Yet another "Help me pick a power supply" thread.

[StayPuff]

Here's my multimedia server:

Dual Athlon Moble @ 2.0GHz
Tyan Tiger MPX (S2466m)
1 GB ECC RAM
3 IDE drives
4 SCSI drives
Cremax IcyDock (2 dedicated fans for SCSI devices)
IDE DVD
LSI MegaRAID Elite 1600 SCSI PCI/66
Haupauggue PVR500MCE PCI
Diamond Monster Sound PCI
PCI video card
6 case fans

...all packed into an InWin 500Q Full tower case.

I am getting random reboots all of the time now, and I bet my PSU has had it (roughly 3 years old). This rig is on 24/7, so I need something good that will last. This baby holds our family photos, movies, financials, and serves as a PVR as well, so if we lose any kind of data, my wife will literally kill me.

I have been looking at the PCP&C TurboCool 510 but would like to read about some other opinions especially regarding price/performance.

Important features are:
-> long leads (full tower case)
-> Quality (good warranty is a bonus)
-> Solid, clean power

* * * Sound is NOT an issue as this thing lives in my basement * * *


EDIT: I have an Antec True Power 430W supply in there -- not a 480 as originally written.

 

[Operandi]

Are the CPUs drawing power from 5 or 12v?

 

[StayPuff]

Originally posted by: Operandi
Are the CPUs drawing power from 5 or 12v?

Not sure, but I doubt it's the 12 rail. Don't CPUs normally pull from the 5 or 3.3? Nevertheless, they are getting 1.65 volts.

 

[vorgusa]

if you worry that the power supply is not enough pay a little more for a nicer one.. they are not too expensive considering the are helping protect all of your parts. Does not hurt to get a bigger one

 

[StayPuff]

Originally posted by: vorgusa
if you worry that the power supply is not enough pay a little more for a nicer one.. they are not too expensive considering the are helping protect all of your parts. Does not hurt to get a bigger one

Agreed - I am looking to find the general consensus as to alternatives that I can use to compare to each other prior to making my purchase.

Thanks!

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: StayPuff

Originally posted by: Operandi
Are the CPUs drawing power from 5 or 12v?

Not sure, but I doubt it's the 12 rail. Don't CPUs normally pull from the 5 or 3.3? Nevertheless, they are getting 1.65 volts.

No, all modern boards power the CPU from the 12v rail. Socket A systems are about 50/50; older ones used the 5v while many newer boards used the 12v rail.

If it's a dual CPU board I'd think it would be running off the 12v rail but that?s more of a guess.

Either way it's important to know since all good PSU's these days are heavily geared towards the 12v rail and would not be a good choice for running a dual CPU board that draws it's power from 5v.

The easiest way to check is to see if the board uses the 12v 4 pin power connector; it's used exclusively to power the CPU/CPUs.

 

[vorgusa]

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getp...?masterid=8760795&search=seasonic+600w Should be good.. a little on the expensive side but has really good reviews

 

[StayPuff]

Originally posted by: Operandi

No, all modern boards power the CPU from the 12v rail. Socket A systems are about 50/50; older ones used the 5v while many newer boards used the 12v rail.

If it's a dual CPU board I'd think it would be running off the 12v rail but that?s more of a guess.

Either way it's important to know since all good PSU's these days are heavily geared towards the 12v rail and would not be a good choice for running a dual CPU board that draws it's power from 5v.

The easiest way to check is to see if the board uses the 12v 4 pin power connector; it's used exclusively to power the CPU/CPUs.

Good info there -- I figured they came off of the 5. At any rate, I it does have a P4 connector.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: StayPuff

Originally posted by: Operandi

No, all modern boards power the CPU from the 12v rail. Socket A systems are about 50/50; older ones used the 5v while many newer boards used the 12v rail.

If it's a dual CPU board I'd think it would be running off the 12v rail but that?s more of a guess.

Either way it's important to know since all good PSU's these days are heavily geared towards the 12v rail and would not be a good choice for running a dual CPU board that draws it's power from 5v.

The easiest way to check is to see if the board uses the 12v 4 pin power connector; it's used exclusively to power the CPU/CPUs.

Good info there -- I figured they came off of the 5. At any rate, I it does have a P4 connector.

In that case the CPUs are getting their power from the 12v rail; finding a good replacement PSU should be easy.

The Seasonic mentioned above is a very good choice but 600 watts is far more then you need. Since you have a lot of hard drives I would suggest the 380 or 430 watt S12.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: StayPuff
Here's my multimedia server:

Dual Athlon Moble @ 2.0GHz
Tyan Tiger MPX (S2466m)
1 GB ECC RAM
3 IDE drives
4 SCSI drives
Cremax IcyDock (2 dedicated fans for SCSI devices)
IDE DVD
LSI MegaRAID Elite 1600 SCSI PCI/66
Haupauggue PVR500MCE PCI
Diamond Monster Sound PCI
PCI video card
6 case fans

...all packed into an InWin 500Q Full tower case.

I am getting random reboots all of the time now, and I bet my PSU has had it (roughly 3 years old). This rig is on 24/7, so I need something good that will last. This baby holds our family photos, movies, financials, and serves as a PVR as well, so if we lose any kind of data, my wife will literally kill me.

I have been looking at the PCP&C TurboCool 510 but would like to read about some other opinions especially regarding price/performance.

Important features are:
-> long leads (full tower case)
-> Quality (good warranty is a bonus)
-> Solid, clean power

* * * Sound is NOT an issue as this thing lives in my basement * * *


EDIT: I have an Antec True Power 430W supply in there -- not a 480 as originally written.

Antec`s are known for going bad 1 day exactly after the warranty is finished!!---lolol j/k

 

[StayPuff]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Antec`s are known for going bad 1 day exactly after the warranty is finished!!---lolol j/k

Indeed. I bought the PSU from amazon for cheap after rebate and three and half years later, here we are.