Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Unraid

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

20 Hard drive power connectors?

Featured Replies

 

Hello.

 

I am considering perhaps building a 20 hard drive server and I am in the very early research stages of this software. I am just wondering how exactly do you get power 20 connections for hard drive using a power supply? Are there special types of power supplies which provide 20 hard drive power cables or are there some kind of power splitter where maybe you split each power cable into 5 separate cables for the hard drive?

 

Also, do you guys factory in like 10 watts per hard drive? So a 20 hard drive system would at least need 200 watts for the hard drives alone before considering the motherboard, processor, video card, etc......

 

Thanks.

...this is the thread to read for you: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=12219.0

It will depend on the type of drive(s) (green or high-performance) how much each drive will consume.

For a no. of 20 all-green drives, a 500-550W 80+ gold PSU should be OK.

 

As far as connectors are concerned....go for a PSU with modular connectors and by the appropriate cables with it.

For a no. of 20 drives, you probably won't need additional splitters/adapters.

 

  • Author

Buying one of these cases will make it much easier as well:

 

20 Drive chassis

http://www.norcotek.com/item_detail.php?categoryid=1&modelno=RPC-4220

 

24 drive chassis

http://www.norcotek.com/item_detail.php?categoryid=1&modelno=RPC-4224

 

I just finished a build with a RPC-4224 and let me tell you, the case is sweet!

 

These are Rackmounted cases. Do you have a rack for a professional setup? If so, can you tell me what type of Rack you bought to house this unit?

 

This is for an office or home environment.  I am thinking of a video server for my home theater which I need infinite space for.

 

Thanks.

While you are correct it is a rack mount case, and someday I wish to have a rack. At this point it's just sitting on a shelf, I have also seen a lot of people lay them on a desk in their basement, etc. When it comes down to it, a case is a case. It's not pretty, but then its meant to be on the backend where people don't really see it. My living room is much nicer with an xbmc front end.

 

rNhxN.jpg?1

My norco just sits on its side on the floor of my media closet.  I have to clean it every few months, but its been running happily for a couple of year with very little fuss.  No air/fan mods or anything.

 

 

I used some IDE power splitters, also only half of the norco (on my model, old 4220 I think) have to be actually used.

 

Hello.

 

I am considering perhaps building a 20 hard drive server and I am in the very early research stages of this software. I am just wondering how exactly do you get power 20 connections for hard drive using a power supply? Are there special types of power supplies which provide 20 hard drive power cables or are there some kind of power splitter where maybe you split each power cable into 5 separate cables for the hard drive?

 

Also, do you guys factory in like 10 watts per hard drive? So a 20 hard drive system would at least need 200 watts for the hard drives alone before considering the motherboard, processor, video card, etc......

 

Thanks.

 

Rule of thumb is 24w for green, 36w for 7200rpm.

 

Those Norco cases use backplanes so I used only 1 splitter and that was for the fans. Better not to have all those splits in the hard drive power path. Less possible points of failure.

Rule of thumb is 24w for green, 36w for 7200rpm.

 

Surely that's not an estimate of per-drive usage? It would give you a number pretty close to what size PSU you would want though, so if that's what you mean for total-system-usage then I agree  ;D

These are Rackmounted cases. Do you have a rack for a professional setup? If so, can you tell me what type of Rack you bought to house this unit?

 

This is for an office or home environment.  I am thinking of a video server for my home theater which I need infinite space for.

 

Thanks.

 

I too have a Norco 4224 case, but I built my own rack.  Do some googling of the Lack Rack.  Ikea Lack furniture is exact width (19") to fit server equipment.  My particular setup is a Lack coffee table with a Lack end table screwed on top.  I dont have a picture handy now, but I have the case on top of the coffee table, mounted in between the legs of the end table and then on top I have room for a monitor and keyboard.  If it is hard to picture, just goodle Lack Rack like i suggested.  Easy server rack for 10-30 dollars.

Rule of thumb is 24w for green, 36w for 7200rpm.

 

Surely that's not an estimate of per-drive usage? It would give you a number pretty close to what size PSU you would want though, so if that's what you mean for total-system-usage then I agree  ;D

 

This post should clarify things.

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=12219.0

Buying one of these cases will make it much easier as well:

 

20 Drive chassis

http://www.norcotek.com/item_detail.php?categoryid=1&modelno=RPC-4220

 

24 drive chassis

http://www.norcotek.com/item_detail.php?categoryid=1&modelno=RPC-4224

 

I just finished a build with a RPC-4224 and let me tell you, the case is sweet!

 

These are Rackmounted cases. Do you have a rack for a professional setup? If so, can you tell me what type of Rack you bought to house this unit?

 

Yup, but rack-mounting a rackmount cases is not necessary, and really for the price, nothing beats those Norcos in terms of having all those hard drives trays just waiting to accept more storage space as your needs grow. 

 

There is no tower (or other) case option that allows you such ease of access to your drives for that kind of price.  And you'll come to enjoy that ease-of-access immensely as you upgrade to add more drives, or change drive sizes. 

 

Accept no substitutes  ;)

 

Hello.

 

I am considering perhaps building a 20 hard drive server and I am in the very early research stages of this software. I am just wondering how exactly do you get power 20 connections for hard drive using a power supply? Are there special types of power supplies which provide 20 hard drive power cables or are there some kind of power splitter where maybe you split each power cable into 5 separate cables for the hard drive?

 

Also, do you guys factory in like 10 watts per hard drive? So a 20 hard drive system would at least need 200 watts for the hard drives alone before considering the motherboard, processor, video card, etc......

 

Thanks.

 

 

I use regular drive cages. I can put 5 hard drives in one cage and only have to use 2 power connectors. I use these in my case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816215175

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.