Dell PowerEdge fans loud after adding a third-party PCIe card?
Short answer
iDRAC detects a non-Dell PCIe card, cannot read its cooling needs and raises airflow to a safe default for that slot. On 14G and newer servers run racadm set System.ThermalSettings.ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse 0 and reboot, or set the slot's LFM Mode in Configuration > System Settings > Hardware Settings > Cooling Configuration. On 13G servers such as the R630 and R730, Dell documents an ipmitool raw command that does the same job.
Written against: the Dell iDRAC9 User's Guide (7.xx), the iDRAC9 RACADM CLI Guide and Dell KB 000135682 for 13G servers with iDRAC8.
Why do PowerEdge fans speed up after you install a non-Dell PCIe card?
Dell validates its own adapters and stores their thermal limits in the iDRAC thermal tables. When you fit a card iDRAC does not recognise, such as a retail 10/25GbE NIC, an LSI-branded HBA or a passive NVMe adapter, the thermal algorithm has no data for it. Dell calls the result the "Third-Party PCIe Card Default Cooling Response": iDRAC provisions airflow for that slot based on common industry card requirements, which on many servers means the fans jump to 40 to 60 percent or higher at idle.
The response is a precaution, not a fault. Nothing is overheating, and iDRAC raises no fault. It simply assumes the worst for a card it cannot measure.
How do you confirm the third-party card is the cause?
- Open the Lifecycle Controller log (Maintenance > Lifecycle Log in iDRAC9) and search for message ID PCI3018. Dell documents this message as the record of a detected third-party PCIe card.
- Read the current fan speeds. In iDRAC9 go to System > Overview > Cooling, or use RACADM or ipmitool from a shell.
- Remove the card or move it to another slot as a test. If the fans drop back to their usual idle speed, you have found the trigger.
# fan RPM and PWM from iDRAC
racadm getsensorinfo
# current thermal configuration
racadm get System.ThermalSettings
# same readings over IPMI
ipmitool -I lanplus -H <idrac-ip> -U <user> -P <password> sdr type fanHow do you disable the third-party PCIe cooling response on 14G, 15G and 16G?
The iDRAC9 RACADM documentation lists ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse in the System.ThermalSettings group. The value 1 (default) keeps the extra airflow, 0 turns it off. Run it over SSH to iDRAC or with remote RACADM, then reboot the host so the thermal settings take effect.
racadm get System.ThermalSettings.ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse
racadm set System.ThermalSettings.ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse 0
# reboot the host from the OS, then check again
racadm get System.ThermalSettings.ThirdPartyPCIFanResponseTo restore Dell defaults later, set the value back to 1 and reboot again.
What if RACADM says "Invalid object specified"?
Some iDRAC9 firmware builds and platforms no longer expose ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse; users report it missing from racadm get System.ThermalSettings output on recent firmware. In that case, use the per-slot PCIe airflow controls, which Dell documents for iDRAC9. Each slot reports its maximum LFM (linear feet per minute) and whether it holds a third-party card, and you can set the slot to a custom LFM value that matches the card datasheet.
- In the iDRAC web interface, go to Configuration > System Settings > Hardware Settings > Cooling Configuration.
- Scroll to PCIe Airflow Settings below the fan settings.
- For the slot with the third-party card, set LFM Mode to Custom and enter the LFM value your card vendor specifies.
- Click Apply, then reboot the server.
racadm get System.PCIeSlotLFM
racadm get System.PCIeSlotLFM.3
racadm set System.PCIeSlotLFM.3.LFMMode 2
racadm set System.PCIeSlotLFM.3.CustomLFM 150The iDRAC9 attribute registry lists LFMMode values as 0 Automatic, 1 Disabled and 2 Custom. One Dell Community user on a 15G server reported error SWC0242 when setting a custom LFM, which points to a license tier requirement, so check your iDRAC license if the command is refused.
How do you turn it off on 13G servers (R630, R730, R730xd)?
iDRAC8 on 13G has no RACADM attribute for this. Dell KB 000135682 gives OEM IPMI raw commands instead. Enable IPMI over LAN in iDRAC first and use an account with Administrator IPMI privilege. Dell lists the R230, R330, R430, R530, R630, R730, R730xd, R830 and R930 as covered.
# check status
ipmitool -I lanplus -H <idrac-ip> -U <user> -P <password> raw 0x30 0xce 0x01 0x16 0x05 0x00 0x00 0x00
# reply 16 05 00 00 00 05 00 01 00 00 = disabled
# reply 16 05 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 00 = enabled
# disable the third-party card cooling response
ipmitool -I lanplus -H <idrac-ip> -U <user> -P <password> raw 0x30 0xce 0x00 0x16 0x05 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x05 0x00 0x01 0x00 0x00
# re-enable it
ipmitool -I lanplus -H <idrac-ip> -U <user> -P <password> raw 0x30 0xce 0x00 0x16 0x05 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x05 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00Dell notes that this only removes the extra response to third-party cards. The normal temperature-driven fan control keeps working.
Which iDRAC9 thermal profile should you choose?
The thermal profile sets the baseline the fans work from. You find it on the same Cooling Configuration page, or under System.ThermalSettings.ThermalProfile in RACADM (0 Auto, 1 Maximum performance, 2 Minimum power).
| Profile | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Default Thermal Profile Settings (Minimum Power) | Follows the BIOS System Profile setting | Most servers; leave it unless you have a reason |
| Maximum Performance (Performance Optimized) | Higher fan speeds, less CPU and memory throttling | Dense, hot workloads |
| Minimum Power (Performance per Watt Optimized) | Lowest fan power, generally lower fan speeds | Quieter rooms, moderate load |
| Sound Cap | Caps acoustic output at some performance cost | Temporary use in occupied spaces; not on every model |
Also check that Fan Speed Offset is Off and Minimum Fan Speed is Default. A previous owner or an earlier fix attempt may have raised either one, which keeps fans high no matter what else you change.
Can you still set fan speed manually with ipmitool raw 0x30 0x30?
The raw 0x30 0x30 commands that homelab guides use for manual fan control were never a supported Dell feature. Owners report that from iDRAC9 3.34.34.34 onwards they fail with "Insufficient privilege level", and Dell has not restored them on 14G or later. Use the supported controls above instead. A server with a fixed manual fan speed also loses its ability to react when a component heats up.
What should you check after you disable the response?
Disable the extra cooling only if the card gets the airflow its vendor specifies. Passive NICs, HBAs and NVMe adapters with no fan of their own can overheat and throttle or fail silently. Read the card datasheet for its LFM or inlet temperature limit before you change anything.
- Run the server under real load for at least an hour after the reboot.
- Read the card temperature with its own tool, for example the NIC vendor utility, storcli for an HBA or nvme smart-log for an NVMe drive.
- If the card runs close to its limit, use a custom LFM value for that slot instead of disabling the response, or set Maximum PCIe Inlet Temperature Limit to 45°C, which Dell offers for cards that need cooler inlet air.
Questions people ask
Does disabling ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse void the Dell warranty?
No. It is a documented iDRAC setting, not a firmware modification. You remain responsible for keeping the card within its own temperature limits.
Do I need to reboot after the change?
Yes. Dell states that thermal settings take effect after a host reboot. The 13G ipmitool command applies through iDRAC, but a reboot is still the safest way to see the final fan behaviour.
Why are my fans still loud with an original Dell card?
Check Fan Speed Offset, Minimum Fan Speed and the thermal profile, then look at the hottest sensor on the iDRAC cooling page. A failed fan, a missing blank or a high inlet temperature also raises speeds.
Does the setting survive iDRAC or BIOS updates?
Dell describes the custom thermal settings as persistent across reboots, power cycles and iDRAC or BIOS updates. Verify with racadm get after any firmware change.
Sources
- Dell KB 000135682: Disable the third-party PCIe card default cooling response on PowerEdge 13G
- Dell KB 000257346: How to change the server thermal and fan settings
- iDRAC9 User's Guide: Modifying thermal settings using RACADM
- iDRAC9 User's Guide: Modifying PCIe airflow settings using iDRAC web interface
- Dell Community: Unable to set manual fan response after iDRAC 3.34.34.34