Hi,

 

I'm new here on the forum. (please be nice  ) (first/current system build, august last year).

Hope you can give me some advice, on putting a PicoPSU in my system.

My Corsair CX430M's fan rattle noise, has become so annoying, so I have to replace it. (It's placed in my bedroom).

So I would like to replace it, with a silent and more power efficient one. Therefore, PicoPSU.

I've listed my setup below. And I've put a kill-a-watt on it, so you hopefully can guide me 

Setup will be max. 6 disks (all "Green" drives" ) 5 now, soon 6.

And no plugin's.  (only installed Screen+sstmp for status mails).

It's only used for XBMC storage and backup from misc devices one's a day.

 

Would a 120w PicoPSU + 120w brick suit my needs? (could a thing like this, peak for 1-2 seconds at, say 130w if necessary?).

What about 12V rail? I don't now much about it, so I picked a PSU, that was recommended when i built it.

What would You recommend when going Pico?

 

Kill-a-watt:

At boot: Peaks at 115w for 1-2 seconds, quickly drops to 88w for 4-6 sec, then..

When booted, and all disk spun up: 65w (stable).

 

My stetup is:

Motherboard: ASRock 880GM-LE FX

CPU: AMD Sempron 145 - 2.8 GHz (TDP 45w)

CPU cooler: Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Rev. B SCBSK-2100

PSU: Corsair CX430M

Ram: 4GB

USB/Unraid: SanDisk Cruzer Fit - 8GB USB 2.0

Case: Fractal Design Define R4 Black Pearl

3 x WD Green WD30EZRX 3 TB (soon 4)

2 x Samsung Spinpoint 2 TB (Green)

 

Thanks,

Muggi 

Personally I would go back with another Corsair CX430M PSU. The main thing to look at is if your case can hold a picopsu.

 

To answer that question yes it would HOWEVER then you will have a BIG hole at the bottom of your case.

 

If you really want to stick with an ATX psu and don't want any fans to deal with I would recommend the SeaSonic Platinum Series SS-400FL2 Active PFC F3

 

The main thing you want to look at is if down the road you want to add MORE hard drives. It's always better to have a little more power then needed.

 

If money is no object go with the Corsair AX760. <- I have been rocking 2 of those PSU since they came out and still loving them. I got a AX1200i in my main computer and I cannot hear anything from any of them. Nice and quiet.

This is a decent supply. I use it in my HTPC. Keep in mind that you will reach a disk limit fairly early with such a supply.

 

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/130W-mini-ITX-ATX-Power-DC-DC-converter-Pico-PSU-Y2-/181492197338?pt=PCA_UPS&hash=item2a41c727da

 

 

8@demonmaestro

I haven't thought of the big hole, when removing the PSU. Are there a plate to buy for the purpose?

I know that Seasonic is great, but also has bad models/series, like the Corsair (CX).

(my 7 year old, Seasonic PSU, In my stationary pc, bought at high price from a silentpcreview review, was noisy from the start).

 

I appreciate your thought, on expanding, with more drives.

But I won't. If I do, It would be in another system. (if I win a lottery or something  )

 

The plan is: Add another 3tb drive, wait for 6tb prices to drop, then replace.

(my MRTG/RRD says I'm using about 1,8-23tb a year, in the last five years. It will rise, but if I can postpone upgrade of disks...  )

 

But now the PSU thing is annoying me, so I'll wait til next month with the extra disk 

@lionelhutz

I bought an Antec Kabinet ISK 300-65 Mini-ITX, 2 years ago. Also with a "Pico PSU" inclued, for my XBMC box.

4 months after I bought it, they pulled the product (silently). Too many problems, fires etc.

Looks like the one you linked 

 

Really wan't the PicoPSU.

Just wan't to know wich size, and experiences, when combined with an unRAID system.

8@demonmaestro

I haven't thought of the big hole, when removing the PSU. Are there a plate to buy for the purpose?

I know that Seasonic is great, but also has bad models/series, like the Corsair (CX).

(my 7 year old, Seasonic PSU, In my stationary pc, bought at high price from a silentpcreview review, was noisy from the start).

 

I appreciate your thought, on expanding, with more drives.

But I won't. If I do, It would be in another system. (if I win a lottery or something  )

 

The plan is: Add another 3tb drive, wait for 6tb prices to drop, then replace.

(my MRTG/RRD says I'm using about 1,8-23tb a year, in the last five years. It will rise, but if I can postpone upgrade of disks...  )

 

But now the PSU thing is annoying me, so I'll wait til next month with the extra disk 

 

I would think there is some kind of "plate." I am sorry to hear your issues with the Corsair PSUs. I've never had issues with any of the Corsair series PSUs.

 

Now a good place to do research on the PicoPSUs is www.mp3car.com

You can find plates. Google ATX to PicoPSU adapter plate.

 

http://ecosmartpc.com/accessories.html

 

If you really want the Mini Box PicoPSU then for the little extra it costs I'd get this kit.

 

http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-150-XT-150W-Adapter-Power-Kit

 

Just note that 12V power bricks are harder to find and that you are supplying the 12V for devices directly from the power brick. If the brick can't maintain a high quality 12V output then you can have instability issues. I'd buy the complete kit and hope that Mini-Box has tested them to know they work well.

 

 

@lionelhutz

I bought an Antec Kabinet ISK 300-65 Mini-ITX, 2 years ago. Also with a "Pico PSU" inclued, for my XBMC box.

4 months after I bought it, they pulled the product (silently). Too many problems, fires etc.

Looks like the one you linked 

 

A quick look at Google Images shows that it wasn't the I linked. It had a 65W brick and power supply. Most likely people were overloading it and it wasn't self protecting properly.

 

 

@lionelhutz

 

Sorry for the delay, You've got me thinking about all of this stuff.

Really wan't the mini-box PicoPSU, and I've checked prices. But I'm from Europe, and there isn't any retailers in Denmark.

Prices are about double from mini-box.com to mini-box.eu. Then comes about $35 for postage. 

So I've put it on hold, for the moment.

(still wan't to cut down on the power usage, and be more green though).

 

My apologies, for comparing your "pico psu", to my Antec "pico psu".

After my bad experiences, with the Antec "pico psu", they just looked a like.

 

I'll be thinking of your "pico psu" for my XBMC box.

(My XBMC box, is idle at 28w, and, 35-38w at load. The Antec pico is just defunct).

No where near 60-65 or 90w as the power brick.