I have two Dell T320 servers, which work great. But I’d like to have some more CPU power, so think about upgrading to the T420. It is almost the same, except that on the T420 main board, which seems to be otherwise the identical PCB, the second CPU socket is actually installed. (In the T320 it’s just empty soldering points.) My question is: Is the air baffle the same, or do I need a new one if I swap out the main board? I am aware that I will need a second CPU heatsink.

Thanks.

  • SheeEttin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    It’s a piece of plastic that guides air. Shroud, baffle, duct, whatever you want to call it. I’ve run plenty of servers without them just fine. The fans push enough air on their own. You really only need it if you’re running hot due to a lot of drives, cards, or sustained CPU or RAM usage.

    And honestly, I’m not sure that this one would be doing very much anyway, considering the other CPU and RAM won’t have one.

    • Hopfgeist@feddit.deOPEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Clearly you neither read my post nor looked into what the air baffle in the T320 actually looks like. So whats your point?

      • SheeEttin@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        I both read it and looked up a picture of the part as used in the T320 and T420. My points were in my first comment.

        I don’t understand why people ask for advice, and when someone gives their thoughts and experience, they get combative.