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Ken
Guest
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 Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:33 pm Post subject: Power supply |
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I want to build a PC the function of which is only for storage at home.
I want to purchase a reliable power supply but I don't really know
what that means. Over the past 20 years, only one power supply has died
out of perhaps as many laptop and desktops combined.
I already have 4 drives that total about 1.1 terabytes. I will have a
3mHz cpu, no sound, no high-end video, and only a CD-Rom in the system.
I think that 450 watts should allow the system to pull without problems.
What advice does anyone have for me?
Thanks
Ken K |
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Dave
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:31 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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"Ken" <ken@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:WOadnd6FPYHXVdvZRVn-gg@comcast.com...
| Quote: | I want to build a PC the function of which is only for storage at home. I
want to purchase a reliable power supply but I don't really know what that
means. Over the past 20 years, only one power supply has died out of
perhaps as many laptop and desktops combined.
I already have 4 drives that total about 1.1 terabytes. I will have a
3mHz cpu, no sound, no high-end video, and only a CD-Rom in the system. I
think that 450 watts should allow the system to pull without problems.
What advice does anyone have for me?
Thanks
Ken K
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400W should do it. Look for fortron/sparkle or Seasonic. In fact, a 380W
Seasonic should work fine. -Dave |
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jpsga
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:31 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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"Ken" <ken@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:WOadnd6FPYHXVdvZRVn-gg@comcast.com...
| Quote: | I want to build a PC the function of which is only for storage at home. I
want to purchase a reliable power supply but I don't really know what that
means. Over the past 20 years, only one power supply has died out of
perhaps as many laptop and desktops combined.
I already have 4 drives that total about 1.1 terabytes. I will have a
3mHz cpu, no sound, no high-end video, and only a CD-Rom in the system. I
think that 450 watts should allow the system to pull without problems.
What advice does anyone have for me?
Thanks
Ken K
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Could be OK but to be on the safe side I'd check the HDD manufactures
specification. The maximum 12VDC start up current is always listed. The sum
of these should be about the capacity of the power supply.
JPS |
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Ken
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:31 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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Dave wrote:
| Quote: | "Ken" <ken@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:WOadnd6FPYHXVdvZRVn-gg@comcast.com...
I want to build a PC the function of which is only for storage at home. I
want to purchase a reliable power supply but I don't really know what that
means. Over the past 20 years, only one power supply has died out of
perhaps as many laptop and desktops combined.
I already have 4 drives that total about 1.1 terabytes. I will have a
3mHz cpu, no sound, no high-end video, and only a CD-Rom in the system. I
think that 450 watts should allow the system to pull without problems.
What advice does anyone have for me?
Thanks
Ken K
400W should do it. Look for fortron/sparkle or Seasonic. In fact, a 380W
Seasonic should work fine. -Dave
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Would that allow for another drive or two?
Ken |
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Dave
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:31 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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| Quote: | 400W should do it. Look for fortron/sparkle or Seasonic. In fact, a
380W Seasonic should work fine. -Dave
Would that allow for another drive or two?
Ken
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Yes. The drives only pull significant current when they are spinning up.
It is unlikely you'd have more than 2 spinning up at once, so add as many as
you want. 380W should still do it. The catch is, don't cheap out on the
power supply. A 500W Deer for example, would choke on that system. -Dave |
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spodosaurus
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:31 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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Ken wrote:
| Quote: | I want to build a PC the function of which is only for storage at home.
I want to purchase a reliable power supply but I don't really know what
that means. Over the past 20 years, only one power supply has died out
of perhaps as many laptop and desktops combined.
I already have 4 drives that total about 1.1 terabytes. I will have a
3mHz cpu, no sound, no high-end video, and only a CD-Rom in the system.
I think that 450 watts should allow the system to pull without problems.
What advice does anyone have for me?
Thanks
Ken K
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Buy a brand name supply, not the cheap and nasty generics, especially if
you want to have some margin of upgradability. Power supplies differ
greatly on how much they will actually put out on the 12V rail, and the
cheaper ones tend to be poorer for that. As with most things, you get
what you pay for. I use Antec in my systems, a budget brand name.
Regards,
Ari
--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply
I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/ |
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Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 2:31 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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spodosaurus wrote:
| Quote: | Buy a brand name supply,
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Like Deer, Powmax, Achieve, or Codegen?
I know you don't mean any of those, but there's really
no such thing as a generic supply because everything
sold, no matter how bad or how cheap, has a brand
name attached to it. |
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TVeblen
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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"Ken" <ken@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:WOadnd6FPYHXVdvZRVn-gg@comcast.com...
| Quote: | I want to build a PC the function of which is only for storage at home. I
want to purchase a reliable power supply but I don't really know what that
means. Over the past 20 years, only one power supply has died out of
perhaps as many laptop and desktops combined.
I already have 4 drives that total about 1.1 terabytes. I will have a
3mHz cpu, no sound, no high-end video, and only a CD-Rom in the system. I
think that 450 watts should allow the system to pull without problems.
What advice does anyone have for me?
Thanks
Ken K
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You need the brand new Antec 450 watt power supply I have for sale on Ebay
right now! ;-P
But seriously, I run Seasonics and Antecs and think they are great. Seasonic
when it's got to be good (my machine). Antec when it's got to be cheap, but
dependable (father-in-laws machine). 400 to 500 watt will run almost
anything but the most ridiculously tricked out boxes. |
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Ken
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:32 pm Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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TVeblen wrote:
| Quote: | "Ken" <ken@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:WOadnd6FPYHXVdvZRVn-gg@comcast.com...
I want to build a PC the function of which is only for storage at home. I
want to purchase a reliable power supply but I don't really know what that
means. Over the past 20 years, only one power supply has died out of
perhaps as many laptop and desktops combined.
I already have 4 drives that total about 1.1 terabytes. I will have a
3mHz cpu, no sound, no high-end video, and only a CD-Rom in the system. I
think that 450 watts should allow the system to pull without problems.
What advice does anyone have for me?
Thanks
Ken K
You need the brand new Antec 450 watt power supply I have for sale on Ebay
right now! ;-P
But seriously, I run Seasonics and Antecs and think they are great. Seasonic
when it's got to be good (my machine). Antec when it's got to be cheap, but
dependable (father-in-laws machine). 400 to 500 watt will run almost
anything but the most ridiculously tricked out boxes.
Reliability is going to be high on the list, as it will be powering a |
large amount of storage. I have used Antec in the past with good
success. My question, I suppose, is whether it is worth spending the
money on a supply like PC Power and Cooling or whether there are some
reliable brands for less. If so, what are the brands I should look at?
Thanks
Ken |
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larry moe 'n curly
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:38 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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Ken wrote:
| Quote: | Reliability is going to be high on the list, as it will be powering a
large amount of storage. I have used Antec in the past with good
success. My question, I suppose, is whether it is worth spending the
money on a supply like PC Power and Cooling or whether there are some
reliable brands for less. If so, what are the brands I should look at?
|
Check the PSU FAQs at:
www.jonnyguru.com
www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=232592
www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1045259
Decent PSU reviews are rare. Almost all are at:
www.jonnyguru.com
www.slcentral.com (done by Jonny Guru)
www.hexus.net
www.silentpcreview.com
www.tomshardware.com
www.xbit-labs.com
Disregard reviews that don't load down the test units to at least 100%
full power, i.e. each unit's rated maximum power, rather than simply
use a computer as the load. Also disregard trivial voltage accuracy
ratings because it doesn't matter that one PSU maintains voltages
within 0.5% while another deviates 3-4%.
You don't need to spend big $$$ on PCP&C to get top quality. Other
great manufacturers include Zippy-Emacs, Win-tact, Etasis,
Fortron-Source (Hi-Q, PowerQ, Powertech, Trend, Sparkle -- look for
model number starting with "FSP"), Seasonic, Lite-On, NMB/Mineba, and
Delta. Of these, about the only ones readily available at the retail
level in the U.S. are Seasonic and Fortron, and Fortron is an
unbelievably low-cost bargain.
Also very good are Channel Well Technology A- and B-series (identical
to Antec TruePower and SmartPower), Enermax/Wavesonic/Casemart/Cooler
Giant,
If you want something that will last forever, look for one of those
brands with Japanese brand capacitors inside, some being Delta,
Seasonic, and Lite-On. Enermax uses lots of Taiwanese PC-Tur brand
caps, but I haven't heard of this brand having problems with premature
failure, and apparently they avoided the counterfeit electrolyte
scandal of a few years ago. PCP&C uses lots of Teapo caps, and I don't
know how good they are, but apparently they were never among the worst.
Antec uses lots of Fuhjyyu, except for their NeoHE series (produced by
Seasonic rather than Channel Well), which did use bad electrolyte. |
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larry moe 'n curly
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:38 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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Ken wrote:
| Quote: | Reliability is going to be high on the list, as it will be powering a
large amount of storage. I have used Antec in the past with good
success. My question, I suppose, is whether it is worth spending the
money on a supply like PC Power and Cooling or whether there are some
reliable brands for less. If so, what are the brands I should look at?
|
Other equally good brands include Delta, Lite-on, Etasis, Astec,
NMB-Mineba, Zippy-Emacs, Win-tact, Seasonic, and Fortron-Source. In
the US, only Seasonic and Fortron are easy to find on the retail
market. Fortron is unbelievably cheap and is sold under several
brands, including Fortron, Sparkle, Hi-Q, PowerQ, Powertech, and Trend
-- look for model numbers starting with FSP.
Almost as good are Enermax (AKA Wavesonic, Cooler Giant, Casemart),
Channel Well Technology A-series or B-series (sold most commonly as
Antec TruePower and SmartPower).
If a PSU isn't strained by the load, about the only things that will
make it fail are excessive heat (fan stops) and bad capacitors.
Apparently electrolytic capacitors vary greatly in quality, with some
Taiwan and Chinese brands being terrible and Japanese brands being
among the best. I believe that Seasonic, Delta, and Lite-on use only
Japanese capacitors. Channel Well uses Taiwan Fuhjyyu, which were
affected by the counterfeit electrolyte scandal of a few years ago.
Enermax seems to use lots of PC-Tur, a Taiwan brand that apparently is
reliable (another is Taicon, affiliated with a Japanese capacitor
maker) and never affected by the scandal. In Fortron-Source I've seen
lots of Taiwan Teapo, also found in PCP&C PSUs.
Good PSU FAQs are at:
www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1045259
www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=232592
www.jonnyguru.com
Few websites do legitimate PSU reviews, that is, reviews where the PSUs
are made to put out at least their maximum watt and amp ratings. Some
of the rare exceptions are:
www.jonnyguru.com
www.slcentral.com
www.tomshardware.com
www.silentpcreview.com
www.xbitlabs.com
www.hexus.net |
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Gary
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:31 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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On 20-Apr-2006, Ken <ken@comcast.net> wrote:
| Quote: | Reliability is going to be high on the list, as it will be powering a
large amount of storage. I have used Antec in the past with good
success. My question, I suppose, is whether it is worth spending the
money on a supply like PC Power and Cooling or whether there are some
reliable brands for less. If so, what are the brands I should look at?
Thanks
Ken
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PCP&C are worth every penny and I have been using them since they have made
there way to the market and I have never had one fail. You get what you pay
for when it comes to a top quality power supply and it is the heart of or
system. |
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George Pontis
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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Dave wrote:
| Quote: |
400W should do it. Look for fortron/sparkle or Seasonic. In fact, a
380W Seasonic should work fine. -Dave
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Yes, 380W Seasonic is an excellent choice. Another advantage to
Seasonic is that it is more efficient that almost all the other power
supplies out there. That means a cooler running power supply and real
savings on electricity. The latter being especially important for a
server that is on 24/7.
-- |
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Guest
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:32 am Post subject: Re: Power supply |
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Gary wrote:
| Quote: | PCP&C are worth every penny and I have been using them since they have made
there way to the market and I have never had one fail.
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Not even batteries?
| Quote: | You get what you pay for when it comes to a top quality power supply
and it is the heart of or system.
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And at the heart of PCP&C power supplies are Teapo capacitors, not the
best brand.. For what they charge I'd expect Rubycon, Nichicon, Sanyo,
or Chemicon capacitors, which are found in lower cost Seasonic and
Delta supplies. |
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jinxy
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:02 am Post subject: Re: power supply |
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On Apr 20, 6:51 pm, w_tom <w_t...@usa.net> wrote:
| Quote: | On Apr 20, 3:31 pm, jinxy <willand...@rogers.com> wrote:
Hey, anyone out there know of a good site with some visual aids on how
to bench test apower supply?
You have an oscilloscope, and what kind of loads? Static?
Dynamic? Reactive? Otherwise learn why the best computer testing is
the power supply inside the computer - no wires disconnected - and a
3.5 digit multimeter. A tool so ubiquitous as to be sold in Lowes, K-
mart, Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, Sears, Home Depot, other hardware
stores, .... A tool as importathings before failure occurs.nt as a
screw driver when doing computer work IF the objective is to fix
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Alas , the objective is not to FIX, but determine if the ubiquitous
power supply which is sold at tiger direct, new egg, and many other pc
suppliers has failed. And if a screwdriver is needed, then a
screwdriver it be! Sarcasm,yes thats the answer.
-J |
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