this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2026
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So basically the data centers could alleviate their sound problems by having all their fans run at opposite frequencies to cancel our the sound through deconstructive interference
No because the problem only exists because of differences in the frequencies the fans actually run at. If they all run it exactly the same frequency it would just be a loud hum which would be annoying but fine.
So if they got control of their fan frequencies to the level necessary to do what your suggesting they could just have them all run at the same frequency anyway and alleviate the problem that way. But they won't because that kind of fan control isn't really possible.
The real solution would be some kind of soundproofing and maybe not building massive data centres in populated areas.
Why isn't that kind of fan control possible? It's probably just not possible now because of the way fans are configured currently.
Because fans are not highly tuneable devices?
They vary greatly, even within the same device, even at the same rpm.
Or better, shutting down entirely.
And do something that's good for people at virtually no expense? Haha, no.
The problem is that you cannot get them synced sufficiently. You basically have to route the complete air flow through a padded chamber to dampen their own and the derived sounds.
Let's get a grant going and do some tests. Surely if you get a couple of jet engine generators next to each other and fiddle with their frequencies you can get some deconstructive interference. I suspect though that there might be some loss in efficiency, and no data center wants higher fuel costs. Only one way to find out though let's get this science funded
Or soundproof the building.
Isn't it really difficult to soundproof against the low frequency noises?
Just use corrugated cardboard and with longer sine waves, duh!
I am not an audio engineer but you might have a point in that the longer low sound waves would be harder to block.
Where my audiophiles at? We need a sound check on low frequency blocking.
Edit:
Found an article on a crypto mining facility mitigating noise issues.
https://noisemonitoringservices.com/data-center-noise-control/
https://www.soundtrace.com/blog/data-center-noise-levels-hearing-conservation-osha-compliance
Also found an article stating that underwater data centers would be the best way to reduce noise. Ignoring that sound travels better underwater and combined with heating the water around them, it would massively disrupt untold amounts of marine life, sure!