HP Z *40 fan control

[z440_user_937]

Has anyone been successful with manually controlling the fans of any of the HP Z *40 systems- I specifically have a Z440 -  (or tweaking the current fan curve)? currently my case and CPU fans are sitting near idle even with DIMM temps in mid to high 60's under memory intensive workloads. 

If I go into the bios and manually set the fans to always max out, temps are well under control, but I don't want to have to go into the bios before every large task I need to run because the stock fans are way too noisy to have at full blast 24/7.

All the off the shelf fan control software I've downloaded doesn't seem to recognize the CPU fans and there doesn't seem to be any official software from HP that will help me either.

[SDH]

Do you have the active memory cooler installed in your Z440? If not you should do so. Same for the official HP front case cooling fan. We can get you the part number for that too:

EDIT: Current US eBay price with shipping is $30.00.

[z440_user_937]

No I don't have that currently installed. Doesn't feel necessary to me to install yet another cooler when my current fans are idling whilst RAM is reaching dangerously high temperatures. If there is no fix to either control the fans manually or tweak the fan curve I'll probably end up making my own version of the memory cooler with larger fans that are constantly on. Just wanted to get an idea of if there are other fixes to make the fans actually respond to load or control them manually.

[SDH]

Well, here are some added ideas for you and others:

1. I think you are wrong to reject that Z440 active memory cooling saddle... it was made by HP specifically for cooling the front and rear two memory banks, blowing cooler air straight down onto each bank. I use those in our souped up Z440 workstations but unlike the single saddle that works for both the Z420 and Z620-single-processor builds this saddle does not work for the Z640 without some modifications. We have zero problems with Z440 memory cooling for DDR4 ECC buffered fastest Zx40 memory using these. I'm even using some higher MHz rated memory from our Z4 G4 builds in these.

By the way, have you looked up the OEM PDF spec sheets on your memory regarding what is their normal operating temperature range? Here's a tip from Linus Tech Tips: "Generally speaking I believe the safe temperatures depends on the manufacturer but from what I've seen it can range between 70C and 85C so it is completely fine if it's a bit hot, but ideally make sure there is airflow in the case, specifically around the RAM."    (personally I'd look up the OEM's PDF... they are generally pretty easy to find if you know the RAM's label codes)

Hence, the memory cooling saddle idea...

2. Make sure you're using the double-cooling-capacity Z440 heatsink/fan which I also use on the Z420 and single-processor Z620 builds. It fits perfectly with a bit to spare under the Zx20 memory cooling saddle and the one for the Z440. That uses a bit higher amperage fan that moves more air through the memory banks area towards the rear for the rear case fan to then expel. We have zero problems with high max TDP v4 processor cooling using those. HP even uses those as part of a kit to cool the 150W max TDP processors in the Z4 G4 workstations. Look at those on eBay by search for 749554-001... $15.00 free shipping USA current lowest price, a steal. Turns out the pinout beneath the socket for the Zx40 processors is different than in a Zx20 but the stainless steel socket sitting above is identical. The fan for that has a 6-hole Zx40 plug end... to use of that in a Zx20 we just hang the 6th hole out in space 1/8" while using holes 1-5 on the motherboard's CPU 5-pin fan header.

Can be used in Z420 & single processor Z620

3. A PWM fan will run at its full 12VDC speeds simply by removing the 4th wire from hole 4 in the fan's plug end. HP pinout for PWM fans is the conventional one. If you do that then you just slow down the fan by dropping its voltage as desired...

4. ...and Noctua has 4-wire and 3-wire quality fan speed reducers that plug in-line to both PWM and non-PWM fans (or a PWM fan that has been modified as in #3 above). The Noctua ones provide highest accuracy in voltage reduction along the pin-2 voltage line, in my experience. HP does not reduce fan speed in these workstations by voltage reduction... they use PWM control on high-speed fans.

5. Speaking of which you could get higher speed PWM fans and let the HP PWM control those with the standard programmed PWM throttling... and those would go faster than your stock Z420 fans. The higher speed ones can be found showing higher amperage on their label. You can even look up the OEM's PDFs for more data... a line often has 4 to 6 amperage ones to pick from. Then you go look up those label codes on eBay. Done that for years as needed.

6. Did you know Noctua has a 4-wire PWM small excellent fan speed controller? Look up NA-FC1. There are also voltage controllers you can attach to the pin-2 voltage line of a fan... you can dial those up or down to your heart's content.

7. You don't answer my question on whether you have a front case fan pulling cool air in while the rear case fan is pushing hot air out. You can ghetto mod a HP case fan (92x92x25mm ) onto the inside of the front metal bottom case perforations and use the 4-pin fan header HP has on your motherboard for that, or buy the black plastic kit made for that. I've done both, and the combined pull in/push out of air flow does work nicely.

8. I've never found a software solution to your issue... only these hardware solutions over the years.

Here's a good Noctua LINK . They have a bunch of different fan speed reducers... if you pull wire 4 from your rear case fan's plug end you'll want one of those because it will go like a bat out of hell otherwise.

p.s. An added tip: The HP workstation Performance Advisor software gives accurate temp/fan speeds. Some other non-HP software gives just OK info, and many give bad info. All these use offsets from hex data the sensors send out. HP knows the exact correct sensor firmware settings so the offsets they use in Performance Advisor result in correct readings.

[z440_user_937]

Appreciate the detailed response!

1) That's fair, If I can't find a good software solution I'll likely end up 3D printing a shroud similar to what HP is providing (though with larger fans) to use in my system. I simply don't want to go through all that extra effort if there's a simple software solution available for me though. The RAM I have has an upper bound of 85c, so we're not in throttling territory yet, but I still think that 50% fan speed is unacceptable at 70c. Especially if the bios is smart enough to know that I don't have a RAM fan installed with 8 dimms (get a post error each reboot).

2) Interesting didn't know that this existed, will take a look at it.

3) Yeah, but I can lock the speed in the bios, what I'm after is software control

5) Not a bad idea, especially since the current fans are very noisy

6) I've seen variations like this, if it had support for interfacing with software (usb / some internal header) I would've jumped at it, but it seems that most of the time they use a physical knob which again is less than ideal.

7) Nope, no front facing fan - don't mind adding one but again, it feels wrong adding more fans to get around the issue that the existing fans are running at ~50% speed regardless of load.

😎 That's been my consensus as well, if I have time I might give implementing an interface for that, it's just tracking down the correct memory address is going to be a nightmare - definitely possible though. Really wish HP exposed fan control, I've had no issue adjusting my GPU's fan for example via off the shelf software.

Never been able to get **bleep** to work, get some weird error that isn't mentioned on HP's website and honestly can't be bothered to go through with troubleshooting it. All the values I see in other tools are accurate enough such that I'm not worried about it being misrepresented.

[SDH]

My guess is that you live on an island across the pond to my east, so USD costs may be of little value to you.  Regarding that Z440 memory cooling saddle... today's best price on US eBay (including shipping) is $30.00. I've gotten those recently for as low as $24.00 total. My guess is that the value of your time is well over that cost if you choose to make one, but I'd be very interested in seeing one if you print it out.

Regarding point # p.s.  :

I've got that done for you from the past:  HERE 

That method still works now... and gets you the most recent version and updates too.