Optimizing System Performance And Power Consumption - Dell iDRAC 8 User Manual

The details are saved.

Optimizing system performance and power consumption

The power required to cool a server can contribute a significant amount to the overall system power. Thermal control is the active
management of system cooling through fan speed and system power management to make sure that the system is reliable while
minimizing system power consumption, airflow, and system acoustic output. You can adjust the thermal control settings and
optimize against the system performance and performance-per-Watt requirements.
Using the iDRAC Web interface, RACADM, or the iDRAC Settings Utility, you can change the following thermal settings:
• Optimize for performance
• Optimize for minimum power
• Set the maximum air exhaust temperature
• Increase airflow through a fan offset, if required
• Increase airflow through increasing minimum fan speed
Modifying thermal settings using iDRAC web interface
To modify the thermal settings:
1. In the iDRAC Web interface, go to Overview → Hardware → Fans → Setup.
The Fan Setup page is displayed.
2. Specify the following:
• Thermal Profile — Select the thermal profile:
– Default Thermal Profile Settings — Implies that the thermal algorithm uses the same system profile settings that is
defined under System BIOS → System BIOS Settings.System Profile Settings page.
By default, this is set to Default Thermal Profile Settings. You can also select a custom algorithm, which is independent of
the BIOS profile. The options available are:
– Maximum Performance (Performance Optimized) :
* Reduced probability of memory or CPU throttling.
* Increased probability of turbo mode activation.
* Generally, higher fan speeds at idle and stress loads.
– Minimum Power (Performance per Watt Optimized):
* Optimized for lowest system power consumption based on optimum fan power state.
* Generally, lower fan speeds at idle and stress loads.
NOTE: Selecting Maximum Performance or Minimum Power, overrides thermal settings associated to System
Profile setting under System BIOS → System BIOS Settings.System Profile Settings page.
• Maximum Exhaust Temperature Limit — From the drop-down menu, select the maximum exhaust air temperature. The
values are displayed based on the system.
The default value is Default, 70°C (158 °F).
This option allows the system fans speeds to change such that the exhaust temperature does not exceed the selected
exhaust temperature limit. This cannot always be guaranteed under all system operating conditions due to dependency on
system load and system cooling capability.
• Fan Speed Offset — Selecting this option allows additional cooling to the server. In case hardware is added (example, new
PCIe cards), it may require additional cooling. A fan speed offset causes fan speeds to increase (by the offset % value)
over baseline fan speeds calculated by the Thermal Control algorithm. Possible values are:
– Low Fan Speed — Drives fan speeds to a moderate fan speed.
– Medium Fan Speed — Drives fan speeds close to medium.
– High Fan Speed — Drives fan speeds close to full speed.
52