Power Supply needs to run 24/7 for at least 5 years

[harneyempire]

Hi All

I have a file server that is currently running and the PSU is starting to make some weird sounds.It that time again to get a new one - i think this one lasted about 3 years.

The PSU needs to run 24/7 none stop - this PC most always be
on, it is my domain controller.

I was thinking of these PSU noted below. Can these run 24/7 for 5
years - please recommend other that you think might do the Job. Some
specs say 100,000 hours of Mean time between failures.
Is this the same as continuous power. In other words can i leave the
PSU on for 100,000 hours ?

My Selection
1. CORSAIR CX series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power
2. Thermaltake TR2 W0070 430W ATX12V v2.3 Power Supply

Please post your selections
I do not need alot of power - no gaming cards, no sound cards are on
the server. Just 3 hard Drives, DVD drive and a floppy drive ( I'm old school and floppy still comes in handy )

Thank you for reading this

 

[Charlie98]

The CX430 is a decent unit, and on sale at Newegg this weekend for $18AR. I have one in my HTPC and it works fine.... with the caveat that it isn't on 24/7.

For that price you could buy 2 and have a spare!

I have sort of the same question going right now, Lehtv recommended an Antec unit:

EA-380D $35 AR ? Built by Delta, it's as reliable as they get

 

[Blain]

The PSU needs to run 24/7 none stop - this PC most always be on...

For an "install and forget it", I'd buy a PS with 2x the capacity as I'd anticipate needing as well as a beefy, high quality AVR type UPS.
The extra capacity would allow for component degradation over the years.
The beefy UPS would help keep clean power flowing to the PS, giving the best chance at a long lifespan.

 

[nickbits]

Any ps could go at any time. The mtbf is the average it will last but it isn't s guarantee by as means, that's why there are warranties.
I believe servers have redundant supplies to ensure uptime.
If uptime is important but you don't want to go the redundant route, I'd just keep an extra on hand in case of failure.
Fwiw, my seasonic s12-430hb has been on 24/7 since 2008

 

[aigomorla]

problem with stable and reliable PSU's are most of them are high powered.

Vendors will not drop cream of crop capacitors and components inside a budget PSU.

 

[Torn Mind]

It sounds like your PSU fan is failing or needs maintenance.

For a replacement unit, I'd recommend a Seasonic G-360 or Rosewill Capstone-450. Both are $60 at Newegg.

They have Japanese capicitors. Japanese capacitors are less prone to failure, meaning that fewer units in an entire batch are defective. Spending further money will not decrease the probability of various random errors that can brick a PSU, such as cold joints, a bad component, etc...

Take Blain's advice too with regards to the UPS, get one with at least simulated sine wave, although pure sine wave UPSes are quite expensive.

 

[Harvey]

If it's mission critical and worth the cost, look into redundant power supplies for the same reasons you'd use RAID and a strong UPS. That is a second PSU that is always on and takes over if your primary PSU fails. You may have to move to a specialized server case, possibly a rack mount case, instead of an ATX case to do it.

For protection against large scale events such as a long duration, area-wide power outage, etc., consider colocation. That's having redundant servers in two or more locations, and, like RAID, UPS and redundant PSU's, any server can instantaneously pick up the load if the other fails.

These are not cheap solutions so it depends on the value you place on that degree of up time reliability.

 

[harneyempire]

problem with stable and reliable PSU's are most of them are high powered.

Vendors will not drop cream of crop capacitors and components inside a budget PSU.

Thank your all for your advice. I'm pretty good at building PC, but no nothing about capacitors. Reading thru this it seems good capacitors is what i need.
For my future reference how do i find out which PSU has good capacitors.

When i look at the new egg specifications the capacitors are not listed. If they are there somehow i'm missing it.

Question:
How do i find out what type of capacitors are in a PSU and which to Select?

Going two PSU is within my budget, RAIDs and Redundant servers is way over my budget

You guys have been Very helpful. Thanks again

 

[Torn Mind]

You need to read reviews of PSUs in which the PSU is tested and then disassembled. Sites like jonnyGURU.com(jonny himself no longer does the reviews now, it is OklahomaWolf), Hardware Secrets, kitGURU, etc do these things. Sometimes a review is on a forum. You can usually find reviews by googling the name or model number of the PSU you are interested in. Alternatively, you can use techspot.com or realhardtechx.com, which catalog many, but not all reviews of power supply units.

 

[Blain]

You need to read reviews of PSUs in which the PSU is tested and then disassembled.

The Tech Report uses The Beast to push PS's during testing.

 

[Meghan54]

The Tech Report uses The Beast to push PS's during testing.

And? While it's admirable they assembled that tester themselves, there are commercial solutions that do the same thing, such as the SunMoon testers used by JonnyGuru. Tech Report isn't doing anything special in this respect, just saved some $$ by putting together their own home brewed testing station.

I'm much more dismayed by some hardware sites having access to Chromas and failing to utilize them properly or to their fullest capacity.