Newbie question: Sunfire V210 with picopsu 160w?

dds · **Joined:** Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:04 am **Posts:** 5

Could I power Sunfire v210 server which has a 320w power supply with a picoPSU 160 W?
I've tested v210 with power meter while powered, and it showed around 160w use.

http://www.sun.com/servers/entry/v210/datasheet.pdf

NeilBlanchard · **Posted:** Mon May 09, 2011 4:18 am

Welcome to SPCR!

If you were measuring the AC at the plug, then the actual DC use in the unit is lower, because of the losses in the PSU. So, in all likelihood, the computer is using ~20% less, or 128watts, so the 160w Pico should be okay.

You were measuring peak power?

dds · **Joined:** Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:04 am **Posts:** 5

NeilBlanchard wrote:

Welcome to SPCR!
You were measuring peak power?

No - only on start, because I didn't had configuration cable for v210 which is necessary for running the system.

dds · **Joined:** Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:04 am **Posts:** 5

Hello again,

One of the connectors on Sunserver's power supply are different from PicoPsu...

I have picture, I don't know what to do, any idea? The smaller one on picture has 10 contacts, while picoPsu has only four. I'm not familiar with the names of connectors, sorry

Thanks.

Attachment:

connectors3.JPG

washu · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:54 am

The 10 pin connector has multiple voltages so it's not possible to (at least in any easy way) to adapt it from the 4 pin 12v connector. It's quite possible that the main connector is not even ATX compatible.

You also need to measure peak power draw, not just at boot up. It's very likely that it will use more power than you measured when running at full load.

Why would you want to use that old SUN if you are concerned about power efficiency (which I assume you are given your desire to use a PicoPSU)? It's not going to be efficient at all even with the PicoPSU.

dds · **Joined:** Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:04 am **Posts:** 5

washu wrote:

Why would you want to use that old SUN if you are concerned about power efficiency (which I assume you are given your desire to use a PicoPSU)? It's not going to be efficient at all even with the PicoPSU.

Uhm, I want to have some experience with that type of server, and desire to use PicoPsu is that
v210 is very loud, and I don't have possibility to put the server in another room..

washu · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 12:52 pm

dds wrote:

Uhm, I want to have some experience with that type of server, and desire to use PicoPsu is that
v210 is very loud, and I don't have possibility to put the server in another room..

Fair enough, but replacing the power supply even if possible, would not make much of an impact in noise. It's a 1U server, it has a whole bunch of very loud fans. You would have to mod/replace them all and still make sure you had enough cooling.

If you are just interested in Solaris you could install that on a more standard (and quiet!) machine.

dds · **Joined:** Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:04 am **Posts:** 5

washu wrote:

Fair enough, but replacing the power supply even if possible, would not make much of an impact in noise. It's a 1U server, it has a whole bunch of very loud fans. You would have to mod/replace them all and still make sure you had enough cooling.
.

Sure, you're right. My project was doomed from the start

Newbie question: Sunfire V210 with picopsu 160w?

Who is online