Is this power supply enough for 4 hard drives?

Fullmetal Chocobo

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I have a Corsair 600w powering a E6400, 8800GTS 640mb, 2gb RAM, and 8 hard drives. The wattage on the PSU is fine--I'd be more worried about what type it is and the quality of it.
 

mpilchfamily

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Jun 11, 2007
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Most PSUs that come with a case are pretty much garbage. Most of the time they are older designs that may have a decent total wattage but not enough of that wattage is being pushed to the 12V rail(s) where its needed. But your system has low power needs so you will be OK. HDDs account for very little compared to the power draw of the CPU. You would have to have 6 or more HDDs before you have to worry about there impact on the PSU.
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
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So you guys wouldn't recommend that I get separate case and power supply? If so, which ones would you recommend?
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

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Originally posted by: Dari
So you guys wouldn't recommend that I get separate case and power supply? If so, which ones would you recommend?

I would recommend getting them separate, for the simple fact of knowing what you are getting. What is your budget, and are you going to be adding anything else later on? What hardware are you planning on putting in there? It looks like a Phenom file server, but I could be wrong.
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
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Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Originally posted by: Dari
So you guys wouldn't recommend that I get separate case and power supply? If so, which ones would you recommend?

I would recommend getting them separate, for the simple fact of knowing what you are getting. What is your budget, and are you going to be adding anything else later on? What hardware are you planning on putting in there? It looks like a Phenom file server, but I could be wrong.

It'll be a Windows Home Server. 4 1TB HDDs. My budget is $400 (without memory and HDDs). I priced the dual-core AMD at $80.
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

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Okay. $400 - ($70 + $80). So $250 for the case and PSU. My pills are kicking in so it's time for me to go to sleep, but I'll research this tonight.
 

Zap

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Originally posted by: Dari
I'm building a computer with this case:http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811121004...
The case comes with a 585W power supply. I'll only be using the onboard video. Is the power supply adequate for 4 hard drives or should I get the case and power supply separately? TIA.

Can that case even take four HDDs? Looks like you'll have to use adaptors and use the CD bays. There's no close picture of the PSU, but if it is a 585W HEC unit, then it is merely okay. Not crap like some of the really low end units, but not super good either. They will run your intended system. I've used a similar PSU before (HEC Orion 585W) and it worked fine, but was REALLY noisy.


The Cooler Master PSU is okay, but the worst of the ones you listed (IIRC it isn't rated at high temps, so derates in a normal PC). The Corsair 450W is the best choice by far. With the Silverstone, I've heard that they've changed OEMs for that 400W unit. The original ones that made all the review rounds was made by Enhance. The new ones are made by FSP, still good but not quite as good. Of course I may be remembering this wrong.

Dari, how about this case? It is $70 with free shipping, and comes with a decent enough power supply.
 

Quiksilver

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Jul 3, 2005
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Originally posted by: Zap

With the Silverstone, I've heard that they've changed OEMs for that 400W unit. The original ones that made all the review rounds was made by Enhance. The new ones are made by FSP, still good but not quite as good. Of course I may be remembering this wrong.

I thought the one that changed OEM was the ST40F and then was later replaced by the ST400. silverstone has them as separate psu's but i don't think you can find the st40f anymore.

http://www.silverstonetek.com/...php?pno=st40f&area=usa

http://www.silverstonetek.com/...php?pno=st400&area=usa
 

theAnimal

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Mar 18, 2003
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Originally posted by: Dari
Originally posted by: theAnimal
If you like that case, it's $32 w/o the PSU.

I'd get the 780G mobo instead.

The SeaSonic S12 II SS-330GB ATX12V 330W Power Supply - Retail would be an excellent PSU.

Why get that motherboard instead of the other one? And why is that PSU better than the other even though it has a lower wattage?

780G is a newer and better IGP.
PSU is way better quality. You really don't even need this much wattage, hard drives draw maybe 10-15W max. and power supplies are usually more efficient the closer you get to 50% load.
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
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Dari, how about this case? It is $70 with free shipping, and comes with a decent enough power supply.

I'd prefer a MicroATX case if possible. But I may look into that one if I have to spend money to adapt the 5.25 bays to fit the 3.5" HDDs.