• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Hard drive power requirements?

D

d33pblue

Senior member
Ok, so I'm upgrading my hard drive array over the next few weeks. Ideally I would like to leave my current array plugged in and transfer all of the stuff over to the new array. The other option would be taking the old array offline and restoring the data from external backup drives (which I would prefer to avoid since it reduces my copies of the data from two to one).

I'm currently running an Antec Truepower 2.0 550W PSU with the below hardware
OCed Opteron 165 @ 2.4Ghz
DFI Lan Party Ultra D
2GB Corsair ddr400 value
80GB hard drive
500GB hard drive
2 320GB hard drives
2 ATI Radeon X300s
TV tuner card
Highpoint 2200 series RAID card
SB Audigy 2
DVD-RW

The output of the PSU is rated at: +3.3V@32A, +5V@40A, +12V1@19A, +12V2@19A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2A


Currently I have two, 4 pin molex connectors available. I will be adding 4 hard drives (500GB each, for a 1.5TB RAID 5 array) to my system. I would like to split these two molex connectors and power two of the drives with each. Would anyone know offhand if there would be a problem with this? Would 2 500GB drives be too much for a single 4 pin molex under this PSU?

Any help or insight would be appreciated.
 
i don't think that 2 hdd woudl be that bad but im not sure about 4, that may be putting a bit of a strain on ur psu, y not upgrade the psu? to someting that can really handle all that pwr usage?


Will G.
 
Originally posted by: ShellGuy
i don't think that 2 hdd woudl be that bad but im not sure about 4, that may be putting a bit of a strain on ur psu, y not upgrade the psu? to someting that can really handle all that pwr usage?


Will G.
Click to expand...


Upgrade from an antec 550 watt truepower? to what?

From what I read, you're going to be removing the old hard drives after you install the new, right?

I think the psu will be able to handle it. I would clock the cpu to stock, and possibly just use one vid card if you can, if you're truly worried about the psu. My question would be whether the molex's could handle it, not the psu itself.
 
Because I dont want to upgrade my PSU if I dont have to. I am hoping that 550W is enough to power the above hardware + 4 additional hard drives, at least temporarily until I can get the data transferred over and take the 2 320GB drives offline.
 
Originally posted by: fishmonger12
Originally posted by: ShellGuy
i don't think that 2 hdd woudl be that bad but im not sure about 4, that may be putting a bit of a strain on ur psu, y not upgrade the psu? to someting that can really handle all that pwr usage?


Will G.
Click to expand...


Upgrade from an antec 550 watt truepower? to what?

From what I read, you're going to be removing the old hard drives after you install the new, right?

I think the psu will be able to handle it. I would clock the cpu to stock, and possibly just use one vid card if you can, if you're truly worried about the psu. My question would be whether the molex's could handle it, not the psu itself.
Click to expand...

Correct, after I transfer the data over, I am removing the two 320GB hard drives. Currently the two free molex connectors are on two strings. One string is only powering a case fan, while the other string has a single molex plugged into the motherboard.


 
Originally posted by: d33pblue
According to storage review, the drives I'm getting (WD 500GB RE2) use 10.6W while active: http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200607/500_6.html

I really have no idea. Does anyone know how to calculate the amount of available power to each "string" of molex connectors?
Click to expand...

The PSU's documentation should tell you how much amperage you can pull from each rail, and whether there is one rail or multiple ones (and if there are, which connectors go to which rail).

Frankly, for hard drives, you are unlikely to have problems. Try to spread them across multiple connector strings if you can, but a single connector is usually good for at least 8-10A -- about 100-120W on the +12V line (where drives pull most of their power). The only thing in your system pulling more than a trivial amount of power is the CPU, which gets most of its juice from the motherboard connector and the addition ATX12V connector.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top