8 drive delima

[alumar]

Hello all,

Got a question...

Bought (8) 250GB 8MB Cache ATA100 drives this weekend from Bestbuy and 2 Silicon Image PCI ATA133/100 Raid Controller cards.

Each Controller card handles 4 drives in raid0 thus giving me the 2 sets of 1 Terabyte arrays. (one for storage planned and another for backup redundancy)

What i am wanting to do is put all 8 drives in a single computer, but my problems are choosing a case and psu to handle a motherboard/cpu, floppy, 8 in 1 reader, Dual Density DVD Writer and of'course those 8 drives.

What do you guys suggest that would handle that sort of load?

 

[big daddy fatsacks]

the best PC Power and Cooling has to offer should handle that without a problem. also, mountainmods have some big cases.

 

[Ice Czar]

the PC Power and Cooling Turbo Cool 510 was running 8 drives in my sig without any fluctuation on the rails, though you might be able to get away with less
as far as cases go, I use a 4U rackmount, and know a good source

PCP&C will also be releasing a 700Watt and 800Watt EATX supplys very soon

post the full config and I'll run the amp numbers for a PSU
and breakout EPS12V \ATX12V v2.0 rail numbers as well
does your board have a 4 pin or 8 pin +12V auxillary connector?

 

[alumar]

Motherboard: IC7-G MAXII (4pin aux)
Ram: 4x Kingston HyperX 512MB PC4200
CPU: Intel Pentium 4/ 3.2E GHz
DVD Drive: NEC 16X Double Layer DVD-R Drive (ND-3500A BK)
Floppy: Sony 1.44 (blk)
Graphics: ATI 9600XT 128DDR
HD: (8) WD 8MB Cache ATA100 drives
Raid Controllers: (2) Silicon Image A0680 ATA133/100 PCI controllers

NO Case
NO PSU

 

[Ice Czar]

http://takaman.jp/D/?M=PcbAIQbdXhSAgXKhXKT4UcnHroG5YbZAZavPCMZ&english
theoretical maximum draw
+3.3V @ 2.7A
+5V @ 27.5A
+12V @ 33.5A
559 Watts

realworld spinup load with HDDs and fans @ 100% (spinup load of 17.21)
CPU\GPU\mobo @ 50%
+12V @ 19A

realworld run time worse case load w\ HDDs and Fans at 1\4 load post spinup
and CPU\GPU\mobo 100% and an optical at full spinup
+12V @ 30.8

actually given the figures, and that fact that most PSUs are rated @ 25 C
(typically full power at 0-25C decreasing to 0% at 70C)
the only supply that is an ATX12V form factor that I know would do it is the PCP&C
its rated at 40C unlike most supplies, effectively making it a +600 watt supply with approx 50A at 25C
at 40C it has 34A nominal with 38A peak
the Turbo Cool 510s start at $200, and there are a number of options available as well
might want to order that with a PCI-E connector and check the numbers of SATA connectors
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/maxperformance/index.htm
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/custom_options/index.htm

if you consider other supplies, deduct 1\3rd the rated amps for temperature
there is an Enermax ATX12V v2.0 coming out with Dual 18A +12V rails
and there is a 700 watt Zippy emac vaialable, but Id still go with the Turbo Cool

 

[doormat]

If you want a desktop case...

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=11-112-074&DEPA=1

Just make sure your cable lengths can reach far enough.

 

[TED]

Mine (and still my favorite case)
http://www.gigacase.com/Product_Detail.asp?Product_ID=20
You can get it in black as well.
8 - 3.5 bays internal
2 - 3.5 bays external
6 - 5.25 bays external
STEEL

 

[ambit]

Anyone else concerned about running a RAID 0 array of 4 drives in a primary: master/slave & secondary: master/slave setup ?
One drive hits a bad sector (or something..) ties up the buss for too long, and the entire array is going to go down

 

[big daddy fatsacks]

yes, but i get nervous with a RAID5 array with no hot spare.