How many watts do I need for a power supply?

undeclared

Senior member
Oct 24, 2005
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I was wondering if an OCZ Powerstream 600W would even be enough.. but I don't know for sure..

Thanks
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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Only from what i have read. There is software that will start the HDDs in sequence. This would keep any PSU from getting hit with a high load at boot. Once spun-up the HDDs take very little to keep them spinning. Most PSUs for serious workstations or servers will have 40A on the 5V line. The wattage HDDs requior is about the same from the 12V as the 5V rail.
There are some power calculaters out there that can give you a ballpark figure.

Galvanized
 

undeclared

Senior member
Oct 24, 2005
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Okay..

Just please note:
14 drives will be in a raid array (not sure which one yet..)
1 drive will be standalone [just in case one drive fails, I still have an OS]

The cdroms (DVDROMS oops) will be on their own..

I don't know how power works like that hmrm
 

grimlykindo

Senior member
Jan 27, 2005
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Yeah, those HDs are your biggest concern. As Yankee stated - you can't start all 15 of them at once, the power spike would be insane no matter what PSU you have.

If you don't mind me asking - why 15 HDs? You can now get 300GB SATA drives for <$200

Why not get a few larger ones and run a RAID config?
 

undeclared

Senior member
Oct 24, 2005
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grimlykindo: the reason I've got so many freaking drives is that they are: SATA I 7200rpm 8mb cache 250 GB drives that I paid $100 CDN each for. I got a case that can handle them, and it has room for every single one of them.
 

grimlykindo

Senior member
Jan 27, 2005
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Originally posted by: xtwells
grimlykindo: the reason I've got so many freaking drives is that they are: SATA I 7200rpm 8mb cache 250 GB drives that I paid $100 CDN each for. I got a case that can handle them, and it has room for every single one of them.
Wow, that is alot of room

250GB x 14 = 3500GB :Q

May I ask what you are filling 3500GB with?


 

undeclared

Senior member
Oct 24, 2005
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video editing and such things.. eg, an uncompressed 30 minute film can be 300GB in itself.. what if it's a few hours, or if I have a few at once?

It is very easy to come into a situation where even 3500 GB isn't as much as you think..
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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Aside from an 80mm fan that sounds like the Fortron 80mm fan, Zippy is a tank of a PSU
and these prices are hard to beat..Link to myaopen.com..For $284 the 700 weatt unit is worth consideration.

Galvanized


The Zippy fans are no loader than the PCP&C PSUs that have 80mm fans. Put carpet on the wall behing the rig and that really helps.


 

anandtechrocks

Senior member
Dec 7, 2004
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Originally posted by: xtwells
Okay I went on the second site which seems more up-to-date..

I'm looking at this power supply (850W):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817703002

However, I am now thinking that since my case does in fact have room to mount a second power supply, it would be wisest for me to nab 2 power supplies.. One for the motherboard & Video card, the other one just for the drives.

This PC Power & Cooling PSU will definately suit your needs, undoubtedly the best power supply available.
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
May 13, 2003
13,704
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Yeah, the spin up on your drives is going to hurt. I have dual power supplies in my system for that too. What controller are you going to be using for this? Because you definitely want to get one that supports staggered spin up (it basically spins up drives at a specified number at a time). On my system, my dual Xeons suck up the most power. For the dual video cards, you don't have to worry too much, so long as you have a good PSU that supports them.

For that setup, I would do something like a 500w Seasonic for the mobo / video cards, and then find something that has high +5V & +12V rails, and use that to power the drives. Grab an extension for the 24p and mod it to a switch to control on/off, and you'll be good...
 

undeclared

Senior member
Oct 24, 2005
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hmrm, my case-to-be will be a Thermaltake Armor case, or the other similar one with exact same specs (18 drive slots including 3.5" ones)

It doesn't actually support 2 PSUs, but I hear its an easy mod with the right tools..

I'm moving towards losing a little bit of space (12 drives instead of 15), and nabbing CoolerMaster Stacker (which by default supports 2 PSUs)..

The SATA raid card I was moving towards was: Adaptec Serial ATA RAID 21610SA 16-port PCI

I'm not sure if I should try to mod the case, or just switch to the CoolerMaster..

I will also have 2 Gigabyte iRAMs connected to the SATA controller, which will add to my power consumption, but..

As long as when I press the on button they both work I'm happy :p
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
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Originally posted by: xtwells
video editing and such things.. eg, an uncompressed 30 minute film can be 300GB in itself.. what if it's a few hours, or if I have a few at once?

It is very easy to come into a situation where even 3500 GB isn't as much as you think..

An uncompressed 30min movie should not take up 300GB. I have 2x 160s in my HTPC and i can store hours and hours of movies on there in MPEG 2. And uncompressed movie will not take up much more.

Additionally, why are you keeping uncompressed movies. YOu cant watch them at a decent speed or anything.

Finally you shouldn't have bought 250GB drives. YOu should have invested in 500's or something.

Now what RAID are you planning on putting these drives in? PLEASE for god-sake dont say what i think you might say. Also you are doing this off of the PCI bus. Do you know how HUGE of a bottleneck that is going to be with 15 drives feeding off of it.

I will also have 2 Gigabyte iRAMs connected to the SATA controller, which will add to my power consumption, but..

Why would you get that. Also for a system of this caliber why are you getting a Thermaltake case. It would seem to me that you are going to need a server case to keep 15 HDD's cool. No TT case is equipped (no matter if they have the room) for that many drives.

DOnt mean to be rude, but this seems very poorly planned out.

-Kevin

Edit: As for the PCP&C. You need more amperage. You have plenty of wattage to run the drives. As said earlier, your going to fry most anything on start-up. I would highly recommend getting this for that kind of a system: Link
And that PSU probably doesn't even have the power to start 15 HDD all at once. Not to mention the rest of the system.
 

undeclared

Senior member
Oct 24, 2005
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Gamingphreek:

The drives will be in raid 50.
300GB uncompressed movies: I believe you are uninformed and therefore do not understand how big a professional movie, sometimes in HDTV quality will take up. It furthermore takes hours and hours to compress it into a quality package.

500gb drives: Let me educate you. 250gb: $100, 500gb: $400.. hmmmmmm?

Cooling for hard drives: I think you obviously underestimate how the case will be setup and what cooling is planned for it.

All of the drives being in the 5.25" slots are in fact 3.5" drives in 5.25" cooling mechanisms

The remaining 3.5" drives will have large fans over them, and I'm going to make sure there's an exhaust right behind them so that the heat dissipates.

I did buy this case for the hard drive space, and I plan to use it for them.

I am obviously planning this system piece by piece, so that when I have a final product, more educated people on these forums will be able to correct my errors.

As for the PCI raid card being a bottleneck, I guess I'll judge that for myself.

Gigabyte iRAM: I am largely assuming you have no understanding whatsoever of what it is or what it does.. Especially for CAD work, this will DRAMATICALLY speed up my system, even more than the 12 or 16 drives being in raid. One of them is told to work with valueram at something like 1400mb/s of 1500mb/s (or something like that)I, two of them probably will probably hit 1500.
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
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Originally posted by: xtwells
Gamingphreek:

The drives will be in raid 50.
300GB uncompressed movies: I believe you are uninformed and therefore do not understand how big a professional movie, sometimes in HDTV quality will take up. It furthermore takes hours and hours to compress it into a quality package.

500gb drives: Let me educate you. 250gb: $100, 500gb: $400.. hmmmmmm?

Cooling for hard drives: I think you obviously underestimate how the case will be setup and what cooling is planned for it.

All of the drives being in the 5.25" slots are in fact 3.5" drives in 5.25" cooling mechanisms

The remaining 3.5" drives will have large fans over them, and I'm going to make sure there's an exhaust right behind them so that the heat dissipates.

I did buy this case for the hard drive space, and I plan to use it for them.

I am obviously planning this system piece by piece, so that when I have a final product, more educated people on these forums will be able to correct my errors.

As for the PCI raid card being a bottleneck, I guess I'll judge that for myself.

Gigabyte iRAM: I am largely assuming you have no understanding whatsoever of what it is or what it does.. Especially for CAD work, this will DRAMATICALLY speed up my system, even more than the 12 or 16 drives being in raid. One of them is told to work with valueram at something like 1400mb/s of 1500mb/s (or something like that)I, two of them probably will probably hit 1500.

If i were you I would stop talking down to the person who is trying to help you out.

300GB uncompressed movies: I believe you are uninformed and therefore do not understand how big a professional movie, sometimes in HDTV quality will take up. It furthermore takes hours and hours to compress it into a quality package.

Well maybe you should have mentioned HD format. Additionally, you still haven't answered my question. Why are you going to fill HDD's with uncompressed HD movies.

500gb drives: Let me educate you. 250gb: $100, 500gb: $400.. hmmmmmm?

Well you must have gotten a deal on the 250's because i know of no 250GB HDD that is 100 bucks.

Cooling for hard drives: I think you obviously underestimate how the case will be setup and what cooling is planned for it.

I still would not put my faith into a Tt Chasis. You should be getting a very nice server chasis for this kind of a system. 5.25" cooling devices or not.

I am obviously planning this system piece by piece, so that when I have a final product, more educated people on these forums will be able to correct my errors.

As for the PCI raid card being a bottleneck, I guess I'll judge that for myself.

Gigabyte iRAM: I am largely assuming you have no understanding whatsoever of what it is or what it does..

Once again, stop acting like im a complete moron. I know exactly what i am talking about, and i know exactly what you are talking about. What is 2GB of I-RAM going to do for you. YOu can barely fit an OS on that drive, much less anything that will really speed up your CAD work.

-Kevin
 

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
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Edit: As for the PCP&C. You need more amperage. You have plenty of wattage to run the drives. As said earlier, your going to fry most anything on start-up. I would highly recommend getting this for that kind of a system: Link
And that PSU probably doesn't even have the power to start 15 HDD all at once. Not to mention the rest of the system.

Zippy 750 watt specs--+3.3V@30A, +5V@35A, +12V@45A, -5V@0.8A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2A

PCP&C 850 watt specs---
+5V @ 30A
+12V1 @ 16A
+12V2 @ 16A
+12V3 @ 30A
+12V1,V2,V3 = 54A (60A peak)
-12V @ 0.8A
+3.3V @ 30A
+5VSB @ 3A
continuous = 850W
peak = 950W

It looks as if the PCP&C 850 has more amps than the Zippy.......

As for the PCP&C. You need more amperage.-- surely not the Zippy..lolol

Then theres always the 1 kw---
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=TC1KW


 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
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Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Edit: As for the PCP&C. You need more amperage. You have plenty of wattage to run the drives. As said earlier, your going to fry most anything on start-up. I would highly recommend getting this for that kind of a system: Link
And that PSU probably doesn't even have the power to start 15 HDD all at once. Not to mention the rest of the system.

Zippy 750 watt specs--+3.3V@30A, +5V@35A, +12V@45A, -5V@0.8A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2A

PCP&C 850 watt specs---
+5V @ 30A
+12V1 @ 16A
+12V2 @ 16A
+12V3 @ 30A
+12V1,V2,V3 = 54A (60A peak)
-12V @ 0.8A
+3.3V @ 30A
+5VSB @ 3A
continuous = 850W
peak = 950W

It looks as if the PCP&C 850 has more amps than the Zippy.......

As for the PCP&C. You need more amperage.-- surely not the Zippy..lolol

Then theres always the 1 kw---
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=TC1KW

Yes i understand. I also understand the principle behind the seperate 12V rails, but in this case i am thinking one fat line would be preferable.

-Kevin
 

orion23

Platinum Member
Oct 1, 2003
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I run 4X300GB and 2X250GB maxtor drives
2 120mm fans
3 80mm fans
1 custom fan
2 HD coolers
2 fan controllers
1 7800GTX
2 DVD-roms
x2 4800+

I use a thermaltake 680W and I don't have any problems with my setup.

If I were you, instead of buying a $400-500 PSU, I would just buy 2 PSU's (try the Seasonic S12) and run a dual PSU setup
 

EatSpam

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
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I have a Zippy 700w PSU running 18 hard drives.... no problems. I could probably stick another 10 on there without it breaking a sweat.
 

undeclared

Senior member
Oct 24, 2005
498
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86
I'm sorry Gamingphreek, but I think your whole original message reads: "your whole plan is wrong,you don't know what the hell you're talking about, and you're an idiot"

I am insulted by your attitude and complete lack of knowledge while being totally aggressive and telling me I am wrong.

Now what RAID are you planning on putting these drives in? PLEASE for god-sake dont say what i think you might say.

Are you calling me an idiot right here?


An uncompressed 30min movie should not take up 300GB. I have 2x 160s in my HTPC and i can store hours and hours of movies on there in MPEG 2. And uncompressed movie will not take up much more.

Additionally, why are you keeping uncompressed movies. YOu cant watch them at a decent speed or anything.

You obviously have no idea about uncompressed movies and how ridiculously large they can get.. Especially if I am working on a few projects at once and need the HD space to keep it.

I'd be lucky if a 2x160GB drives would give me enough space for 1/5th my work for the week.

Whatever space I have is my room to move, not just convenience.. if I have a few hours of uncompressed raw footage on my drive (relating to one thing) and some other stuff I don't have the time to work on, it is for me to work on it.

I can't just lose a literal whole day compressing it so it's nice and all.. I have to work with what I got, and now.

Additionally, why are you keeping uncompressed movies. YOu cant watch them at a decent speed or anything.

I'm editing them, not watching them. And yes, I can edit/watch at a decent speed.

Finally you shouldn't have bought 250GB drives. YOu should have invested in 500's or something.

I will invest in what I want to invest, or what I deem wise to invest. Yes, 250 GB @ $100 CDN.

Ultimately, it's one thing to give advice and allow a person to choose whether or not they take it. It is a TOTALLY different thing when you tell them "no, you're wrong" and THIS is the way, my way, the only way..
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
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81
"your whole plan is wrong,you don't know what the hell you're talking about, and you're an idiot"

Way to put words in my mouth :roll:

Are you calling me an idiot right here?

No, but i am making a rash generalization. 99% of people here would put HDD's in a RAID-0 array and not think about it. With that many drives youll be lucky to keep it up and running before it crashes.

You obviously have no idea about uncompressed movies and how ridiculously large they can get.. Especially if I am working on a few projects at once and need the HD space to keep it.

Umm yes i do. First off you NEVER mentioned that you were working with HD content before that post. Second off, there is absolutely no way you are going to be doing this with multiple HD files, UNCOMPRESSED, all at once. No CPU, hell no 2 CPU's out there can manage that. As i said, you have your reasons, but you really shouldn't need to work with uncompressed content.

I will invest in what I want to invest, or what I deem wise to invest. Yes, 250 GB @ $100 CDN.

Good for you! I didn't say otherwise, i would certainly think based on all the "I think"s placed around that particular quote in my post that IMO would be implied. Sorry if it came off rude, but IMO the 500 would have been better.

As for the prices. You have seriously got to be kidding me. You MUST have gotten a deal on the 250's or something. THere is no way a HDD that is double the space costs 4 TIMES as much. I dont care if you live in Canada or not, there must be something you aren't telling us (some deal or something). If not please, by all means provide links.

Ultimately, it's one thing to give advice and allow a person to choose whether or not they take it. It is a TOTALLY different thing when you tell them "no, you're wrong" and THIS is the way, the only way..

I never said it was thr wrong way. I said there is probably a better way to go about things. It seems that i was right about the PSU though
I have a Zippy 700w PSU running 18 hard drives.... no problems. I could probably stick another 10 on there without it breaking a sweat.
hmmm... does seem like Gamingphreek does know what he is talking about (at least half the time :p)

1. What are you going to do with the I-RAM's. They are merely going to consume more power. 2 Gig is not enough for you to store anything on, barely enough for a bare OS. IMO it would be a waste of money.

2. The 500 Gigs would run cooler, run quieter, and consume less power. Those 7200.7's have what 2 Platters each (or is it 4?). The 500's, if you are planning on keeping this for any length of time, will save you money in the long run. Less power, less heat, less drives (dont need to buy a 5.25" holder for 16 drives on 8 or whatever).

3. What about the other components in your computer? You still need to power them, and cool them. You are going to have so many fans going, you wont be able to hear anything a mile away.

4. PCI bottleneck. YOu are run 16.... 16 drives all capable of 150Mb/s off of a single bus that is capable of 33MB/s. If you have enough money for all of that IMO PCI-E or at the very least PCI-X would have gotten you much more for your money.

Happy now?

-Kevin