Is 250 Watt PSU enough for four Hard Drives?

[archeopetrix]

Hi everyone..

I recently got a new Seagate SV35.3 500GB HDD. But soon it started giving errors and started going into PIO mode repeatedly. Also some times, while copying files, it made ticking noises before going to PIO mode.

But when i removed one of the other three drives, all problems vanished.

I have 4 HDDs connected to my system having 250 Watts PSU.

System Config:
C2D E6850 @3.0GHz
2x1GB DDR2
Onboard G33 graphics (NO PCI-EX GFX CARD INSTALLED)
250W iBall PSU
Sony 18X DVD Burner
The 4 HDDs are:
-------------------
320GB Seagate SV35.2 (SATA)
500GB Seagate SV35.3 (SATA) -
500GB Seagate 7200.12 (SATA)
40GB Seagate (IDE) 5400rpm


Is it the PSU that is to be blamed? What is suggested PSU power rating for 4 HDDs?

 

[nickbits]

Ticking noises usually mean the drive is failing. Have you run seatools?

 

[M0RPH]

You can check your power requirements here

I got about 220W based on what you listed and adding a couple fans.

So it's possible your PSU is having trouble but I would do more testing of the drive itself.

 

[Quiksilver]

Ticking noises from hard drive indicate bad hard drive/dying one.

 

[archeopetrix]

sorry guys for messing up the above post but, the ticking noise is coming from SV35.2 320GB (and NOT from new SV35.3 500GB) and it has been coming from months. Btw the ticking is not really loud. I can here it only when there is complete silence in my room.

While it is the new SV35.3 500GB thats giving errors and reverting to PIO mode when all four HDDs are connected. It porforms decently when any one of the 4 drives is disconnected.

Originally posted by: nickbits
Ticking noises usually mean the drive is failing. Have you run seatools?

yes i ran seatools and SV35.2 320GB (which is the one making noise) passes atleast Short DST. I am running Long DST atm.

Originally posted by: M0RPH
You can check your power requirements here

I got about 220W based on what you listed and adding a couple fans.

So it's possible your PSU is having trouble but I would do more testing of the drive itself.

thanks for info and link. But when I used the power requirements tool it gives only about 181 Watts. So is my 250W PSU enough?

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Ticking noises from hard drive indicate bad hard drive/dying one.

yes but it has been making the noises from months but is still working and passing tests from Seatools. btw the ticking is not really loud. I can here it only when there is complete silence in my room.

 

[starams5]

When the 1st generation SATA drives came out I was RMAing a drive on average every 4 months due to mechanical failure (x2 WD/400w no name PSU), never imagined it could be the PSU. Fast forward to current, I built my 1st gaming rig a couple of years ago and bought a Antec TruePower Quattro TPQ-1000w (I now own two), I have not lost a HDD since (current 2nd gen SATA's 3x WD RAID0). I'm not saying run out and buy a 1000w PSU, all I'm saying is do the math.

 

[Zepper]

A cheap, no-name PSU such as listed in the OP, may not put out anywhere near a clean 250W. I'd replace it just on principle. Can't have a stable system without a quality PSU.

.bh.

 

[archeopetrix]

well, i think i figured out something new that could be the cause of problems. All my hard drives were connected to the PSU through only one of its power outlets (out of the total 4 that it has). This means, i connected one hard drive though one of the outlet and took out a parallel (may be serial, i dunno) connection to the second and from second another parallel/serial conn to 3rd and so on till 4th. The other 3 power outlets were free.

And the SV35.3 500GB was the very last (4th) HDD to be conneted to the PSU in this fashion.

Could this have been the reason for read-write errors and consequent PIO mode on my SV35.3 500GB?

I just sorted out the power connections and hope to see error free functioning now on. Will let you know of any news

 

[Lunyone]

Originally posted by: archeopetrix
well, i think i figured out something new that could be the cause of problems. All my hard drives were connected to the PSU through only one of its power outlets (out of the total 4 that it has). This means, i connected one hard drive though one of the outlet and took out a parallel (may be serial, i dunno) connection to the second and from second another parallel/serial conn to 3rd and so on till 4th. The other 3 power outlets were free.

And the SV35.3 500GB was the very last (4th) HDD to be conneted to the PSU in this fashion.

Could this have been the reason for read-write errors and consequent PIO mode on my SV35.3 500GB?

I just sorted out the power connections and hope to see error free functioning now on. Will let you know of any news

It's possible, but I'd still consider getting a quality PSU over your current one, like Zepper mentioned. You might have a marginal power connection on that last HD in the loop, so that can possibly cause issues too. You might also have a temperature problem too, hard to say for sure. I'd look for a quality 300-350w PSU from Corsair/Seasonic/PCP&C/Antec.

 

[Zepper]

Connecting all the drives through one pigtail would present a problem only if the gauge of the wire itself was too small or if the contacts for a specific drive were crimped poorly or just cheap contact material - all of which are possible. It doesn't really matter what pigtail they are on as all wires of the same voltage come together at the same point within the PSU anyway.

.bh.

 

[archeopetrix]

Originally posted by: Lunyone
It's possible, but I'd still consider getting a quality PSU over your current one, like Zepper mentioned. You might have a marginal power connection on that last HD in the loop, so that can possibly cause issues too. You might also have a temperature problem too, hard to say for sure. I'd look for a quality 300-350w PSU from Corsair/Seasonic/PCP&C/Antec.

Originally posted by: Zepper
Connecting all the drives through one pigtail would present a problem only if the gauge of the wire itself was too small or if the contacts for a specific drive were crimped poorly or just cheap contact material - all of which are possible. It doesn't really matter what pigtail they are on as all wires of the same voltage come together at the same point within the PSU anyway.

thanks for your replies..

btw its not absolutely no-name PSU, its from iBall : http://iball.co.in/Product.aspx?c=22
Still, i think i'll get a better PSU now. Also I guess I should consider changing SATA cable.

will let you know of any news.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: archeopetrix

Originally posted by: Lunyone
It's possible, but I'd still consider getting a quality PSU over your current one, like Zepper mentioned. You might have a marginal power connection on that last HD in the loop, so that can possibly cause issues too. You might also have a temperature problem too, hard to say for sure. I'd look for a quality 300-350w PSU from Corsair/Seasonic/PCP&C/Antec.

Originally posted by: Zepper
Connecting all the drives through one pigtail would present a problem only if the gauge of the wire itself was too small or if the contacts for a specific drive were crimped poorly or just cheap contact material - all of which are possible. It doesn't really matter what pigtail they are on as all wires of the same voltage come together at the same point within the PSU anyway.

thanks for your replies..

btw its not absolutely no-name PSU, its from iBall : http://iball.co.in/Product.aspx?c=22
Still, i think i'll get a better PSU now. Also I guess I should consider changing SATA cable.

will let you know of any news.

iBall PSU?

never heard of them, sounds like a cheap piece of shit though...

 

[Lunyone]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver

Originally posted by: archeopetrix

Originally posted by: Lunyone
It's possible, but I'd still consider getting a quality PSU over your current one, like Zepper mentioned. You might have a marginal power connection on that last HD in the loop, so that can possibly cause issues too. You might also have a temperature problem too, hard to say for sure. I'd look for a quality 300-350w PSU from Corsair/Seasonic/PCP&C/Antec.

Originally posted by: Zepper
Connecting all the drives through one pigtail would present a problem only if the gauge of the wire itself was too small or if the contacts for a specific drive were crimped poorly or just cheap contact material - all of which are possible. It doesn't really matter what pigtail they are on as all wires of the same voltage come together at the same point within the PSU anyway.

thanks for your replies..

btw its not absolutely no-name PSU, its from iBall : http://iball.co.in/Product.aspx?c=22
Still, i think i'll get a better PSU now. Also I guess I should consider changing SATA cable.

will let you know of any news.

iBall PSU?

never heard of them, sounds like a cheap piece of shit though...

I haven't heard of them either, but their contact on the website listed is in India, so is this "outsourcing"???? Knock off of Dell??

 

[archeopetrix]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
iBall PSU?

never heard of them, sounds like a cheap piece of shit though...

lol, mate, there could be many things that you haven't heard of but are good..this could very possibly be one of them. I have owned other iBall products before like flash drives, keyboard, mouse etc and have hardly had any complains. They offer 2-3 years warranty on most of their products and i even got a hassle-free replacement for a mouse once.

Originally posted by: Lunyone
I haven't heard of them either, but their contact on the website listed is in India, so is this "outsourcing"???? Knock off of Dell??

Well, I am an Indian Citizen and stay in India. So it isn't "outsourcing" i guess.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: archeopetrix

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
iBall PSU?

never heard of them, sounds like a cheap piece of shit though...

lol, mate, there could be many things that you haven't heard of but are good..this could very possibly be one of them. I have owned other iBall products before like flash drives, keyboard, mouse etc and have hardly had any complains. They offer 2-3 years warranty on most of their products and i even got a hassle-free replacement for a mouse once.

I'm still skeptical of them. Having a good experience with a company doesn't really mean it's a good product it just means you haven't had any problems yet...

 

[archeopetrix]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver

I'm still skeptical of them. Having a good experience with a company doesn't really mean it's a good product it just means you haven't had any problems yet...

and that's why i am getting a new one now.. thanks for suggestions