = a good amount quieter! Maybe 50% less noise.

After reading this post and learning that 75C is ok... I unplugged the fans to see how high CPU temp would go. Load on this router is minimal, and temp hovered around 60 most of time. So, I unplugged the main fan and wrote a script to turn on the aux fan in the case that the temp exceeds 80, and turn it off if temp is less than 50.

:local temp [/system health get cpu-temperature]
:local fan [/system health get use-fan]
/log info "[CPU TEMP] - $temp"

:if ([/system health get fan-mode] != "manual") do={
  /system health set fan-mode=manual
}

:if ($temp > 80 && $fan != "auxiliary") do={
  /log info "[CPU TEMP] - turning fan on"
  /system health set use-fan=auxiliary
}
:if ($temp < 50 && $fan != "main") do={
  /log info "[CPU TEMP] - turning fan off"
  /system health set use-fan=main
}

kabracity · Sun Oct 05, 2014 9:10 pm

Thanks for the feedback scott. The script might come handy if we have temperature peaks.

lux · Wed Nov 12, 2014 11:20 am

Thanks for the solution! Someone knows - at the critical temperature of the CPU is switched off or burned?

lux · Wed Nov 12, 2014 11:21 am

Thanks for the solution! Someone knows - at the critical temperature of the CPU is switched off or burned?

SystemErrorMessage · Sat Nov 15, 2014 3:06 am

Maybe i should mod my CCR too. On full load it is noiser than my GPUs overclocked at full load and full fan speeds.

I think in general routerboards need quiter fans or bigger fans with tunnel like what some laptops use.

alfedo · Mon Mar 30, 2015 1:10 pm

My version of rework RB1100AHx2 Fan to make it less noisy.

New cooler is 80x80x15 mm. Removed plastic tube and reference turbo propellers

Radiator was taken from old videocard.

IMG_1271s.jpg

IMG_1272s.jpg

Result in idle mode: CPU is 35C @Fan RPM 300-400. Now I can say that it noiseless

Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:46 am

Good mod. But it cannot be placed in rack between other devices.

alfedo · Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:42 pm

But it cannot be placed in rack between other devices.

Yes it is. But in my case routerboard placed in top of rack. All other devices are under.
In other cases you can just keep a gap between devices.

florentrivoire · Fri Apr 17, 2015 12:01 pm

Little update: I finally bought the Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=prod ... =47&lng=en and installed it today.

On one side, it's not the best fan for this router because it's smaller than the included fans, so there is a gap now which is not the best for air flow. I'm posting a pic to make myself clearer (sorry for being blur, it was under artificial light and didn't noticed it when I took it):

On the other side, I'm quite happy with it for the moment. It's noiseless (specially compared to the stock one, which was not an option if the router is sitting next to you). I have configured it on the low noise mode (spinning around 3.3k rpm), but it keeps right now my board at 37ºC and the CPU at 44ºC. Until now, I was using the router in fanless mode, with board 44ºC and CPU at 68ºC.

Cheers!

We have a RB1100AHx2 (brought in early 2015) that was making too much noise.
The router is installed in a small rack in a corner of an office, so noise matter a little bit for people around (it's not a datacenter floor).
And its noise was annoying even at 10 meters away

So, we bought 2 Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX as suggested by kabracity.
We installed the 2 fans in the router by fixing them on the side of case using existing holes and noctua-supplied anti-vibration mounts.
It looks like kabracity's picture, but with the 2 fans replaced by Noctua's.

The only thing is that there is a gap between the fan and the plastic cover (because Noctua fans do no have the same dimensions than the "Mikrotik" ones, cf kabracity's picture).
So we have used some duct tape to avoid breaking the airflow.

And now the router is really much more silent, we dont hear it even at < 1m

(it's difficult to be really precise on the noise, sorry)
And temperature stays low : CPU is usually around 42° with our normal usage of this router (~20% cpu).

Thanks all for the advices

Zorro · Mon May 04, 2015 9:23 pm

idea with PC CPU cooler in passive mode was more funny/striking.
but in that case i prefer horizontal versions. like recently updated Gemin2s from CM some Scythe cooelers and some others.
about stock coolers - there was several fans from different companies thats with (more or less)similar airflow and static pressure - differ in noise volume and dispersion(in frequency distribution)quite Notably if not Dramatically. different rotor profile make difference, aswell as different material or lighweight, IC-control(brushless). ball bearings also improve fan resource nearly 6x times(at cost of noise, sadly. but in THAT case - its Worthy sacrifice).

lgkahn · Sat Dec 05, 2015 7:22 pm

getting a couple of these.. a little lower airflow but much quitter.. will keep you informed when I install

http://www.coolerguys.com/840556098225.html

Zorro · Tue Dec 08, 2015 12:54 am

thats why 1200 model created(and silcenced/heatpiped ccr1009 aswell)
buy branded fans with ball-bearings(they ding bit louder(but less than stock 1100's fans), but not fail so much)
and another suggestion: its time to move to 1016 perhaps ? (1x00 performance isn't much nowdays for real use)

raymonvdm · Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:18 pm

I just found out this topic after getting two 1100AHx2, the fans are not really noisy but they are more of the wining type. The main fan, has more issue with it than the aux fan (so i switched them in the Healt menu) Maybe the fans are just end of life to :-)

The included fans are just 40x20mm fans? So i can also use these as a replacement? https://noctua.at/en/products/fan/nf-a4x20-flx

* Note i also got a RB1200 which is fanless but less ports and, less ram

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