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5 PowerEdge T440 acoustics

Dell EMC PowerEdge T440 is a tower server appropriate for a general use space environment. However,

lower acoustical output is attainable with proper hardware or software configurations. For example, the

minimum configuration of T440 is quiet enough for typical office environment.

Table 2 summarizes the sound power, sound pressure level, and prominent tone performance of the T440 in

a 23±2°C environment.

T440 Acoustical performance data

Acoustical performance for two configurations are provided: typical and feature rich. Table 2 contains a

summary of the configuration and acoustical performance of the PE T440. Each configuration has been

tested according to Dell EMC acoustical standards for tower servers.

PowerEdge T440 acoustical dependencies

 Ambient Temperature. For a similar workload fan speeds (and thus, acoustical noise) may increase

as ambient temperature increases.

 High Wattage CPU. High-power (TDP) CPU parts may result in higher acoustical noise output.

 System Thermal Profile Selected in BIOS. The default setting is “Power Optimized (DAPC)”, which

generally means lower fan speed and acoustics. If “Performance Optimized” is selected, fan speed

and acoustical noise may increase.

Methods to reduce acoustical output of the T440

Although the T440 is designed for use in a general use space, some users may prefer a quieter output. Dell

EMC suggests the following. It is important to note that in most cases, the baseline idle fan speed of the

system cannot be lowered without changing the configuration of the system, and in some cases, even a

configuration change may not reduce idle fan speeds.

 Reduce Ambient Temperature. Lowering the ambient temperature allows the system to cool

components more efficiently than at higher ambient temperatures.

 Optimize Third Party PCI Card Options.

 Replace Third Party PCI Cards with similar Dell Supported Temperature PCI Controlled Cards, if

available. Dell EMC works diligently with card vendors to validate and develop PCI cards to meet Dell

EMC’s exacting standards for thermal performance.

 HDD Quantity. An incremental reduction in acoustical output may be gained by reducing the quantity

of HDDs.