White Papers

38 PowerEdge 14th generation (14G) acoustical performance and dependencies | Document ID | version (optional)
Methods to Reduce Acoustical Output of the R940
Although the R940 is designed for use in data centers, some users may prefer a quieter system. Dell EMC
suggests the following list of possible solutions to reduce R940 acoustical output. An important note: In most
cases, 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.
 Enable sound cap in IDRAC GUI. Sound cap, a setting in the BIOS, can be toggled on/off during
boot up. When enabled, sound cap reduces the acoustics of the system at the expense of some
performance.
 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. Consider optimal slot locations and ensure that the airflow
target, predicted by iDRAC, is appropriate for the cards installed in the system.
 Replace Third Party PCI Cards with similar Dell Supported Temperature Controlled PCI 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.