Silent high efficiency ~100W PSU?
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee, Devonavar
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 8:58 am
Silent high efficiency ~100W PSU?
Hi,
I'm looking for a silent high efficiency PSU. It'll be powering an Intel Atom D510 / 2 GB RAM and 2 x 2 TB low power HDs. Most of the PSUs I can find are rated at 300-400W or above, which seem like waste in my case, since I expect my system to not consume more than 20-30 W!
So now I just wonder what recommendations you have?
Thanks!
I'm looking for a silent high efficiency PSU. It'll be powering an Intel Atom D510 / 2 GB RAM and 2 x 2 TB low power HDs. Most of the PSUs I can find are rated at 300-400W or above, which seem like waste in my case, since I expect my system to not consume more than 20-30 W!
So now I just wonder what recommendations you have?
Thanks!
Re: Silent high efficiency ~100W PSU?
Those 2TB drives are going to require a bunch more current during spin-up than while idling at 30W. Spin-up current draw from 2 common 2TB drives:fjodor2000 wrote:It'll be powering an Intel Atom D510 / 2 GB RAM and 2 x 2 TB low power HDs. ... [snip] ... I expect my system to not consume more than 20-30 W!
Western Digital WD20EADS / WD20EARS: 1.7A @ 12V = 20.4W
Hitachi 7K2000: 2.0A @ 12V = 24W
So you're looking at potentially 50W during spin-up of two drives. The D510MO requires very little. You could probably get by with the PicoPSU 120 + 80W brick.
The problem with the PicoPSU's is that you have no room to grow. Though, the D510MO's 2 sata ports limit you anyway.
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 8:58 am
I've actually measured the total power consumption of the system (using a Voltcraft Energy Logger 4000), and with only one 2TB drive it is ~30-35W when idle (and ~45W at max, including startup). However, this is with a standard low efficiency PSU, so with a high efficiency PSU the power consumption will likely be lower.
Anyway, I've thought about using a PicoPSU, but I have some concerns:
* The PicoPSU has no fan. Since there will be no other fan in the computer case either, won't there be a risk of over-heating? However, all parts are very low power in my case, and the case has "air vent holes" on three sides (see http://www.morex.com.tw/products/imgproduct/127-1.jpg), so maybe that will be enough?
* Is there a way to mount the PicoPSU + Power Brick in the same location as the standard ATX PSU? I.e. I want to remove the existing PSU and replace it with a PicoPSU + Power Brick. I guess what I'm looking for is some kind of "ATX PSU sized" mounting frame for the PicoPSU + Power Brick.
Anyway, I've thought about using a PicoPSU, but I have some concerns:
* The PicoPSU has no fan. Since there will be no other fan in the computer case either, won't there be a risk of over-heating? However, all parts are very low power in my case, and the case has "air vent holes" on three sides (see http://www.morex.com.tw/products/imgproduct/127-1.jpg), so maybe that will be enough?
* Is there a way to mount the PicoPSU + Power Brick in the same location as the standard ATX PSU? I.e. I want to remove the existing PSU and replace it with a PicoPSU + Power Brick. I guess what I'm looking for is some kind of "ATX PSU sized" mounting frame for the PicoPSU + Power Brick.
Don't make the mistake of getting an unrated smaller PSU, from my tests they're all junk.
No load is simply shorting the green to any black, nothing connected. Not a meaningful PC test, but of interest for its own sake.
I have a Dell RM112 (235W, 80+ Silver) all soldered up and ready to test, it should handily beat all the above. Theirs a thread here where a user modified a ATX PSU case with a Dell RM112 inside. How handy are you?
Code: Select all
PSU FF No Load Idle Comments
Seasonic 180W SFX 7W 44W SS-180SFD
Sparkle 200W SFX 9W 45W FSP200-50SNV
Antec EW 380W ATX 6W 34W EA-380 80+
TT 420W ATX 14W 45W Thermaltake HPC-420-102DF
Bestec 250W ATX 6W 39W ATX-250-12Z Compaq OEM
All the PSU's were connected to a i3-530 on a Gigabyte microATX MB w/4GB DDR3 and a notebook HDD.
I have a Dell RM112 (235W, 80+ Silver) all soldered up and ready to test, it should handily beat all the above. Theirs a thread here where a user modified a ATX PSU case with a Dell RM112 inside. How handy are you?
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 8:58 am
Thanks for your reply MtnHermit.
I'm not sure I follow you though. Do you consider all the PSUs you listed to be junk? If so, what would be an acceptable result.
Also I'm not sure what you are suggesting with what you wrote in the last paragraph? Are you suggesting that I should buy a Dell RM112 and modify it somehow? If so, would that be a better option than buying a PicoPSU + Power Brick?
I'm not sure I follow you though. Do you consider all the PSUs you listed to be junk? If so, what would be an acceptable result.
Also I'm not sure what you are suggesting with what you wrote in the last paragraph? Are you suggesting that I should buy a Dell RM112 and modify it somehow? If so, would that be a better option than buying a PicoPSU + Power Brick?
Efficiency will only get you so far - you need to "fit" the system with the PSU to make sure it's running at within it's most efficient range. For example, 80+ cert means 80% or more efficient from 20% rated power to 80% rated power. For the Antec EW 380, this means it's 80% efficient between 76W - 304W. Your system will be under this range most of the time. But, as MtnHermit's data shows (great data BTW!), going with a lower power PSU isn't always the most efficient solution. I have the Antec EW380 in my HTPC. It's been rock solid. It replaced the non-80+ Antec 380W PSU that came in my NSK2400 case - yay 3-year warranty.fjodor2000 wrote:...this is with a standard low efficiency PSU, so with a high efficiency PSU the power consumption will likely be lower.
I also own a D510MO. You can see my build here. Prior to purchasing the PicoPSU I was using an old Zalman 300W ATX PSU. With a 2.5" notebook drive and a 80mm 0.09A fan my Kill-a-Watt read 32W idle. With the PicoPSU & 60W brick it dropped to 15W idle.
Maybe, but I'm not sure that the PSU fan would be all the much help. I just dug an old 80mm fan from my spares bin. I have the MB fan control disabled, and the fan is fixed at 50%. I can't hear it and my CPU temps are always really low. What HDD's are you using? Depending on your level of HDD activity, they may need more air than the D510MO.fjodor2000 wrote:The PicoPSU has no fan. Since there will be no other fan in the computer case either, won't there be a risk of over-heating?
I suppose this will depend on the size of the brick you buy. My 60W brick is really small.fjodor2000 wrote:Is there a way to mount the PicoPSU + Power Brick in the same location as the standard ATX PSU?
The table is pretty self explanatory. Note the 380W 80+ Earthwatts easily beats all those smaller unrated PSU's. If it doesn't say 80+ on the label, take a pass.fjodor2000 wrote:Thanks for your reply MtnHermit.
I'm not sure I follow you though. Do you consider all the PSUs you listed to be junk? If so, what would be an acceptable result.
Also I'm not sure what you are suggesting with what you wrote in the last paragraph? Are you suggesting that I should buy a Dell RM112 and modify it somehow? If so, would that be a better option than buying a PicoPSU + Power Brick?
The Dell is a soldering nightmare and a non-standard size, but if you have the skills and time it'll beat a PicoPSU + brick. Read the thread in this forum, photos and tests. They're cheap too, ~$35.
I'll bet that Zalman took at least 10W just to run itself. Quick test to find out (green to black). But 15W is impressive.Jay_S wrote: I was using an old Zalman 300W ATX PSU. With a 2.5" notebook drive and a 80mm 0.09A fan my Kill-a-Watt read 32W idle. With the PicoPSU & 60W brick it dropped to 15W idle.
I'm using a Pico 150W in my D510MO build with an 80W adapter that came with the Pico in a retail kit at Fry's.
Details, photos, and power consumption data for my build here:
viewtopic.php?t=57965
Details, photos, and power consumption data for my build here:
viewtopic.php?t=57965