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Dell PowerEdge VRTX Acoustics and Thermals
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• TurboBoost mode: Acoustical levels can be kept low during operating modes when TurboBoost mode
is turned off (in BIOS) for the processor. Operating modes can increase ~5 dBA (~50% louder) when
TurboBoost mode is turned on.
• HDDs: Are a distant second in noise generation. However, the following will further reduce the
acoustical signature after the above has been pursued. Spindle speed of HDDs is most closely tied with
noise. As 10k are significantly quieter, they are recommended over 15k HDDs for reduction of
acoustical output.
• Power supplies: When power draw or preheat to a power supply increases, the internal fans of power
supply units (PSUs) rotate at higher RPM. A way to reduce the power draw on any one PSU is to
increase the installed quantity. PowerEdge VRTX will meet open office acoustics with just two PSUs,
but it will meet open office acoustics over a wider range of high load applications when four PSUs are
used.
Acoustical output of PowerEdge VRTX, metrics used to describe it, Table 3.
and corresponding configuration and utilization.
Sound Power Level
1
Sound Pressure Level
2
Sound Quality
3
Configuration
4
Operating
mode
LwA-UL, bels, re: 1
pW
LpA, dBA, re: 20 µPa Prominent tones
4x M520 server
nodes with Intel
®
E5-2420 CPUs, 6x
8GB DIMMs, 16x 10k
2.5” HDDs, and 4x
1100W PSUs.
Idle 5.4 36 None present
Operating,
50% TDP
5.4 36 None present
Operating,
70% TDP
5.4 36 None present
Operating,
100% TDP
5.4 36 None present
3x M620 server
nodes with Intel
®
E5-2660 CPUs, 6x
8GB DIMMs, 16x 10k
2.5” HDDs, and 4x
1100W PSUs.
Idle 5.5 37 None present
Operating,
50% TDP
6.2 41 None present
Operating,
70% TDP
6.2 41 None present
Operating,
100% TDP
7.3 53 None present
3x M620 server
nodes with Intel
®
E5-2660 CPUs,
Enhanced Acoustic
Option, 6x 8GB
DIMMs, 16x 10k 2.5”
HDDs, and 4x 1100W
PSUs.
Idle 5.5 37 None present
Operating,
50% TDP
5.8 39 None present
Operating,
70% TDP
5.8 39 None present
Operating,
100% TDP
6.8 48 None present
3x M620 server
nodes with Intel
®
E5-2650 CPUs,
Enhanced Acoustic
Option, 6x 8GB
DIMMs, 16x 10k 2.5”
HDDs, and 4x 1100W
PSUs.
Idle
5.5
37
None present
Operating,
50% TDP
5.6 37 None present
Operating,
70% TDP
5.8 39 None present
Operating,
100% TDP
6.8 48 None present
3x M620 server
nodes with Intel
®
E5-2640 CPUs,
Enhanced Acoustic
Option, 6x 8GB
Idle
5.4
36
None present
Operating,
50% TDP
5.6 37 None present
Operating,
70% TDP
5.7 37 None present