Help Choose Power Supply

[twodaend]

I'm planning on building a storage/backup server out of some new/old parts I have. Currently I have 2 desktop and 2 laptops. The first desktop is my HTPC which used Beyond TV and has 2 500 GB drives. My second PC is the family PC, but it does everything. It has has 5 500 GB drives (storage & backups for all machines) and 1 200 GB drive partitioned for OS, Pictures, and downloaded programs. As for the 5 500 GB drives, 3 are used for backup, JBOD and the other 2 for music, DVD's and video from camcorder. What I'm looking to do is take all of the backup and most of the storage part and move it to a different machine on the network.

So far this is what I'm looking at:
Case - Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208019)
MB - Abit KR7A (have)
CPU - AMD 1800+ (have)
RAM - 4x256MB PC2100 (have)
Video - AGP ATI something (have)
HD - WD 500 GB IDE (have may get 1 or 2 new)
HD Controller - Promise 100 TX2 (have currently in family PC)
HD Controller - Promise 133 TX2 (have)
OS - Ubuntu with mdadm for RAID 5 (http://bfish.xaedalus.net/?p=188)
NIC - cheap 10/100/1000 (need to find one)
PS - ??????

Since I already have the IDE controllers I'll just use the 500 GB IDE drives I have. I have to research if I can use both at the same time, mostly likely I won't though. I know I won't get hot swap, but I already have these controllers and the MB does not have SATA. With all of these HD's I'm not sure what PS I should get. I currently have a 400 watt in the family PC in which I've been thinking of going larger, but never have. It came with my case, the X-Dreamer II.

Thanks for the help

[Trap05]

How about this one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703014

[twodaend]

If that can handle all those HD's that would do fine. I was thinking more like 500w, but if 410w would do, than that would be perfect.

[cabose1227]

you can run a quad and a gtx off a 380watt psu, your fine with that or a lower watt one.

[Trap05]

There's a big difference between a PC P&C 410w and a 400w that comes with a $50 case. I wouldn't go any less than the 410w though. If you think you might upgrade this system at some point you could go 500w+ for a little more headroom.

[ScottinIndy]

I would take a look at the Enhance or Sparkle 350/400 watt models on Ewiz.

[cabose1227]

antec earthwatts 380watt or 450watt would work nicly.

[JamesXP]

No caboose, Athlon XP is 5v he would want an older ATX standard PSU with the majority of the amperes on the 5v rail, but he would also need some 12v power for the drives, I know some older FSP PSUs could grap amps from each rail but i'm not too sure which.

[cabose1227]

athlon xp is 5v!!!!!!!!!!! thats scary!

[ScottinIndy]

No caboose, Athlon XP is 5v he would want an older ATX standard PSU with the majority of the amperes on the 5v rail, but he would also need some 12v power for the drives, I know some older FSP PSUs could grap amps from each rail but i'm not too sure which.

Something like this should do fine

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103012

[Pomegranate]

You guys are recommending stuff that is too wimpy on the 5V rail. Back in the day you tried to stay over 40A on the 5V when running an Athlon. As far as I know the only PSU's that are still being made like that are ePower/Tagan units. Here's an ePower with 45A of 5V, which should be enough. There are a few other ePowers on Newegg that have even more 5V, but 45A should be enough for an Athlon XP 1800+.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817101502

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/17-101-034-09.jpg

[ScottinIndy]

Hmmm, I guess I don't remember an XP1800 needing anything remotely close to 45@ on the 5v rail. It's been awhile I could be wrong.

[Trap05]

Hmmm, I guess I don't remember an XP1800 needing anything remotely close to 45@ on the 5v rail. It's been awhile I could be wrong.

You're not wrong...I just looked at an AMD datasheet for system builders and it happened to have a 1800+ as the CPU. It drew 8A on the 5v. So honestly any of the power supplies linked to so far will work.

[jiggamanjb]

Here's 2, I picked them both with efficiency over 80% since you will have the PC on all the time.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151040

[funnyperson1]

You don't need 40A on the 5V rail to power an AXP, you do want at least 20A though. The problem with most newer PSUs isn't that they can't supply enough +5V juice, its that they can't supply enough clean 5V power without a strong load on the +12V that an AXP system can't provide.

I would go with the PP&C 410 as that seems to be a 5V oriented unit, yet it still has plenty of juice on the 12V for 5 hard drives.

[jiggamanjb]

I changed my mind again.
http://www.case-mod.com/vantec-van460n-ion2-460-watt-power-supply-p-1581.html

Designed for the XP systems and has enough for the HDs

[twodaend]

Wow!!! I know the PS was important, I just never understood how important and what all of the ratings meant, but now I'm learning. Thanks for all the help and discussion. I have a lot more reading to do, but I'll definitely be picking one of the PS that has been recommended.

[Pomegranate]

You're not wrong...I just looked at an AMD datasheet for system builders and it happened to have a 1800+ as the CPU. It drew 8A on the 5v. So honestly any of the power supplies linked to so far will work.


True. The idea back in the day was you needed extra juice for graphics card and CPU upgrades, and overclocking the CPU and GPU. I had KT266A boards myself and they demanded a lot of 5V when gaming and overclocking, but if somebody is just running an 1800+ at stock speed with no gaming and not concerned about upgrading anything then he won't need a lot of juice.