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Rad Community Technical Discussion Boards (Computer Hardware + PC Software) >> Norton Ghost 2003,  Ghost v8.x + Ghost Solution Suite (GSS) Discussion Board >> Having power problems, is 450 W enough?
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Message started by 4600cc on Jan 8th, 2006 at 12:56pm

Title: Having power problems, is 450 W enough?
Post by 4600cc on Jan 8th, 2006 at 12:56pm
I noticed I am having power problems with my computer.  I recently added SCSI card and 2 drives, however I had it even before I added those, so this is somewhat complicated to pinpoint.

I am thinking I have problems with mulex cables, since that is what I had before.  The cable I'm talking about plugs into one of the power supply cables and makes more outputs.  Since discovering that I had bad cable, I made a new one, but neither the connectors nor wires were brand new, so I'm not sure if they are good.  They work, then they don't work.

I have a 450 W power supply, Codegen dual fans.  I run off of it:

1 Motherboard with 2.4 G Athlon XP and 1 geg PC2100 memory, on board audio and lan.
1 AGP video
1 SCSI
1 PCI to ATA133
1 soundblaster audio
1 IEEE 1394
1 tuner card

+

1 ATA133 hard drive
1 ATA100 hard drive
1 ZIP250
1 Floppy
1 DVD/RW
1 15k rpm SCSI drive
1 7200 rpm SCSI drive
4 case fans


My question is, is my 450 W power enough for my setup?


If it is, then I'd just buy brand new splitter cables.  If it ain't, then I also need a power supply.


***EDIT


Been able to pinpoint the problem to power supply, by disconnecting some of the stuff while this problem occured.  I'm currently bidding on ChiefMax 680 power supply.  Hopefully that would be enough, since I plan on adding 5 additional scsi disks to make one large dynamic disk.




AL

Title: Re: Having power problems, is 450 W enough?
Post by Ivanov1 on Jan 9th, 2006 at 12:01am
4600cc,

Have a look at the following links:

http://www.thermaltake.com/

This combo of PSU & chassis should solve your isssue:

http://www.thermaltake.com/2005/purepower/w0096-97/w0096-97.htm

This PSU with a reasonably good chasis, if required with extra fans/ Coolers/ Liquid Cooling System should do the job.

Regards!



Title: Re: Having power problems, is 450 W enough?
Post by Mephisto on Jan 9th, 2006 at 1:36am
450 should be plenty. Most people get by just fine with 300, with one hard drive and one cd.

Title: Re: Having power problems, is 450 W enough?
Post by Ivanov1 on Jan 9th, 2006 at 5:13am
4600cc,

This link should clarify all your doubts, about your machine’s PSU & if required what should be the capacity/ power of the PSU.

http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/Power_Supply_Calculator.php?cmd=AMD

Regards!

Title: Re: Having power problems, is 450 W enough?
Post by 4600cc on Jan 9th, 2006 at 8:03am
The sun beach told me I need minimum of 394 watts.  ;D  I'm pretty sure that 450 I got is not enough, or that power on either 5 or 12 volts is not enough.  Because yesterday during testing I'm pretty sure I overloaded the crap out of it.  It made sound like a camel and I could smell parts or grease burning.  Taking it in the shop today to test it.  If it passes the tests, I'm selling it.   8)


Here is what I'm buying.  http://www.chiefmax.com/psu/cm680-24pinexp.php

That thing looks pretty serious, and maybe it's made in U.S.A..  It's the cheapest 680 Watts I could find.

Title: Re: Having power problems, is 450 W enough?
Post by Rad on Jan 9th, 2006 at 10:41am
it could be the psu is dying, and not necessarily insufficient wattage.

note too that different manufacturers rate their psu's differently. some are conservative, while others exaggerate their ratings. some 400-watters can provide more power than other 450's.

it's always wise, i feel, to 'invest' in a good psu.

Title: Re: Having power problems, is 450 W enough?
Post by Ghost4me.John on Jan 9th, 2006 at 11:34am

4600cc wrote on Jan 8th, 2006 at 12:56pm:
I am thinking I have problems with mulex cables, since that is what I had before.  The cable I'm talking about plugs into one of the power supply cables and makes more outputs.  Since discovering that I had bad cable, I made a new one, but neither the connectors nor wires were brand new, so I'm not sure if they are good.  They work, then they don't work.
AL


Have you considered repacing all your home-built cables with new store-bought ones?  A bad or marginal cable may not be able to deliver the power needed regardless of the powersupply. Plus any "extension" cables or Y-cables makes the problem worse because you have another mid-point connection point issue where current can be lost.

Title: Re: Having power problems, is 450 W enough?
Post by 4600cc on Jan 9th, 2006 at 1:24pm
I'm with major IT and hardware service provider.  I let the guy test the power today, at max load the wires got hot, but power supply worked just fine.  There is just not enough power on +12V and +5V to power all my crap.  Otherwise this power I got worked and proved itself over several years.  I got codegen 450, selling it now.

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