PSU problems? Help!

[jkal]

I have an older HP server that I am trying to add more hard drives to. I am wondering how much this old PSU can handle? It says on it 256 watts max output.

It has had multiple scsi drives in it before, along with cd drive, floppy, and tape drive and could power it all fine. I am taking out all the old scsi drives.

and I am going to be adding:
(4) WD 250gb SATA drives
(1) OS IDE drive
PCI RAID card, Pci Sound Card, and a Pci Tv Tuner Card

I think this PSU is maxed out and possibly took a crap when trying to run some of the new devices. Suggestions?

What sort of power will I need to power up all this stuff as it looks like I will be needing a new PSU? Watts?

Thanks.

 

[Bbq]

Sounds like it's going to overload it. What are the specs on the HP server?

 

[BillParrish]

Well lets see, HP had a 256 watt supply in there, and even if they scrimped, HP engineers tend to do the right thing so that supply should have been fine for the standard components (cpu board memory, drives) that machine came with.
Lets say its this,
http://www.ciao.co.uk/HP_NetServer_E200__5365378#productdetail
looking up HPs spare parts I get this, which I search for and find a picture like this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hewlett-Packard...63442523QQihZ012QQcategoryZ3670QQcmdZViewItem

we will get back to that, now the new stuff.

Now lets assume you didnt rip the old stuff out but just added on
(4) WD 250gb SATA drives
(1) OS IDE drive
PCI RAID card, Pci Sound Card, and a Pci Tv Tuner Card

Frankly these days with 200W+ video cards and P4 Prescotts (thank god they are going away) that stuff is nothing, say 1/2A on the +12 for each drive, and 1 amp on the +5
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=214#jump1616



Assume the same for the IDE drive

do 5 drives = 2.5 amps on the +12 = 30W and 5amps on +5 = 25W

raid card and tv tuner dont pull a lot. afaik. sure someone will correct me if wrong.

but lets give them the same.
so 7 devices = 42W on +12 and 35W on the +5

Sound card, this might pull some power but most speakers have their own amps.

lets pick the x-fi
http://us.creative.com/products/pro...208&product=15854&nav=technicalSpecifications

well creative does not even give power requirments nor even the audio power ratings on the outputs for this POS. It apparently can manage to drive a pair of headphones. Giving it 1amp on every rail would be way over what it probally draws but lets do that anyway, I could look up what the pci-e slot can deliver but I am bored of this already.

so now we have 8 devices and have assumed (with some docs to back us up) 1 amp for each on the +5 and 1/2A on +12 for 48W on +12 and 40W on the +5

edit - math messed up a little above but no matter,

lets round up to 50W (4.5A) +12 and 50w (10A) on the +5


specs from ebay pic of HP 256 W supply

+3.3 = 13A -
+5 = 30A -
+12 = 6A

max combined +3 and +5 = 180W

so adding on our new pwr needs.
looking for something like
+3.3 13A
+5 40A
+12 11 A
max combined +3 and +5 230W.

(and this would be way overkill as we have way overspeced stuff as we went along. ) notice for drive heavy machines the +5 is the one that increases the most as (at least WD) takes 2x the +5 compared to the +12 to run.

Notice the low 12V requirement, we need an old style supply that pumps the juice on the +3.3 and +5 for that old board. A new style supply with the heavy +12V rails would be a mistake.

The point is you want a old school ATX supply NOT an ATX-12V or ATX2.0 yada yada.

now the last thing I want is to suggest one and everyone that usually hangs out here (and know more about individual manuf) inform me that what I picked it crap.

So all I am saying is that you are looking for something LIKE this.

select the picture with the label showing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowI...=APEX+AL-B450E+ATX+450W+Power+Supply+-+Retail

Look at the juice on the +5 !! you could weld with that !

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817154010

 

[jkal]

Let me first start off by saying, thanks for the quick replies so far!

The specs on the HP are:
HP Netserver E800
Dual P3 866mhz (currently only running it single processor)
384 RAM (128+256)

I figured this PSU may be able to handle the load because of the fact that it has had (4) 10,000 RPM SCSI disks in it, along with the cd, floppy, and tape drives and ran fine.

I guess I am confused about the whole +5, +12, etc. As to which is which and what connectors I should be plugging into which devices.

For the SATA drives, I have the Y splitter adapters that allow you to run (2) drives using just one molex connector from the PSU. Should I go this route? My SATA drives also have standard molex connectors, should I be using these instead?

Any other questions or information you need from me, I will glady help the best I can.
And as far as your help, thoughts, and suggestions -- It is all greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[BillParrish]

Doh, yea, if you are ripping out the scsi and tape drives you are probally fine.

would use the molex on the drives, eliminates a adapter and they fit snugger with less chance of falling out.

I would still think about replacing that PS sooner or later, its weak. And dont even think about swapping motherboards to a P4 or better without replacing it, then you would need the newer supplies with the heafty +12.

 

[jkal]

Okay, I am going to give it a go. I just need to know in what configuration I need to plug the drives in. Like what PSU connectors go to which drives? So I can get this thing to power up. Thanks.