HDX card noisy fans

[Goombot]

I have a Sonnet chassis with HDX2. Without getting too much into it I had two new cards in that made zero noise. I wound up selling them thinking I didn't need them then re-bought two used cards. (Even longer story) After much experimentation I've realized that both (or one) of the HDX cards fans kick on and make a lot of noise when they are both in the chassis. When they are in by themselves they don't ever kick on. With the new cards no noise with the used cards noise. So I'm assuming it's a bad fan on one or both of them. So I've heard that the fans can be replaced, fixed or replaced and fixed by myself? Is that true and if so what is the best way to fix them?

[tope d]

Originally Posted by Goombot

I have a Sonnet chassis with HDX2. Without getting too much into it I had two new cards in that made zero noise. I wound up selling them thinking I didn't need them then re-bought two used cards. (Even longer story) After much experimentation I've realized that both (or one) of the HDX cards fans kick on and make a lot of noise when they are both in the chassis. When they are in by themselves they don't ever kick on. With the new cards no noise with the used cards noise. So I'm assuming it's a bad fan on one or both of them. So I've heard that the fans can be replaced, fixed or replaced and fixed by myself? Is that true and if so what is the best way to fix them?

Hi, you can check with our authorized repair centers. https://avid.secure.force.com/pkb/ar...roduct-Repairs

-Tope

[BScout]

Originally Posted by Goombot

I have a Sonnet chassis with HDX2. Without getting too much into it I had two new cards in that made zero noise. I wound up selling them thinking I didn't need them then re-bought two used cards. (Even longer story) After much experimentation I've realized that both (or one) of the HDX cards fans kick on and make a lot of noise when they are both in the chassis. When they are in by themselves they don't ever kick on. With the new cards no noise with the used cards noise. So I'm assuming it's a bad fan on one or both of them. So I've heard that the fans can be replaced, fixed or replaced and fixed by myself? Is that true and if so what is the best way to fix them?

Call your dealer and ask them to order replacement fans for the cards. Installing them is very easy.

[JFreak]

... and removing them altogether even easier (if you want to void warranty, or if the warranty is already out).

[BScout]

Originally Posted by JFreak

... and removing them altogether even easier (if you want to void warranty, or if the warranty is already out).

That won't work. There's a check on the fan operation on all the production HDX models that reports an error if the fan is missing/non-functioning. (the prototype HDX cards did not have fans and would operate without)

[JFreak]

The trick is to twist the fan wires so the card "sees" a fan which is just a loopback wire.

[basehead617]

Originally Posted by JFreak

The trick is to twist the fan wires so the card "sees" a fan which is just a loopback wire.

How well does no-fan HDX card work in a high airflow case like Mac Pro 7,1? Any issues?

[JFreak]

Mac Pro handles airflow very well, but if you keep the Mac Pro in a small closet (or isobox) you may have problems running it 24/7

[BScout]

Originally Posted by basehead617

How well does no-fan HDX card work in a high airflow case like Mac Pro 7,1? Any issues?

Single card, perfectly fine. The original card wasn't to have fans at all but it was added as a safety for multi-card setups (tightly packed cards with no guarantee on air flow because of the variety of cases out there, it became a concern.)
There's a fanless prototype still running today continuously at one of the studios here. It was temporarily in my multi-card setup for about 3 years.

[dr sound]

I have the very 1st HDX Cards in Hollywood. The first 6 have no fans.
They have been used in Mac Cheesegraters for years ( 3 in each one) and they still work flawlessly. I ended up buying more HDX cards for Dolby Atmos / Madi and they also work fine and some of them are in new Mac Studio with HDX 2's for using them for Dolby Atmos with Madi .