Power supplies :

LeperousDust · 06-10-2007, 14:14

When power supplies go pop.

I'm on the look out for a cheapie power supply to fix me up. I've got a little server PC happening, and i've put it together first thing that happened was the power supply in the case (antec) blew, scared the life out of me

. I'm worried it was maybe how i wired the computer up or the cable (but what can go wrong with a standard 240 cable thats on the same strip as my laptop etc..).

Anyway it needs to run 5 molex hard drives a molex DVD drive 3 molex fans and power for case power light. So i need about 10 molex connections which doesn't sound easy. I hadn't actually connected them all up, just the main hard drive DVD drive and all the fans, i wasn't sure what i was going to do to power the other things after i got it all up and running, I was thinking maybe just y-splitters (but i maybe against that now

).

Most modern PSU's come with loads of SATA and useless connections this PC doesn't need, where should i be looking and at what?

Flibster · 06-10-2007, 17:06

How soon do you want it?

PC World used to do some half decent PSU's that were modular - and if you use the reserve online feature you pay less in store.

Built a fre using the Storm 700w psu iirc...

Oh, dump the light to save the plug.

You can use splitters as well on the molexesseses... esessses. Untidier, but fans don't use that much power so you should be able to plug them all into one.

Mark · 06-10-2007, 17:15

Unless of course he has a Delta monster (i.e. the 120mm one), which draws about 3A.

I had an Antec PSU go bang, and like yours, it really did go bang.

Anyway, you can use splitters, or even chop off a string or two of molex connectors from the old PSU and then go pick up a few female molex connectors from Maplin.

Flibster · 06-10-2007, 17:30

I currently have several of them off a splitter.

The machines in the cupboard so noise doesn't matter.

True, the 12v line dues handle 28amps on this PSU iirc so it's nice and easy for it.

LeperousDust · 06-10-2007, 17:33

Yeah i was planning on putting all the fans powered off one molex tbh because they shouldn't draw much really... I can ditch the light but that can go in the same "loop". That just leaves me with 5 hard drives and a DVD rom

I'll check on PC world now, it would be nice to have soon... rather than wait for the post (bloody postal strike).

LeperousDust · 06-10-2007, 17:37

Not particulary a great deal by any means, but this'll do right? I mean i hasn't really got much work to do, few hard drives fans a passive PCI (yeah not e) graphics card and an old P4c (which probably uses more than everything else put together in the PC)... Could i get away with 350w or am i pushing it? I know everyone overspecs power supplies for no reason i just want cheapest and vague reliability.

//Edit: Actually thinking about it, a quieter PSU would be nice, im probably better being patient and waiting for delivery of a similar priced quieter PSU, or theres one on the members for sale area for £40 "Hiper Type R" seems ok?

Stan_Lite · 06-10-2007, 17:40

You should be able to get SATA-Molex adapters then you can use the unneeded SATA connectors for your Molex stuff.

Flibster · 06-10-2007, 17:54

Hiper Type R = guaranteed failure!

They are the Crucial Ballistix DDR of PSU's.

LeperousDust · 06-10-2007, 21:18

Ok cool i didn't go for it anyway, just looked to have big fans and be cheap second hand. Are they really that bad? Could i knock him down, but would i really expect it to last a year? He's had it in his system powering everything for a while?

Mark · 06-10-2007, 21:29

Not sure about Hiper myself, but Q-tec are definitely in that league.

When an Antec, Enermax, or other quality PSU blows up, it usually tries to sacrifice itself (and sometimes the fuse in the power plug) and the rest of your hardware might survive. When a cheap PSU blows up, it might try to send unexpected voltages through any conveniently connected hardware nearby - and I'm sure I don't need to explain what happens next after that.

While there are of course absolutely no guarantees when hardware gives up, this is one reason I don't buy cheap PSUs.

I did once short an Antec. Sparks flew, but no harm came to anything except my nerves.

06-10-2007, 14:14	#1
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Power supplies : When power supplies go pop. I'm on the look out for a cheapie power supply to fix me up. I've got a little server PC happening, and i've put it together first thing that happened was the power supply in the case (antec) blew, scared the life out of me . I'm worried it was maybe how i wired the computer up or the cable (but what can go wrong with a standard 240 cable thats on the same strip as my laptop etc..). Anyway it needs to run 5 molex hard drives a molex DVD drive 3 molex fans and power for case power light. So i need about 10 molex connections which doesn't sound easy. I hadn't actually connected them all up, just the main hard drive DVD drive and all the fans, i wasn't sure what i was going to do to power the other things after i got it all up and running, I was thinking maybe just y-splitters (but i maybe against that now ). Most modern PSU's come with loads of SATA and useless connections this PC doesn't need, where should i be looking and at what? __________________

06-10-2007, 17:06	#2
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	How soon do you want it? PC World used to do some half decent PSU's that were modular - and if you use the reserve online feature you pay less in store. Built a fre using the Storm 700w psu iirc... Oh, dump the light to save the plug. You can use splitters as well on the molexesseses... esessses. Untidier, but fans don't use that much power so you should be able to plug them all into one. __________________

06-10-2007, 17:15	#3
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Unless of course he has a Delta monster (i.e. the 120mm one), which draws about 3A. I had an Antec PSU go bang, and like yours, it really did go bang. Anyway, you can use splitters, or even chop off a string or two of molex connectors from the old PSU and then go pick up a few female molex connectors from Maplin. Last edited by Mark; 06-10-2007 at 17:18.

06-10-2007, 17:30	#4
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	I currently have several of them off a splitter. The machines in the cupboard so noise doesn't matter. True, the 12v line dues handle 28amps on this PSU iirc so it's nice and easy for it. __________________

06-10-2007, 17:33	#5
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Yeah i was planning on putting all the fans powered off one molex tbh because they shouldn't draw much really... I can ditch the light but that can go in the same "loop". That just leaves me with 5 hard drives and a DVD rom I'll check on PC world now, it would be nice to have soon... rather than wait for the post (bloody postal strike). __________________

06-10-2007, 17:37	#6
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Not particulary a great deal by any means, but this'll do right? I mean i hasn't really got much work to do, few hard drives fans a passive PCI (yeah not e) graphics card and an old P4c (which probably uses more than everything else put together in the PC)... Could i get away with 350w or am i pushing it? I know everyone overspecs power supplies for no reason i just want cheapest and vague reliability. //Edit: Actually thinking about it, a quieter PSU would be nice, im probably better being patient and waiting for delivery of a similar priced quieter PSU, or theres one on the members for sale area for £40 "Hiper Type R" seems ok? __________________ Last edited by LeperousDust; 06-10-2007 at 17:39.

06-10-2007, 17:40	#7
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	You should be able to get SATA-Molex adapters then you can use the unneeded SATA connectors for your Molex stuff. __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

06-10-2007, 17:54	#8
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	Hiper Type R = guaranteed failure! They are the Crucial Ballistix DDR of PSU's. __________________

06-10-2007, 21:18	#9
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Ok cool i didn't go for it anyway, just looked to have big fans and be cheap second hand. Are they really that bad? Could i knock him down, but would i really expect it to last a year? He's had it in his system powering everything for a while? __________________

06-10-2007, 21:29	#10
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Not sure about Hiper myself, but Q-tec are definitely in that league. When an Antec, Enermax, or other quality PSU blows up, it usually tries to sacrifice itself (and sometimes the fuse in the power plug) and the rest of your hardware might survive. When a cheap PSU blows up, it might try to send unexpected voltages through any conveniently connected hardware nearby - and I'm sure I don't need to explain what happens next after that. While there are of course absolutely no guarantees when hardware gives up, this is one reason I don't buy cheap PSUs. I did once short an Antec. Sparks flew, but no harm came to anything except my nerves. Last edited by Mark; 06-10-2007 at 21:31.