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Review on πŸ’» Zyxel GS1900-8HP: Smart Managed Gigabit PoE+ Switch - 8 Ports, 70 Watt Budget, VLAN, IGMP, QoS by Timothy Harper

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Loud sucker for computers and accessories

Okay, this switch is just great. It's fast and web pages refresh quickly when applied or saved. There have been several complaints about the default IP address - right? So just reconfigure and move on. There have also been complaints about having to "apply" and then "save." When I think about it, just do it, it's very quick and fast, so I don't see what the problem is. For a typical IT environment, this switch is a bomb if it meets your performance needs. The ONLY downside I found with this switch is that it DOES NOT HAVE A SOFTWARE FAN CONTROL. The three fans are bored all the time. If you're going to put this in your IT closet, stop reading now because this switch is for you! If this switch is among people, it will be a problem. Two CFM fans running at full power keep the PSU cool at all times. A mid-high CFM fan runs at full speed all the time to keep the electronics cool. Unfortunately, from what I can't/can't find on the configuration/monitoring screens, the firmware does NOT control the temperature or fan speed (although the fans are wired to the PCB to control the tach). This switch could be perfect if they did. Mine goes in my master bedroom closet - so that's a problem. But I like it so much that I create a solution. I will NOT (initially) run the full 170W, so I will replace the fans with lower CFM fans that are almost silent. This will definitely void my warranty. If you want to keep the noise level down and maintain the same CFM, please note (and that means you're also a ZyXEL) that the fan shroud brackets on the installed fans do NOT match the pattern engraved in the side of the air handling unit is stamped (see pictures). This adds additional turbidity, decreases the actual throughput of the CFM, and certainly increases noise. If you can get fans with matching CFM specs and a support arm pattern that matches the stamp on the switch housing (it's very standard - the fans I bought will fit so I knew about the problem from the start), that's it Device actually cooler and quieter. Or you can get slightly lower CFM fans and have the same airflow with even less noise. Regardless, you won't find a fanless 24-port POE switch. And you will find no rest. You must do this. Once my full fan kit is in place I will be completely redesigning the airflow, moving the heat spreaders from the high power components on the PSU to the sheet metal case and reposting the results with a silent 24 port. POE switch. ***EDIT 2016-01-20*** Airflow has been redesigned so that all fans affect all parts. Also, all fans have been replaced with quieter CFM fans. Copper pads and thermal paste have also been added along with electrical insulators to dissipate/dissipate the heat generated by the main power supply heatsinks to the sheet metal case. The device produces 20 dB less noise. This reduces noise by 98% or maybe at least 75% as perceived by the human ear (every 3dB is a 50% reduction, but to the human ear maybe every 6-9dB, depending on who you're talking to). logarithmic nature of human hearing). Bottom line, doing something halfway down and then repeating it a time or two isn't as annoying as it was at first - it's very tolerable now, and since it's in a closet in the master bedroom, with Die Door open, you can't hear it from the bed at night. Success! The copper pads, thermal paste and electrical insulators are not visible in the pictures - they were applied to the main PS heatsinks after the pictures were taken, and then the cover was pressed down to make good contact for a proper thermal bond. It might not have been necessary, but it definitely stays cool and doesn't cause any problems after the rebuild.

Pros
  • Looking forward to it
Cons
  • Can I add anything else