BUILD - 2013 i3 22nm 16GB ECC RAM 18TB Pico PS- 34W Idle

[Alchete]

BUILD - 2013 i3 22nm 16GB ECC RAM 18TB Pico PS - 34W Idle

Posting this for others like me who are interested in a high-end, ECC, 6-disk, low-power, home server.

This build uses a 120W Pico power supply -- which saves 6W at idle vs. a 450W 80+ power supply.

I think the build could have been even lower power had the motherboard not included a Matrox video chip (which duplicates the i3 functionality and isn't needed for a NAS)...

Parts list below includes all the extra cables needed to make the Pico power supply work.

Cheers,
Alchete

Code:

Summary
---------------
Micro-ATX
RAID-Z2
16GB RAM
6x 3TB WD Red     = 18.0TB
Usable disk space = 10.7TB


Server Stats
------------------------
6x HDs running         53W
6x HDs idle            34W
CrystalDiskMark        62MB/s

LIAN LI PC-V354B Black Aluminum MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112300
$149

SUPERMICRO MBD-X9SCL-F-O LGA 1155 Intel C202 Micro ATX Intel Xeon E3 Server Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182251
$179

Intel Core i3-3220 Dual-Core Processor 3.3 Ghz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80637i33220
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0093H8HXS/?tag=ozlp-20
$124

Kingston 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered DDR3 1333 Server Memory Server Hynix M Model KVR13E9/8HM (2x)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820239135
$144 x 2 = $288

Patriot Xporter Mini 8GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model PSF8GMUSB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220301
$9

WD Red 3 TB NAS Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, SATA III, 64 MB Cache - WD30EFRX (6x)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008JJLW4M/?tag=ozlp-20
$163 x 6 = $978

StarTech 8-Inch 24 Pin ATX 2.01 Power Extension Cable (ATX24POWEXT)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FL60AI/?tag=ozlp-20
$4

StarTech.com PYO2LP4SATA 12in LP4 to 2x SATA Power Y Cable Adapter (3x)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002GRUV4/?tag=ozlp-20
$3 x 3 = $9

StarTech 6in 4 Pin to 8 Pin EPS Power Adapter with LP4 - F/M (EPS48ADAP)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002O21XHQ/?tag=ozlp-20
$6

C2G / Cables to Go 03163 (1) 5.25 Inch to (4) 5.25 Inch Internal Power Quad Splitter Cable, Black (30 Inch)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q6030U/?tag=ozlp-20
$9

pico-PSU-120WI-25V
http://www.mini-box.com/PicoPSU-120-WI-25-12-25V-DC-DC-ATX-power-supply
$55

150w AC-DC Power Adapter, 12v 12.5A
http://www.mini-box.com/12v-12-5A-AC-DC-Power-Adapter
$45

Mountain Mods - Acrylic Power Supply cover plate
http://www.mountainmods.com/mountain-mods-acrylic-power-supply-cover-plate-p-428.html
$12

___________________

Total infrastructure: $970

Total cost (w/disks): $1948

 

[cyberjock]

I'm not sure what your starting surge is for the hard drives, but I'm not sure I'd ever recommend a pico PSU unless you were using 2 drives or less.

 

[Alchete]

With 6 disks, it surges to ~120W for a second or so on cold boot. The PSUs are usually overrated and spec'd for steady-state current. The minute surge to it's operating limit shouldn't be a problem.

 

[cyberjock]

WHat device are you using to check that spike? One of the problems with those $30 wall plug wattmeters is they are not instant, the output is only updated once per second so you might not actually see the highest part of the spike. You are correct that PSUs are usually overrated for cold booting, but relying on that overrating for a few seconds isn't something I'd ever recommend. They also assume that with a cold boot that the PSU is physically at room temperature. So unless it's actually been off for an hour or so, you are probably outside its design by some amount.

My day job is being an electrician at a nuclear power plant and I deal with power supplies regularly so I'm pretty knowledgable regarding this topic ;)

In the most simplistic of thoughts you are trading potentially blowing a PSU(that could potentially destroy all of your hardware) for 6w of savings. I'd never consider the 6w of savings as a fair trade for the potential consequences. I've seen PSUs fail and overvolt the 12v bus(19.2v anyone?) and basically destroying everything in your computer. When your hardware smells of burned electronics trying to do an RMA just won't happen.