Intel® Server Boards – Loud Fan Issues Troubleshooting Wizard

This troubleshooting wizard is intended to help users fix loud fan issues for Intel® Server Boards.

Open the top cover of your system to check the Fan Fault LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode).

If your chassis has an intrusion switch to check the top cover status, close the switch manually to prevent a false-positive error.

Was the fault LED lit for any fans?

Yes

No

Describe the sound of the fan:

Overly loud

Rumbling

Why it matters

If there is a rumbling sound, ensure that cables aren’t impeding the fan. Verify that all cables are connected properly and do not obstruct airflow into and out of the chassis. You may refer to the Intel® Server System Service Guide for cable routing.

Check whether all the fan connectors are properly inserted or try to remove and reinsert the connectors.

See animation below:

fan-connectors

Properly inserted fan connectors

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Perform CMOS clear procedure.

Things to remember

Clearing the CMOS will clear all the settings in BIOS and will set it to default.
If onboard RAID is configured, the settings will be set back to defaults, and you will need to reconfigure the RAID settings in BIOS.
If the data is not backed up or if it is important, data backup is recommended.
You will find the location of the CMOS jumper and procedure of clearing the CMOS in the technical product specification of the Intel® Server Board.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Perform "Load Default Values" on the BIOS Setup Utility. Refer to the service guide for the Intel® Server Board.

Things to remember

Performing “Load BIOS Default” will clear all the settings in BIOS and will set it to default.
If onboard RAID is configured, the settings will be set back to defaults, and you will need to reconfigure the RAID settings in BIOS.
If the data is not backed up or if it is important, data backup is recommended.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Update FRUSDR (Field Replaceable Unit and Sensor Data Record) to the latest and appropriate version. Refer to Updating FRUSDR for Intel® Server Boards and Intel® Server Systems.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Is the motherboard a Single-Socket Server Board?

Yes

No

Select the Processor Family:

Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2600/2400/4600 and v2/3/4 Family

Intel® Xeon® Processor 5000 Family or previous Intel® Xeon® Processors

Does the Intel® Server Board support Intel® Remote Management Module (Intel® RMM), and is it already installed?

Yes

No

Follow the User Guide for Intel® Remote Management Module 4 (Intel® RMM4) and Integrated BMC for the complete user guide.

Check the events reported by BMC via SEL.

Refer to the appropriate System Event Log Viewer Utility User Guide.

Does the log show any events such as non-critical, critical, or fatal?

Yes

No

Replace the fan with the same type or remove it. Assess whether the fan noise is now at an acceptable level.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

We're sorry you were not able to fix the problem by using this troubleshooting wizard.

Please contact Intel Customer Support for more help.

If the fault LED was lit, it means that the fan unit encountered a significant error. Check whether the fan connector was properly inserted.

Why it matters

For fan fault LED locations, always check the technical product specification of the Intel® Server Board.
The LED has two states: On and Off. The BMC lights a fan fault LED if the associated fan-tech sensor has a lower critical threshold even status asserted.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Replace the fan with a working one or a new one of the same type. Assess whether the fan noise is now at an acceptable level.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Thank you for using this troubleshooting wizard to resolve the problem!

We recommend you check Intel's support website first whenever you need assistance with an Intel product.

Is the processor under the Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-1400/1600 Family (including v2, v3, v4)?

Yes

No

For more information about Intel processors.

Select the Intel® Server Board Family:

Intel® Server Board S1200BT and S1200SP Families

Intel® Server Board S3420GPLX Family

Intel® Server Board S1200KP Family, Intel® Workstation Board WX58BP Family, and others

Follow the User Guide for Intel® Remote Management Module 4 (Intel® RMM4) and Integrated BMC to check the system health with Integrated BMC Web Console.

Did any of the sensors report an event?

Yes

No

Check the events reported by BMC via SEL.

Refer to the appropriate System Event Log Viewer Utility User Guide.

Does the log show any events such as non-critical, critical, or fatal?

Yes

No

Follow the Management Guide for Intel® Server Platforms with Embedded Integrated BMC to check the system health.

Did any of the sensors report an event?

Yes

No

Refer to System Event Log Troubleshooting Guides for Intel® Server Board S2400/S2600 Product Families and take recommended actions depending on the event that occurred.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Identify if the server board has a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) feature by at the technical product specifications (TPS) for the server board.

Does the server board have a BMC feature?

Yes

No

Check the logged events that are related to the sensor, refer to System Event Log Troubleshooting Guides for Intel® Server Board S2400/S2600 Product Families, and take the recommended actions depending on the event.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

If the loud noise had been fixed, the fan may have possible defects. For further assistance, please contact Intel Customer Support.

Check the events reported by BMC via SEL.

Does the SEL show memory events related to DIMM’s thermal sensor?

Yes

No

Is the motherboard a Single-Socket Server Board?

Yes

No

Select the Processor Family:

Intel® Xeon® E5-2600 v3/4 Family

Intel® Xeon® E5-1600/2600/2400/4600 and v2 Family

Intel® Xeon® Processor 5000 Family or previous Intel® Xeon® Processors

Check the Throttling Mode by following these steps:

Press [F2] while POST to enter BIOS Setup.
Choose Set Throttling Mode by selecting Home screen → Advanced → System Acoustic and Performance Configuration → Set Throttling Mode.

Is the Throttling Mode set to “Auto”?

Yes

No

Set the Throttling Mode to “Auto”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Set the Throttling Mode to “CLTT”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Set the Throttling Mode to “OLTT”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Check the Altitude by following these steps:

Press [F2] while POST to enter BIOS Setup.
Choose Altitude by selecting Home screen → Advanced → System Acoustic and Performance Configuration → Altitude.

Is the appropriate value for Altitude selected?

Yes

No

Select the appropriate value for the Altitude.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Check the Throttling Mode by following these steps:

Press [F2] while POST to enter BIOS Setup.
Choose Set Throttling Mode by selecting Home screen → Advanced → System Acoustic and Performance Configuration → Set Throttling Mode.

Is the Throttling Mode set to “Auto”?

Yes

No

Set the Throttling Mode to “Auto”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Set the Throttling Mode to “D-CLTT”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Set the Throttling Mode to “S-CLTT”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Set the Throttling Mode to “S-OLTT”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Check the Fan Profile by following these steps:

Press [F2] while POST to enter BIOS Setup.
Choose Set Fan Profile by selecting Home screen → Advanced → System Acoustic and Performance Configuration → Set Fan Profile.

Is the Fan Profile set to “Acoustic”?

Yes

No

Set the Fan Profile to “Acoustic”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Check the Fan Profile by following these steps:

Press [F2] while POST to enter BIOS Setup.
Choose Set Fan Profile by selecting Home screen → Advanced → System Acoustic and Performance Configuration → Set Fan Profile.

Is the Fan Profile set to “Acoustic”?

Yes

No

Set the Fan Profile to “Acoustic”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Check the Fan RPM Offset by following these steps:

Press [F2] while POST to enter BIOS Setup.
Choose Fan RPM Offset by selecting Home screen → Advanced → System Acoustic and Performance Configuration → Fan RPM Offset.

Is the Fan RPM Offset set to “0”?

Yes

No

Set the Fan RPM Offset to “0”.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Select the Server Board Family:

Intel® Server Board S1200RP Family

Intel® Server Board S1200SP Family

Other Intel® Server Boards

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