PSU recommendation for my server please.

[DavidT99]

I am looking for a PSU for my WHS2011 server. The spec. is............

CPU: i3-3220
Mobo: ASRock H77 Pro4-M
RAM: 8gb DDR3 1600
HDD : 2x 500GB SATAII, 2x 1TB SATAII, 2x 1TB SATAIII, 1x 120GB SATAII
Existing PSU: 300w BeQuiet L7 Pure Power

I want to add an eigth drive (2TB SATAIII) but I think the existing PSU is struggling as when I add the drive and transfer files to it from another HDD one of them goes off line soon after the transfer starts. I know its not an HDD, SATA port or cable issue as I have swapped things around with the same results.

I am thinking a PSU of 450w or 500w should be enough. I am based in the UK and have seen XFX, Corsair, Silverstone and Xigmatek PSU's but not sure which to go for.

Thanks

David

 

[dma0991]

I doubt that this has anything to do with lack of PSU power because 300W seems plenty. Would be helpful if you've listed the HDD models in detail as some has a tendency of turning off pretty quick(WD Green). Also, what do you mean by offline? Does it spin down or it becomes undetectable in Disk Management?

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Get a corsair 420 or better.

 

[smitbret]

I would have to agree. Servers without high wattage CPUs and GPUs really don't pull energy like people think.

For instance, as we speak my 6 HDD server with a 95W 6-core CPU is:
Serving up a movie
Storing 2 more that are being encoded from remote workstations
Running its torrent client
Running its daily backup.
The PSU is reporting that it is drawing between 97-129 Watts. That's also with the router and modem connected to the PSU.

If your PSU were underpowered or going bad, it would cause random instability like BSODs under load, fail to boot, etc. I would look elsewhere for the issue.

However, if you really want to upgrade, I would just suggest something like the Corsair Builder Series CW430. You can routinely find it for $30-$40 and should handle most servers with standard HDDs numbering well into the double digits. Silverstone will be overkill unless you really have a reason.

 

[DavidT99]

I doubt that this has anything to do with lack of PSU power because 300W seems plenty. Would be helpful if you've listed the HDD models in detail as some has a tendency of turning off pretty quick(WD Green). Also, what do you mean by offline? Does it spin down or it becomes undetectable in Disk Management?

The HDD's are;

2x 500GB SATAII - Seagate Barracuda ST3500630AS
2x 1TB SATAII - Hitachi HDS721010CLA332
2x 1TB SATAIII - Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003-1CH162
1x 120GB SATAII - WD Scorpio Blue WDC WD1200BEVT-00A23T0

The drive disappears from disk management, it is always the drive I am copying from.

David

 

[dma0991]

So regardless of which HDD you copy from, it will just shutdown immediately after you start copying? It could be that WHS2011 has issues. If the HDDs are simple partitions(no RAID), try running off a live CD like Ubuntu and do the same copy routine.

Also, remove all HDDs(detach SATA power connector) leaving the bare minimum of HDDs needed to do a copy. See if it has similar issues compared to having all connected. If it doesn't, only then consider getting a higher wattage PSU, like the Corsair unit others have mentioned.

 

[DavidT99]

So regardless of which HDD you copy from, it will just shutdown immediately after you start copying? It could be that WHS2011 has issues. If the HDDs are simple partitions(no RAID), try running off a live CD like Ubuntu and do the same copy routine.

Also, remove all HDDs(detach SATA power connector) leaving the bare minimum of HDDs needed to do a copy. See if it has similar issues compared to having all connected. If it doesn't, only then consider getting a higher wattage PSU, like the Corsair unit others have mentioned.

It doesn't shutdown immediately usually after 5 -10 mins. I can disconnect any drive and the copy works ok I just cant have an eigth drive connected. The PSU has 3 SATA and 2 IDE power connectors, I am using all of the SATA power and have an IDE to 4x SATA converter powering 4 other drives.

David

 

[dma0991]

Well, you could get a higher wattage PSU to see if it fixes but from what I know, normal HDDs only averages 10W at most. 8 HDDs should be a walk in the park even for a 300W.

 

[DavidT99]

Just realised i hadnt responded to this thread............I swapped the BeQuiet 300watt with a Silverstone 400watt PSU and everything is OK now, the BeQuiet is now in my desktop and works ok too so I don't know what the issue was but its fixed.

Thanks for the help.

David