Are 4-in-3 or 5-in-3 SATA backplanes relatively quiet?

[Chuck]

I went with a cheap 4-in-3 that has two 50mm fans, and it is obnoxious. Even the air entering the doors causes turbulence and creates noise. One thing I will say about it is it keeps the disks cool. Building parity not one has exceeded 32º C.

 

So I am shopping for a replacement. 4 disks is fine and I assume should cool slightly better, although rarely will I be spinning up more than one at a time so heat isn't a huge concern.

[queeg]

I went with a cheap 4-in-3 that has two 50mm fans, and it is obnoxious. Even the air entering the doors causes turbulence and creates noise. One thing I will say about it is it keeps the disks cool. Building parity not one has exceeded 32º C.

 

So I am shopping for a replacement. 4 disks is fine and I assume should cool slightly better, although rarely will I be spinning up more than one at a time so heat isn't a huge concern.

 

The Icy Dock 5-in-3 is practically silent.  I have two in one machine.

[Chuck]

This one?  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994076

[madpoet]

The Supermicros are NOT quiet, but easily modified with a new fan to be.

[queeg]

This one?  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994076

 

I have this one.

[Ken R.]

no, no, no, not the SNT (your link) if you want quite!  Those thing keep frost on the drive but they sound just like a jet idling.

 

 

[Chuck]

Sorry, I posted the link to the one I have. And yes it does sound like a jet.

[mrbadss]

Is this one quiet?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817993002

 

 

[furymaster]

Hi,

 

"With 2 x 50mm cooling fan for efficient air-ventilation (Replaceable)" the SNT SNT-SAC3141TL is NOT silent, nor quite efficient.

 

More expensive backplanes use one big fan, which is much more silent - and even these models can be fine tuned with better fans.

 

 

 

[boof]

If you make sure to buy a model with an easily replaceable fan(s) (and a lot of them allow this) then you can mod them with a quieter fan quite easily.

 

I've modded all of mine and cooling is more than adequate fully populated with minimal noise.

[Chuck]

I have ordered a couple quieter fans for the SNT case, and a slow & quiet 120mm for the case. Last night I ran a parity check, and while the house did get down to 66º F, the disks in the SNT were all under 30º C when I woke up this morning. The parity check was still running. That is too cold.

 

I am also putting a passive cooler on the CPU and slowed down the 120mm fan on the other 4 disks by 50%. I may disconnect the fan on those disks if it isn't needed.

[Rajahal]

I can recommend the IcyDocks with stock fans (the one that queeg linked) or these Supermicro 5-in-3s with these replacement 92mm GEILD fans.  Both units have their pros and cons, so it is hard for me to recommend one over the other.  If you want simplicity, then I suppose the IcyDocks are the best option.  However, the Supermicros are also good and a bit cheaper.

[lionelhutz]

30C is too cold? My disks commonly get down to 15C or so in the basement in winter when idle or spun down.

 

If you want to make it quieter then seal the case so you can use the 120mm case fans to force the air through the docks.

 

Peter

 

[Chuck]

A google study on disk failures found that 35-40º C was the range in which disks last the longest. Too cold was nearly as bad as too hot. Remember these have bearings and moving parts, just like a car engine, and the range where the tolerances are ideal is finite.