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Is 250 Watt PSU enough for four Hard Drives?

Forum Storage : Hard Disks - Is 250 Watt PSU enough for four Hard Drives?

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archeopetrix   06-22-2009 at 09:45:23 PM

Hi everyone..

I recently got a new Seagate SV35.3 500GB HDD. But soon it started giving errors and started going into PIO mode repeatedly. Also some times, while copying files, it made ticking noises before going to PIO mode.

But when i removed one of the other three drives, all problems vanished.

I have 4 HDDs connected to my system having 250 Watts PSU.

System Config:
C2D E6850 @3.0GHz
2x1GB DDR2
Onboard G33 graphics (NO PCI-EX GFX CARD INSTALLED)
250W iBall PSU
Sony 18X DVD Burner
The 4 HDDs are:
-------------------
320GB Seagate SV35.2 (SATA)
500GB Seagate SV35.3 (SATA) -
500GB Seagate 7200.12 (SATA)
40GB Seagate (IDE) 5400rpm


Is it the PSU that is to be blamed? What is suggested PSU power rating for 4 HDDs?



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wuzy   06-23-2009 at 12:37:10 AM
- 0 +

Remove one of your other HDD and see if your new Seagate SV35.3 500GB does the same thing as well.
Did you remove the jumper on all Seagate drives? The one that comes by default which limits drive to 1.5Gb/s.


Message edited by wuzy on 06-23-2009 at 12:38:45 AM
------------------------------ GTL Ref Tweaking Guide - PM for detail
Brand is for the weak-minded, only product matters.
Resilient to marketing.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2520/3850950213_aea6bbbcfe_o.jpg
 Reply to wuzy
apache_lives   06-23-2009 at 01:01:21 AM
- 0 +

depends on the quality/condition of the PSU - if it was a decent branded PSU it would do it although the E6850 would draw majority.

------------------------------ Q6600@3510/1560 + TT BigTyphoon+Mod
8gb Kingston 800mhz
Gigabyte EP35-DS3P
XFX 8800GT/512
 Reply to apache_lives
archeopetrix   06-23-2009 at 06:55:33 AM
- 0 +

sorry guys for messing up the above post but, the ticking noise is coming from SV35.2 320GB (and NOT from new SV35.3 500GB) and it has been coming from months.

While it is the new SV35.3 500GB thats giving errors and reverting to PIO mode when all four HDDs are connected. It porforms decently when any one of the 4 drives is disconnected.

@wuzy : no, as i said, if i remove any one of the drives, the SV35.3 500GB runs smoothly. And yes, i have jumper removed to set 3Gbps.

@apache_lives: well my PSU is from iBall and they seem to have good customer support here in my country. I know this as i once got hassle free replacement for my iBall Flash Drive.


Message edited by archeopetrix on 06-23-2009 at 06:57:07 AM
Reply to archeopetrix
wuzy   06-23-2009 at 07:05:30 AM
- 0 +

My apologies, must've missed that.
What's the amp rating on that 250W PSU for 5V and 12V rail?

Quote :

the ticking noise is coming from SV35.2 320GB (and NOT from new SV35.3 500GB) and it has been coming from months.


Back up ALL data on the 320GB drive right now! A ticking noised HDD is not a good sign.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ GTL Ref Tweaking Guide - PM for detail
Brand is for the weak-minded, only product matters.
Resilient to marketing.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2520/3850950213_aea6bbbcfe_o.jpg
 Reply to wuzy
aford10   06-23-2009 at 07:17:11 AM
- 0 +

The HD's don't consume that much power. The graphics is what draws most of the power. However, as PSU's age, they diminish in power output. Here are some charts showing the different boards and power consumption. The more you add to the basic setup, and the more the PSU wears down, the more strain it puts on the PSU. You are real close to tapping out the PSU. It is likely the problem.
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdo [...] =3111&p=21

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ CM HAF 932 - 300GB Velociraptor
GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-DS3R
E8500 - Sapphire 1Gb 4850
4G DDR3 OCZ Reaper 1333
 Reply to aford10
archeopetrix   06-23-2009 at 07:25:14 AM
- 0 +

wuzy wrote :

My apologies, must've missed that.
What's the amp rating on that 250W PSU for 5V and 12V rail?

Quote :

the ticking noise is coming from SV35.2 320GB (and NOT from new SV35.3 500GB) and it has been coming from months.


Back up ALL data on the 320GB drive right now! A ticking noised HDD is not a good sign.



thanks for your quick reply. 5V-->32A and 12V-->17A

But SV35.2 320GB has been making the noises from months and is still working and passing tests from Seatools. btw the ticking is not really loud. I can here it only when there is complete silence in my room. Are you sure it is dying?

aford10 wrote :

The HD's don't consume that much power. The graphics is what draws most of the power. However, as PSU's age, they diminish in power output. Here are some charts showing the different boards and power consumption. The more you add to the basic setup, and the more the PSU wears down, the more strain it puts on the PSU. You are real close to tapping out the PSU. It is likely the problem.
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdo [...] =3111&p=21


Thanks for info. But my PSU is only almost an year old.

Reply to archeopetrix
aford10   06-23-2009 at 07:28:19 AM
- 0 +

It will still lose some performance, specially if it's a low quality PSU. What kind is it?

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ CM HAF 932 - 300GB Velociraptor
GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-DS3R
E8500 - Sapphire 1Gb 4850
4G DDR3 OCZ Reaper 1333
 Reply to aford10
archeopetrix   06-23-2009 at 07:42:02 AM
- 0 +

aford10 wrote :

It will still lose some performance, specially if it's a low quality PSU. What kind is it?



well my PSU came along withe the cabinet. Here is the link of the manufacturer : http://iball.co.in/Product.aspx?c=22

Reply to archeopetrix
wuzy   06-23-2009 at 07:51:13 AM
- 0 +

Quote :

5V-->32A and 12V-->17A


That's the spec. of a generic old gen. PSU and they don't usually perform up to rated wattage. Very bad ripple and voltage drop when under load...etc.

Antec Earthwatts 380W (80+) can be had for just $45.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371005

------------------------------ GTL Ref Tweaking Guide - PM for detail
Brand is for the weak-minded, only product matters.
Resilient to marketing.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2520/3850950213_aea6bbbcfe_o.jpg
 Reply to wuzy
archeopetrix   06-24-2009 at 07:46:32 AM
- 0 +

well, i think i figured out something new that could be the cause of problems. All my hard drives were connected to the PSU through only one of its power outlets (out of the total 4 that it has). This means, i connected one hard drive though one of the outlet and took out a parallel (may be serial, i dunno) connection to the second and from second another parallel/serial conn to 3rd and so on till 4th. The other 3 power outlets were free.

And the SV35.3 500GB was the very last (4th) HDD to be conneted to the PSU in this fashion.

Could this have been the reason for read-write errors and consequent PIO mode on my SV35.3 500GB?

I just sorted out the power connections and hope to see error free functioning now on. Will let you know of any news.

Reply to archeopetrix
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