PROMISE Pegasus R4 "Tuning" (noise reduction)

[florianuhlemann]

Go ahead and call me crazy XD but I felt like ripping my Pegasus apart and swapping the fan for a more silent one

It's not the standard fan connectors, but using the same fan type. 12VDC with signal for RPM. So i soldered the old connector to my new fan, works flawlessly. Exception: The utility now reports 700-800 RPM instead of 1000 so it's marked slightly orange now =D (the fan check) but I'm using WDC Green disks in it, so temperature won't be a problem, as it sits right next to my windows (and the cool air stream).

The fan of the power supply still makes some noise but it has gotten better than before.

Wanted to share this with you. Anybody else done something like that?

I used a KAZE-JYU Slim fan by Scythe. 2000rpm, 100x100x12

The photograph of the fan is the original one. the one installed is my new one.

EDIT: With all four drives now installed the fan is raised to 1000RPM and still remains more quiet than before. So no warning now All lights green pretty much.

[florianuhlemann]

Due to the recent software and firmware update of the Pegasus R4 and Promise Utility, the minimum fan speed for green light has been reduced to 800 RPM and baaammm.. I'm all good now. RPMs vary between 800 and 1000, which is now perfectly within limits =) And this thing is now soo much more quiet and actually acceptable on a desktop right next to your imac

Cheers
Florian

[JesterJJZ]

Depending on the noise, I'd consider doing something like this as well.

[florianuhlemann]

Originally Posted by JesterJJZ

Depending on the noise, I'd consider doing something like this as well.

Do you own a Pegasus yet?

[bergert]

Originally Posted by florianuhlemann

Go ahead and call me crazy XD but I felt like ripping my Pegasus apart and swapping the fan for a more silent one

I ordered my R6 from the apple.com in August - and it arrived in the first week of Sept. The 6 Hitachi disks inside make as much (very little) noise as the fans. The Mini it is connected to is totally silent.

For me, noise is not an issue - maybe because I am used to the whining buzz of the external disk on my MacPro - or just luck (better fans) ?

[florianuhlemann]

Originally Posted by bergert

or just luck (better fans) ?

That might be the case. I realized that the louder noise is coming from vibrations (of the fans or HDD) that are caused by the case of the Pegasus. If you push on the top or sides, the noise becomes much less annoying. (Still, the PSU fan is making a higher pitch noise due to the small build size)

But I though of maybe even adding either the computer case sound protection foam that you can buy to the inside of the case or put some sticky foam where the case is mounted so it can't start vibrating.

[park13]

I dont mind the fan noise. BUT is there a way to turn of Blue LED?

[clavis]

Dear Florian,

thanks for this! I'll tried the same with another Fan, Silenx Pro authentic, without Succes. Now I had ordered same than yours and lets see.

The power supply fan I replaced although, Silenx Pro authentic, but the same: Did not spin.

I have a question: Could you tell me on which Number (1,2,3) of promises' fan connector I had to connect which color of the new fan, please?

Cheers

clavis

[florianuhlemann]

Hm... the fan certainly will spin.. all you have to make sure is that you connect the correct wires!

the easiest way is to remove the sticker off the original fan and check which leads end where... it is labeled with gnd, + and sens on the circuit board of the fan in the center.

hope this helps

Originally Posted by clavis

Dear Florian,

thanks for this! I'll tried the same with another Fan, Silenx Pro authentic, without Succes. Now I had ordered same than yours and lets see.

The power supply fan I replaced although, Silenx Pro authentic, but the same: Did not spin.

I have a question: Could you tell me on which Number (1,2,3) of promises' fan connector I had to connect which color of the new fan, please?

Cheers

clavis

----------

Originally Posted by park13

I dont mind the fan noise. BUT is there a way to turn of Blue LED?

sorry for the late reply. you can always disconnect the LED wires or install a switch inbetween to be able to turn them off when needed. but electronically/via software, there doesnt seem to be a way.

[clavis]

Originally Posted by florianuhlemann

Hm... the fan certainly will spin.. all you have to make sure is that you connect the correct wires!

My Impression is, that these Silenx fans need to much power. The small had spanned after I pushed it with my finger. The bigger one do nothing, but twitching after I pushed it. I think the new fans will work, they are ordered.

Originally Posted by florianuhlemann

...remove the sticker off the original fan and check which leads end where... it is labeled with gnd, + and sens on the circuit board of the fan in the center.

Is it labeled with "gnd, + and sense" on pegasus' main board, too? I'm in the office right now and can't look.

I had ordered some silicon washers for HDD installing, too. I report the result of it.

Did anybody know, when promise brings up a firmware with sleep-mode? I had read in test of ct-magazine they want to, but there its still nothing on their site. I'll write them now and post the answer here.

Cheers

clavis

[clavis]

Hi all,

here is promise' answer belongs to sleep mode:

Response By:- Dayalan Subramaniam 18th May 2012 at 1:37
Hi Stephen,

Thank you for choosing our solutions for your storage needs.

Please open the System preferences in your Mac, Energy saver and select the option "Put the harddrives in to sleep Mode". I am sorry we dont have ETA for our next firmware release. Please check our website keep often.

Regards
Dayalan

[alq]

Strange, I own an R6 since August last year and the fan noise has never been an issue and the R6 is about 1 meter from my head.

alq.

[clavis]

I have read in test, that it is "very low noise". My own R4 is too loud for the living room... spooky...

[lilgto64]

I have an R6 connected to a Mini Server - sits under my desk on top of a cardboard box (for now, should build a shelf of or something).

Fan noise has not really been an issue for me - despite the Util showing 1200 RPM speed. Sometimes when it is busy and the fans ramp up I hear a gentle swooshing type noise.

The fan I do need to do something about is in my 24 port Gigabit switch - which is bolted to the underside of a desk above a shelf I added - and even with some acoustic foam around it - the fan noise it consistent and I think in part thanks to being surrounded on three sides by flat hard surfaces it about the only noise that is consistently a nuisance.