A good friend had a few of PowerEdge rack mount servers, common complaint was fans run full even if at idle iirc. They are not designed for home use but in server farm racks usually located in a special climate controlled and sound proof room.

the thing is it's a tower server not rack mount so that type of thing might not apply (as much) here. but thanks for the info, my question is is there a program for linux that emulates the required hardware so I can ramp down the fans. this way it'll be less noisy. my only other option is to remove the fans, but then it won't boot (I assume) as it might get way too hot to run or even block the OS cause it wants to cool down first.

the last option would be to turn it off when I am doing something like streaming or otherwise so it's not in the audio. but then when I boot it up it's louder than a jet engine for a few seconds as it goes through POST.

Have you checked to make sure the thermal compound has not dried out or separated?

Time to replace the thermal compound anyway after so many years.

Also, does that system have heat pipe coolers? Is heat actually being transferred to the heatsink fins?

I've seen quite a few of those old Dell systems have the heat pipes fail and the fans run full speed because the CPU is overheating.

I’d probably install a hardware fan speed controller, they are fairly cheap. I’ve seen 3 speed versions and analog dials.

yikers I already paid $150 and that was my hard limit and fan speed controllers? are there any that work in this system? I've seen many but their for newer systems as this one looks like it uses ISA slots which seems to be a older standard than the newer PCI or PCIe slots you see on newer systems. So if you can find a ISA fan controller card sure I'll look into it, but for now I see no option in the BIOS or tool for linux that can slow the fans abit so they're quieter I heard replacing them would make them quieter but the fan connectors are propriatary so thats not an option, unless there's a workaround?, I also mentioned I would like to know if there are any updated drivers, upgrades, and/or an OS that works well with this old server? this system currently has the specs:

Intel Xeon 5310 @1.60GHz x1 (this is in a dual CPU system)
4GB DDR2 RAM (ECC Buffered I think)
4x 1TB HARD Drive storage configured in a RAID-0 array (2x WD Caviar, 2x WD Black)
all default cards
system is missing it's CMOS Battery slot thingy
2x power supplies

any upgrade ideas will be appreciated

currently running Ubuntu Server 24.04 (other recommendations would be appreciated)

I think thats it for the specs.
if you guys have any advice on the latest BIOS Update or revision I would appreciate being pointed in the right direction to get this system upgraded.

SFMG wrote on 2025-03-08, 06:34:

yikers I already paid $150 and that was my hard limit and fan speed controllers? are there any that work in this system? I've se […]
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yikers I already paid $150 and that was my hard limit and fan speed controllers? are there any that work in this system? I've seen many but their for newer systems as this one looks like it uses ISA slots which seems to be a older standard than the newer PCI or PCIe slots you see on newer systems. So if you can find a ISA fan controller card sure I'll look into it, but for now I see no option in the BIOS or tool for linux that can slow the fans abit so they're quieter I heard replacing them would make them quieter but the fan connectors are propriatary so thats not an option, unless there's a workaround?, I also mentioned I would like to know if there are any updated drivers, upgrades, and/or an OS that works well with this old server? this system currently has the specs:

Intel Xeon 5310 @1.60GHz x1 (this is in a dual CPU system)
4GB DDR2 RAM (ECC Buffered I think)
4x 1TB HARD Drive storage configured in a RAID-0 array (2x WD Caviar, 2x WD Black)
all default cards
system is missing it's CMOS Battery slot thingy
2x power supplies

any upgrade ideas will be appreciated

currently running Ubuntu Server 24.04 (other recommendations would be appreciated)

I think thats it for the specs.
if you guys have any advice on the latest BIOS Update or revision I would appreciate being pointed in the right direction to get this system upgraded.

I've never seen a fan speed controller that needs a slot to operate. I just took a look on eBay and for 10 to 20 bucks you can get one that plugs into the fan header on the board (so the system see the fan) and you plug the fan into the controller, and it sits in the front panel (ie takes a drive space) so you can slow it or speed it up as needed. No software needed, just turn a knob to adjust a simple potentiometer.

There are all types of hardware fan controllers; from high-end digital ones that occupy a drive bay to cheap analog ones with a 3-way (High-Medium-Low) switch that you install between the fan header and your fan.

I can understand if you have already spent too much and want a software solution - I was just making an alternative suggestion.

No no I understand. But a software solution would be preferred , there’s no room in the chassis for the controller so that’s the main reason for wanting a software solution as under the fans there is no room

By the way the fan header isn’t like the ones you see in consumer PCs it’s proprietary square 4-pin

I can understand why you wouldn’t want to, but with only 4 pins it probably wouldn’t be difficult to do some custom wiring yourself.

I'm terrible at souldering so it isn't viable for me