HDD Power Issues in storage PC

[nevets_1917]

Forgive me if this is the wrong location.

 

I have a storage pc with a total of 7 drives (6 mechanical 1 ssd boot drive).  I have recently upgraded the psu and added 2 new drive (to bring it to its current total)  and am wondering whether it is causing PSU issues on spin up.

 

The PSU is a Thermaltake SST-ST50EF (500W 80+)

CPU: AMD 64 X2 4600+ 

No dedicated GPU

1 cheap 4 port RAID card

1 cheap 4 port SATA expansion card

 

DRIVES:

2x 2TB WD Green 

2x 2TB Seagate Barracuda

1x 3TB WD Green

1x 3TB Seagate Barracuda

1x 120GB Kingston SSD Now V300

 

The pc has run fine on a 400W PSU with the 2TB Drives (+320GB mechanical) but with the new PSU and all drives it doesn't boot and no fans spin up at all.

 

I have done some rough calculations based on the manufacturers data sheet (1.73A peak for WD Green) and (2A peak? for Seagates) still only works out to 11.19A (not counting SSD 1A) which is well under the 25A of the 5V supply and 18A from each of the two 12V supplies.

 

One concern is the new PSU uses an 8 pin (non splittable???) CPU power connector not a 4pin that the motherboard uses.  This is the only possible issue I can think of as I have improved the PSU as I have added more drives.

 

Sorry if this is in the wrong place and thanks for any suggestions.

[wardude1]

maybe try out the old psu?

[Captain_WD]

~snip~

 

Hey nevets_1917,

 

I would also suggest testing the old PSU and see if it has issues or one of the expansion cards is causing the trouble. What errors are you getting? Can you boot to BIOS or the OS at all? Any BSOD, beeping or something else that indicates the error? Have you tried running with less drives? 

I would also look for ways to test the PSU if it functions properly. Maybe take a look in the "Cases and Power Supplies" section here: http://linustechtips.com/main/forum/21-cases-and-power-supplies/ ?

 

Captain_WD.

[nevets_1917]

 

Hey nevets_1917,

 

I would also suggest testing the old PSU and see if it has issues or one of the expansion cards is causing the trouble. What errors are you getting? Can you boot to BIOS or the OS at all? Any BSOD, beeping or something else that indicates the error? Have you tried running with less drives? 

I would also look for ways to test the PSU if it functions properly. Maybe take a look in the "Cases and Power Supplies" section here: http://linustechtips.com/main/forum/21-cases-and-power-supplies/ ?

 

Captain_WD.

 

 

Thanks for the prompt response Captain WD.

 

I am actually suspicious of the PSU.  If the PC doesn't boot nothing happens when I hit the power switch.  There is no POST, No fans, no BSOD no nothing.  This has happened a couple of times with all drives.  I have tried with 4 drives (+ssd) and it seemed to boot fine.  The reason I upgraded the PSU was I wasn't sure whether 400W would be sufficient for 6 mechanical drives + SSD (using two expansion cards).

 

My next step will be to test the original 400W PSU I was using with all drives if it has sufficient power to spin up all drives.

 

I have tested both expansion cards moderately and am happy with them.  The original PSU CPU and RAM was from an old PC which I have repurposed and had no issues with.

[Captain_WD]

Thanks for the prompt response Captain WD.

 

I am actually suspicious of the PSU.  If the PC doesn't boot nothing happens when I hit the power switch.  There is no POST, No fans, no BSOD no nothing.  This has happened a couple of times with all drives.  I have tried with 4 drives (+ssd) and it seemed to boot fine.  The reason I upgraded the PSU was I wasn't sure whether 400W would be sufficient for 6 mechanical drives + SSD (using two expansion cards).

 

My next step will be to test the original 400W PSU I was using with all drives if it has sufficient power to spin up all drives.

 

I have tested both expansion cards moderately and am happy with them.  The original PSU CPU and RAM was from an old PC which I have repurposed and had no issues with.

 

I would call the support of the PSU manufacturer and ask if it can do whatever you are trying, how to test it and if it functions properly. Also you can ask for some advice on how to power all drives with these cables. do test the old one and post back.

 

Captain_WD.

[zanthros]

It is possible that the PSU is defective. If you have tested it with fewer devices hooked up to it and there is still no joy AND you are certain that you have all of the cables from the PSU hooked up properly, then, it is possible that it is defective.