I need to power a 17 drive server on the cheap. Help.

T

thebeephaha

2[H]4U
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May 27, 2007
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Yea so my 450w Supermicro Ablecom server power supply will run 14 drives no issues but any more and it can't spin them up on boot and my HDD controllers don't support staggered spinup.

I have a low budget right now and need my server going. I am also concerned about saving power by looking into a more efficient power supply.

Thoughts?

Edit: I have one of these (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103507) laying around. Would it just be easier to hook the two power supplies together and have this little one power all the fans, DVD-ROM, and some of the smaller drives?
 
What do you think the minimum would be, I don't need expansion at this point, no more drive bays free nor free HDD connectors.

550w maybe?
 
Figure on about 30W per drive during spin up. So if the 450W isn't cutting it.... a 550W? ;)
 
550W sounds about right.

However, do note that many quality 550W PSUs cost around the same as the Antec 650W PSU I linked to earlier. In fact right now, there's an even better deal on a quality BFG 650W PSU for $70:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...FORM&cm_mmc_o=ZzypR2VCjC-KeCjCdByAFlCjCdByAFl

At $70 with no rebate, that's a freakin' steal for a quality PSU. May be more than you need now but why pay more for less wattage and amperage when you can pay less for more wattage and amperage?
 
I was in the same boat as you, so I think I can help you out. My Enermax 650W, BFG 550w and Ablecom 500W psus didn't like spinning up more than 14-15 drives either. I put one of the PC Power and Cooling 610w supplies in and haven't looked back. Currently I run 16 drives in the RAID and 1 boot drive, no issues.

PC Power and Cooling 610W $99-$20 (5yr rebate IIRC).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

Its too bad you weren't on the lookout a week ago, Newegg had a 20% coupon off of the PC Power and Cooling line.
 
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