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Readynas Pro heat issues
Hopefully this is the right place to post this. I've had my Readynas Pro for about 7 years. Recently the power supply fan started to make funny noises and temperature was kind of high. Scheduled power down/ups failed so I always had the unit on. I cleaned up the unit and tried to replace the power supply fan only but the replacement fan was too slow and eventually just stopped.
So I got a new power supply from Seasonic (SS-300SFD) + extension cables. I made some modifications to the cabling since they were too long and this worked out fine regarding the fan and now the scheduled power down/ups are working properly. However, the unit still gets pretty hot.
I tried to replace the 120mm SYS fan with a Noctua NF-S12A FLX to see if heat issues would improve. This did not work. The NAS got really hot and hard drives started to shut down and got all kinds of messages from the NAS about heat issues, so I replaced the original 120mm fan back.
I'm waiting for some crimps to improve the cabling and perhaps improve air flow. If I open the unit, the heat problem goes away. It seems the heat problem comes from the heat sink on the memory controller just below the CPU. I also noticed that my NAS uses the E2160.
Would updating the CPU for an E5300 or any other compatible CPU reduce heat build up? Should I cut some holes on the side and add another fan?
These are currently my NAS readings with the stock 120mm fan:
Device Description Status
Disk 1 WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0 1863 GB , 36 C / 96 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 2 WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0 1863 GB , 35 C / 95 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 3 WDC WD20EFRX-68AX9N0 1863 GB , 32 C / 89 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 4 WDC WD20EFRX-68AX9N0 1863 GB , 34 C / 93 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 5 WDC WD20EZRX-19D8PB0 1863 GB , 34 C / 93 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 6 WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0 1863 GB , 33 C / 91 F , Write-cache ON OK
Fan SYS 1854 RPM OK
Fan CPU 1534 RPM OK
Temp SYS 58 C / 136 F [Normal 0-65 C / 32-149 F] OK
Temp CPU 37 C / 98 F [Normal 0-60 C / 32-140 F] OK
UPS 1 APC Back-UPS ES 550, Battery charge: 100%, 19 minutes OK
I'm still on 4.2.27. Thanks.
So I got a new power supply from Seasonic (SS-300SFD) + extension cables. I made some modifications to the cabling since they were too long and this worked out fine regarding the fan and now the scheduled power down/ups are working properly. However, the unit still gets pretty hot.
I tried to replace the 120mm SYS fan with a Noctua NF-S12A FLX to see if heat issues would improve. This did not work. The NAS got really hot and hard drives started to shut down and got all kinds of messages from the NAS about heat issues, so I replaced the original 120mm fan back.
I'm waiting for some crimps to improve the cabling and perhaps improve air flow. If I open the unit, the heat problem goes away. It seems the heat problem comes from the heat sink on the memory controller just below the CPU. I also noticed that my NAS uses the E2160.
Would updating the CPU for an E5300 or any other compatible CPU reduce heat build up? Should I cut some holes on the side and add another fan?
These are currently my NAS readings with the stock 120mm fan:
Device Description Status
Disk 1 WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0 1863 GB , 36 C / 96 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 2 WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0 1863 GB , 35 C / 95 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 3 WDC WD20EFRX-68AX9N0 1863 GB , 32 C / 89 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 4 WDC WD20EFRX-68AX9N0 1863 GB , 34 C / 93 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 5 WDC WD20EZRX-19D8PB0 1863 GB , 34 C / 93 F , Write-cache ON OK
Disk 6 WDC WD20EARX-00PASB0 1863 GB , 33 C / 91 F , Write-cache ON OK
Fan SYS 1854 RPM OK
Fan CPU 1534 RPM OK
Temp SYS 58 C / 136 F [Normal 0-65 C / 32-149 F] OK
Temp CPU 37 C / 98 F [Normal 0-60 C / 32-140 F] OK
UPS 1 APC Back-UPS ES 550, Battery charge: 100%, 19 minutes OK
I'm still on 4.2.27. Thanks.
47 Replies
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- Ok, I can confirm the PSU fan is sucking air in.
Forgot to answer: my cpu is a E6600, it was suggested by someone on a thread here. Cannot remember how I ended up with this. I believe it is the 'low power' version, to reduce heath. I still doubt that the CPU or anything on the motherboard can cause your HDDs to overheat. They are in a separate compartment and there is air flowing in the HDD section. The CPU should glow red to affect the HDDs!
Now, I only have two HDD's, maybe that is making a little difference. That said, your current temperatures don't seem bad.
Currently my HDDs are running at 35°C, SYS 47°C and CPU 23.5°C. Sys fan 897rpm (how do you format the status information so nicely?). Interesting, my CPU is cooler than yours but my fan is spinning faster.
You may be able to reduce the CPU temperature by replacing the CPU and by replacing the thermal paste. And your ambient temperature may be higher than mine maybe?
That said, I do not see a problem here. - LOL! For the format I just do copy/past from Front View. I still have 4.2.27 which I don't mind as long as it works smoothly.
I purchased a used E5300 for like $4 ($8 with shipping), and will try putting some more thermal paste.
I also don't see a huge problem. Except I can't use a quite Noctua 120mm fan or else the NAS gets really hot and drives start to shut down. Based on the specs of the Noctua, it can't really go past 1200 RPM and even with the advertized superior air flow it did not cut it for my situation, which is surpricing given what I've read around. That's what got me started in looking around for possible issues. - You do not need MORE paste! Too much paste is actually counterproductive, it will act as an insulator. Buy some arctic pro paste and apply a very very thin layer of paste using a business card or a plastic card. More paste is not needed.
Ok, you have 6 HDDs but I am still puzzled. I cannot imagine the Western Digital's shutting down even though you had no airflow at all. It simply does not make sense - even though I do not own your drives, I believe the technology is the same and my HDD, mine simply have twice as many platters as yours. To overheat it must mean that there is NO airflow whatsoever in your box, I do not understand.
Did you check the airflow of the current fan and the Noctua's? I'll try putting a piece of paper in front of the box! :)
You've never mentioned what's your ambient temperature.
4.2.27 is the latest version for your Pro.
If I copy and paste it just show a mess of numbers, that's why I asked!
Where is this coming from? I see nothing in this thread suggesting any issue with the hard drives.tony359 wrote: ...I cannot imagine the Western Digital's shutting down even though you had no airflow at all. tony359 wrote: You do not need MORE paste! Too much paste is actually counterproductive, it will act as an insulator. Buy some arctic pro paste and apply a very very thin layer of paste using a business card or a plastic card. More paste is not needed.
Here's how I was taught to apply paste (I am assuming the CPU is not fitted, for ease of handling):- 1) put a dot of paste on both cpu and heatsink underside.
2) wrap a finger in plastic food wrap / use throwaway plastic glove / plastic ziplock bag - anything to avoid getting paste on your finger
3) using your wrapped finger, with a circular 'polishing' motion, rub the paste evenly over the surface area of CPU and heatsink contact surface. Don't worry too much about getting all the edges covered, unless you are a little OCD - in which case go right ahead. :-)
This tiny amount basically acts as filler to smooth out the imperfections in the contact surface - if you are doing it right, it will seem like there is no visible filler on the surface; the surface will appear dull, and you should be able to read the CPU information etched on the surface more clearly.
4) Add a blob of no more than 2mm of paste in the centre of the CPU. That's about half the length of a medium grain of rice, or about the same space as the lower part of the letter 'B' on your keyboard.
5) install CPU, then fit cooler (taking care not to over-tighten).
Fitting the CPU cooler will spread the blob of paste out to a suitable size to cover the CPU core.
I have never had a problem with over 100 CPU & heatsink installs using this method.- That sounds as a good method, as you see the point is you have to put a very tiny amount of paste. Thanks, this method is probably better than the one I suggested.
Stephen,
That's what ultrabike said : the HDDs shut down if he replaces the fan.
Found it now, buried in the first post.tony359 wrote: That's what ultrabike said : the HDDs shut down if he replaces the fan. - Yup. When I installed the Noctua fan Disk 1 shut down and started getting e-mail notifications that SYS temperature was above normal a few minutes after installation.
Shut down the NAS, put back the old SYS fan, and things went back to where they were before.
There is definitively good air flow through the disk drives, but for some reason the heat sink below the CPU gets relatively hot. Based on what've seen, w/o the 120mm fan things wouldn't work.
The fans are definitively pulling in (CPU & Power) and pushing out (SYS) air. If anything the CPU fan seems a bit slow relative to the reading (1500 - 1700 RPM). So maybe it's the CPU fan. Could also be that somehow the new power supply cable extender is interferring with air flow. That's why I'm waiting for my crimp tool to remove the extender connector and crimp the cables. Perhaps while there is good HDD airflow, there is not enough airflow through the motherboard components. This would make sense since removing the side cover brings the temperature (and the fans) down.
I did reapply thermal paste to both the CPU and the components at the other heat sink below the CPU. Made not much difference. Waiting on the E5300 and the cable crimp. And may give this other cpu fan a shot:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VS ... VQBTNMED4K - I still feel there is something wrong. I will try at the weekend, I am confident those HDD's won't overheat in MINUTES!
Have you got anything running on the NAS which is heavily using the CPU? Can you SSH into the unit and see what the CPU is doing? The CPU hot air is ending on the heat-sink you mentioned, maybe it's just the CPU running at 100% all the time? But it would be hotter than 35 degrees...
And - I am asking again! - what is your ambient temperature???
I wouldn't spend too much time with that unit, I feel there is something basic we are missing here.
When I got the NAS and I replaced CPU and RAM, to test the unit I stuck a plastic cable tie in the CPU fan. Left the CPU to run till 80 degrees. It was happening quickly, but with the fan completely stuck. I cannot believe that your unit is overheating when using the wrong SYS fan to be honest. - I also feel something is odd. But yes, the HDD's got fairly hot in minutes (not exagerating) with the Noctua fan.
As far as I know nothing heavy should be running. I can SSH and do a top to see what's gong on.
As far as my ambient temperature, I'm in Irvine CA which is not too bad.
The unit is not dying if the SYS fan is the stock fan, though temperature is a bit higher than what I would expect, and the fan is running somewhat fast. However, with the Noctua SYS fan, things go down in flames. I already ordered a second CPU fan to see if things improve (note I have so far replaced or attempted to replace every fan except the CPU fan, which might be running too slow).
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