I would like to add more storage space as the 3 HDDs I currently have are just not enough (1 X Seagate IDE 40G, 1 x Seagate 160G SATA, and 1 x 250G Seagate SATA).
My PSU only has two connections for SATA. My mobo can support 4 SATA drives.

My question is this: Would I be better to replace PSU entirely to gain more SATA connections, just buy another IDE HDD or would a IDE to SATA converter cable do the job? I had never heard of this cable but saw it on the MSY webpage.

Mind you I have a bunch of fans running so I am running out of IDE cables as well, but I am sure using one of these for a HDD instead of a fan isn't a big deal.

IF a new PSU is the ticket, any suggestions on brand and price? I looked up another thread and Tagan seems to be a popular choice. I was hoping to spend <$200. Is this realistic for a decent PSU?

Thanks.

Just keep adding till she blows.

Bah! Who needs fans anyway...

Planning on getting a 400G Seagate HDD. Rapidly running out of room to store my exponentially expanding archive of internet pRon.

what dont you ebay your old kit and get 2 x 500gig?

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/124228/rb/0 £65 = $156.46 Australian dollars

sell your old drives for $100 and your home.


last edited by mooby at 20:05:58 16/Aug/07

molex to sata converter will do the trick, provided your psu actually has the power to run four hard disks at the same time.

learned this the hard way when my system kept freezing whenever i tried to use a particular disk

I've got a Antec SmartPower2.0 450 power supply running 5 Hdd's. No probs..

Thanks for the suggestions.

Mooby - Not a bad idea but I'd rather not sell the HDDs. I like having a small capacity drive for Windows etc just in case I need to format etc. Also 2 x 500G HDD would actually cost around $400, money I don't have. Even if I sold the 160 and the 250G I doubt I would go close to covering costs.

Insom - Is that the IDE to SATA converter cable you're referring to? If so I think you can get em for about $12. Definitely worth a try before forking out for a new PSU.

Tyrone - Thanks mate. That's the sort of info I was looking for. Will check out specs on the Antec as well.

Mind you I have a bunch of fans running so I am running out of IDE cables as well, but I am sure using one of these for a HDD instead of a fan isn't a big deal.

The power connector you're talking about here is called a 4 pin molex, not an IDE, IDE/ATA refers to the ribbon cable and obviously has nothing to do with connecting fans.

It doesn't really matter how many you chain (within reason) as long as your power supply has enough juice to power everything in your computer. Just because one guy says his 450W powers 5 drives, doesn't necessarily mean that yours will, especially if you have some big f***-off video card sucking down the watts.

From Wiki "Adaptors are available to convert a 4-pin Molex connector to SATA power connector. However, because the 4-pin Molex connectors do not provide 3.3 V power, these adapters provide only 5 V and 12 V power and leave the 3.3 V lines disconnected. This precludes the use of such adapters with drives that require 3.3 V power. Understanding this, drive manufacturers have largely left the 3.3 V power lines unused. However, without 3.3 V power, the SATA device may not be able to implement hotplugging"

what dan said

def give that a crack, if your system goes unstable then you need a better power supply

i'm running Seasonic 430 watt psu, powering four hard disks on an otherwise average machine with no probs

Here's a powersupply calculator: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

Why not use external hard drives?

http://www.computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=6665

I'm running 4 of these (2 SATA and 2 IDE). Great for backing up.

Great little calculator, I'm actually under powered by 80W. Might have to grab me a new PS aswell.

Wewt 100w under with my Tagan 580, my system is pretty damn full too.

try working out the power requirements for this
http://members.dodo.com.au/~vidge/2007_0811Image0009.JPG

i had some help from codebasher, so it's sorted

Thanx for that guide natslovR. I've got a 525w PSU and that calculator thingy puts me at 505w.

Yay!

I've got a Antec SmartPower2.0 450 power supply running 5 Hdd's. No probs.

Yet ;P

f*** you antec hater :P

try working out the power requirements for this

780Watts peak for the drives alone.
260Watts idle.

Antec all the way. Never had a problem.

The trouble with determining how many HDDs you can power is that video cards (and to some degree CPUs) these days chew well over 100W, often approaching 200 - just for the GPU. DDR is also pretty hungry.
You can calculate the power requirements from the details on the HDD chassis (Volts x current) but 30W is usually a figure with plenty of safe margin.

i was gonna page axe to this thread

try working out the power requirements for this

f*** power requirements, how about room requirements for all those ATA cables. At least you have some SATA.

Antec all the way. Never had a problem.

If you'd seen how many smartpower units came back fuxed you may just change your mind. It was definately a design flaw... probably the rear fan being able to remain off when not under a large load.

Seems like the Earthwatts line is much much better though, haven't seen one yet.

If you'd seen how many smartpower units came back fuxed you may just change your mind. It was definately a design flaw... probably the rear fan being able to remain off when not under a large load.

Name a brand where this isn't true of some person saying they've seen eleventybillion of a certain brands products come back defective.

Kia

actually the smartpower series are very much shown to have crappy reliability. do a search and you'll see :/ I've personally had 1 die on me.

Name a brand where this isn't true of some person saying they've seen eleventybillion of a certain brands products come back defective.

It changes all the time, so the name is not tarnished forever... Antec used to be the s*** back in the day.

Right now its still yet to be seen if Antec have been able to overcome their recent crapulence.

I'm still somewhat in awe that Antec openly advertise 3 'solid' years warranty on the product box, yet no one in Queensland actually honors this.

I guess they know their consumers too well.. people are stupid on the whole =(

http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=602130

haha you win dude :)

axe's dling the intarweb project has begun

i feel sorry for him, considering the s***ty caps in .AU

heh, just checked my netlimiter proggie.... this year 1.8tb down and 771gb up

<3

I do 340-360 gig a month, so it's not a problem