PSU for multiple hard drives?

[ivam]

Here is the system I'm planning to build:

abit P35 Pro
Q6600
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro
XFX 8600GT
4x2GB G.Skill memory
4x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1TB (or x5 Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 750GB)
2x Seagate Cheetah 15K.5 147GB
Adaptec RAID 3805
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Fatality
Samsung SH-S203N
Blu-Ray drive in the future
56K modem
a few USB devices


When I put all this into the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator, I end up with 700-725 w (100% TDP, 100% System Load, 20% Capacitor Aging) I was planning to get Silencer 750, but it seems like I'll be on the edge. Should I get a 1000w PSU just to be on the safe side and to have some more room for additional hardware? If yes, which PSU would you recommend? If 750w is enough, is Silencer a good choice?

 

[chookman]

750 Silencer will be plenty... considering your only going to have an 8600GT which doesnt draw much power... On of those things will do SLI 8800GTX's on OCed Q6600 soo your not going to have an issue.

If your budget allows it... im getting the Lian Li A70... enough room for 10 hard drives.. and comes with plenty of cooling (6x120mm)

 

[ivam]

Lian Li A70 looks good, but I guess it will be an overkill for me.

I can't say I'm convinced about the Silencer 750. I see that everbody here buys PSUs based on the eXtreme calculator. Since I'd like overestimate and leave some room for future upgrades, I feel like I need more than 750w. I've also read that most PSUs tend to be at max efficiency at 75% load.

 

[chookman]

Lian Li A70 looks good, but I guess it will be an overkill for me.

I can't say I'm convinced about the Silencer 750. I see that everbody here buys PSUs based on the eXtreme calculator. Since I'd like overestimate and leave some room for future upgrades, I feel like I need more than 750w. I've also read that most PSUs tend to be at max efficiency at 75% load.

Reason why i suggest that case is that this machine looks like its for a workshorse or fileserver, so it has plenty of room to upgrade. Those cheetah drives get mighty hot so the great air flow will help that... and with the current money your outlaying i didnt think the price would be an issue

Power Req

GPU: 30w http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354
CPU: Max TDP for Q6600 G0 is 95w
HDD Barracuda: Max operating 12w http://www.seagate.com/docs/pdf/datasheet/disc/ds_barracuda_7200_11.pdf x4 = 48w
HDD Cheetah: Worst case 17w http://www.seagate.com/docs/pdf/datasheet/disc/ds_cheetah_15k_5.pdf x2 = 34w
RAID: according to adaptec this thing runs at 1amp 3.3v = a whooping 3.3w... I have one of these and find that hard to believe but thats what it says http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/products/sata_tech/value/SAS-3805

Even if the mothboard draw 200w so far your still only up to 410w

 

[bobwya]

Here is the system I'm planning to build:

XFX 8600GT

Not a gamer then?? Maybe at least get an EVGA card so at least you can step up to a 8800GTS (G92)??

Bob

 

[ivam]

@chookman: I guess now I'm convinced

@BobWya: Yes, I'm not a gamer. What do you mean by stepping up to 8800GTS? Overclocking? Aren't these two completely different cards?

 

[bobwya]

@chookman: I guess now I'm convinced

@BobWya: Yes, I'm not a gamer. What do you mean by stepping up to 8800GTS? Overclocking? Aren't these two completely different cards?

EVGA have a programme were you can step up to a higher priced graphics card within 90 days of purchase for the difference in cost...

You don't need much GPU horsepower to playback HD content. I gather ATI cards have better quality playback acceleration. One of the ATi Radeon HD 3470/3650 PRO cards would be ideal... They are both dual-DVI. These cards have got the latest hardware HD content acceleration built-in. Maybe other folks would like to comment on this since I am still using a ATI X1950 Pro card!!

Bob

 

[Mousemonkey]

Here is the system I'm planning to build:

abit P35 Pro
Q6600
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro
XFX 8600GT
4x2GB G.Skill memory
4x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1TB (or x5 Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 750GB)
2x Seagate Cheetah 15K.5 147GB
Adaptec RAID 3805
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Fatality
Samsung SH-S203N
Blu-Ray drive in the future
56K modem
a few USB devices


When I put all this into the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator, I end up with 700-725 w (100% TDP, 100% System Load, 20% Capacitor Aging) I was planning to get Silencer 750, but it seems like I'll be on the edge. Should I get a 1000w PSU just to be on the safe side and to have some more room for additional hardware? If yes, which PSU would you recommend? If 750w is enough, is Silencer a good choice?

And also which case should I get? I won't OC and I don't mind it not having a side window.

I am running :- Q6600 G0
AF7 Pro
Abit IP 35
2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2-800
8400GS
9xHDD = 2.8TB
Digital TV card
DVD\RW
4xCase fans, on a Corsair HX620W PSU and it doesn't even get warm.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Chassis/fulltower/armorPlusESA/vh6001bws.asp
http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Power/ToughPower/toughpower_index.asp

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=81900

 

[ivam]

I am running :- Q6600 G0
AF7 Pro
Abit IP 35
2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2-800
8400GS
9xHDD = 2.8TB
Digital TV card
DVD\RW
4xCase fans, on a Corsair HX620W PSU and it doesn't even get warm.

Do you have a RAID controller card? And any other case recommendations?

What do you guys think of the Antec P182s? I've read somewhere that it has a lower chamber which makes it very difficult to install hard drives.

 

[bobwya]

...

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=81900

Please don't suggest the P190 to anyone!! Its a total joke with 2 PSU's daisy chained together... Its just plain stupid!!

I prefer the build-quality on highend Silverstone Silverstone Technology TJ09 or the Lian-Li Vxxxx series for the compartmentalization of the harddisks zone away from GPU/CPU zone. Since your 15K drives will create quite a bit of heat at capacity point (nice to see not everyone limits themselves to Raptors). That Thermaltake case looks quite nice though (lots of cooling)!!

Might be cheaper to go SCSI since a bog-standard PCIe Adaptec SCSI 29320LPE SGL U320 SCSI card from Adaptec (with just raid-0/1) is under 1/2 price of that compared to an Adaptec RAID 3805 (even factoring in the cost of 2-way aero LVD cable off Ebay!!). Just a thought!!


Bob

 

[chookman]

Do you have a RAID controller card? And any other case recommendations?

What do you guys think of the Antec P182s? I've read somewhere that it has a lower chamber which makes it very difficult to install hard drives.

I wouldnt touch the P182 for what you are doing the hard drive installation and cable routing would be a nightmare... i own a P180 with 1 hard drive and X-fi with front IO and ive had a heaps of issues with cable routing. The P190 is also a joke as BobWya suggests 2 PSU's daisy chained and one is for motherboard, GPU's while the other purely does hdd's its a bad design.

The 29320LPE Adaptec suggestion is only 1 channel so how do you expect to run 6 drives off it? Its half the price for good reason... infact in that case its actually rather expensive considering the features.

 

[bobwya]

...

The 29320LPE Adaptec suggestion is only 1 channel so how do you expect to run 6 drives off it? Its half the price for good reason... infact in that case its actually rather expensive considering the features.

Sorry just musing aloud!! I was thinking run the SATA drives off MB headers (that is what they are there for!!) With the older parallel SCSI you can hang up to 15 devices off one channel. I have a single channel 256Mb raid controller for my 4x Maxtor Atlas II U320 SCSI 15K drives. I don't know however how much real-world difference there is between SAS and U320 SCSI?

You will always pay a premium to get SCSI or SAS host controllers (either a more expensive motherboard or more expensive host-controller). The originally suggested PCIe SAS controller is a lot cheaper than they used to be... So perhaps I'll shut up now!! Better to go with new tech right!!

Bob

 

[Mousemonkey]

Do you have a RAID controller card? And any other case recommendations?

What do you guys think of the Antec P182s? I've read somewhere that it has a lower chamber which makes it very difficult to install hard drives.

I use a 2 port SATA expansion card which also has an IDE port, as far as cases go I just use the cheapest thing I can find (£24) and have never had a problem with temps.

 

[ivam]

I am running :- Q6600 G0
AF7 Pro
Abit IP 35
2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2-800
8400GS
9xHDD = 2.8TB
Digital TV card
DVD\RW
4xCase fans, on a Corsair HX620W PSU and it doesn't even get warm.

So that means Corsair HX620W will be more than enough for me as well.

Which one would you guys choose? Corsair HX620W or Silencer 750? Which one is quieter?

I think the biggest advantage of Corsair is its being modular...

 

[Mondoman]

Definitely the Silencer. PCPC supplies are top-notch quality. I've got a 350w still running fine after 10 years.
Also, since you're not overclocking, stick with the stock Intel CPU cooler. The Freezer 7 Pro, like most aftermarket coolers, does not perform the secondary cooling function of the Intel design (blowing air down and outward over nearby MB components such as the north bridge and PWM area to cool them). Abit MBs especially seem to have PWM regions that run hot, and so may even need extra cooling above and beyond the stock Intel CPU cooler (or similar "downdraft-style" coolers).

 

[Mondoman]

ivam has started a second thread on the same topic, so let's put any future replies there and abandon this thread.

 

[ivam]

ivam has started a second thread on the same topic, so let's put any future replies there and abandon this thread.

Please don't I still need some PSU recommendation. The other case is only about cases and I changed this one's title as well.

I compared Silencer 750 and Corsair 620HX. Corsair has more cables than Silencer except PCIe cables. But I guess, I should not choose a PSU based on how many cables it comes with

 

[bobwya]

Hi,

The PP&C Silencer is Tier 1 and the Corsair is Tier 2. PP&C have a very high quality rating. I use a PP&C 850W PSU in my dual Opteron server. Its nice and rock stable.

However I do like the modular cables on the Hiper series and the models from 680W up are all Tier 2.

Basically you can't go too wrong if you buy from Tier 1 or 2.

Bob