Trouble finding suitable home office server PSU

[maastricht]

With interest I have read many reviews on this site and others, and I particularly liked the short recap in the thread PSU Recommendations for High End Gaming PC's (http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103), but I still have not found "the one".

The computer is a server, currently only a file server, for home use that is situated in my office. Therefore it should be silentio maximus. Wattage 500W+.
The server cabinet only allows PSUs with a front-to-back design, so no 12cm side mounted fans.
The server motherboard makes use of the 4-pin ATX 12V and the 8-pin EPS 12V simoultaneously.

I just received an email from Hipergroup confirming their model 4M730 is unsuitable altough it has both P4 and P8, they are suitated on the same cable and not intended to be connected at the same time.

That currently only leaves PCpower Silencer 750 Quad in the running, which I have to order from the States (I live in Europe).

I would love to use something like the SilverStone Zeus 850W ST85ZF, but it also has only one of the P4/P8 connectors.

Anybody know if I can (safely) make use of a 4pin molex-to-4pin ATX 12V connector?

Any PSU recommendations are greatly appreciated.

[Bun-Bun]

With interest I have read many reviews on this site and others, and I particularly liked the short recap in the thread PSU Recommendations for High End Gaming PC's (http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103), but I still have not found "the one".

The computer is a server, currently only a file server, for home use that is situated in my office. Therefore it should be silentio maximus. Wattage 500W+.
The server cabinet only allows PSUs with a front-to-back design, so no 12cm side mounted fans.
The server motherboard makes use of the 4-pin ATX 12V and the 8-pin EPS 12V simoultaneously.

I just received an email from Hipergroup confirming their model 4M730 is unsuitable altough it has both P4 and P8, they are suitated on the same cable and not intended to be connected at the same time.

That currently only leaves PCpower Silencer 750 Quad in the running, which I have to order from the States (I live in Europe).

I would love to use something like the SilverStone Zeus 850W ST85ZF, but it also has only one of the P4/P8 connectors.

Anybody know if I can (safely) make use of a 4pin molex-to-4pin ATX 12V connector?

Any PSU recommendations are greatly appreciated.

I just purchased a Seasonic M12-700 and it has both a 4pin ATX and 8pin ESP fixed. Unfortunatly it uses a 12cm bottom fan. But maybe another OEM is using the Seasonic build in a back to front fan configuration. I believe my Seasonic built Antec Neo 550HE has both fixed as well and it uses a 80mm back to front fan design. Just a thought.

[maastricht]

Hmm, I thought I subscribed to this thread...

I just purchased a Seasonic M12-700...
I have drooled over the Seasonic M12 and even considered cutting in my cabinet, but hopefully I'll find a better solution. One concern I had about the Seasonic M12 was that I read one review (can't remember where) that stated that the fans were hooked up in such a way, that once the 60mm fan started going it would not spin down again. What is your experience?

...Antec Neo 550HE...
Thanks for the tip. I checked it out but unfortunately it only has the 4+4 pin option, so it's either P4 or P8.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

If it were me, I'd probably grab one of the Silverstones and mod it for the right connectors. The ST85ZF is also known as the Etasis ET-850/EPAP-850 if you can find it.

The PC P&C Silencer is already a Seasonic build... it's probably one of the better options if you don't want to mod a Silverstone.

[CAD4466HK]

How many drives are you planning on running?

[maastricht]

If it were me, I'd probably grab one of the Silverstones and mod it for the right connectors..
How would I go about that exactly? I'm quite handy, but no technical wizz. If I had some instructions I'm sure I could manage. Would you mod one of the 4-pin molex connectors?

The ST85ZF is also known as the Etasis ET-850/EPAP-850 if you can find it.
I saw the video review on 3dGameMan and it is what I am looking for. Unfortunately I can't find any Etasis products in the Netherlands-Germany region. I think I'll send them an email and enquire about resellers in the region.

The The PC P&C Silencer is already a Seasonic build...
I'm still waiting for Tiffany at PC Power to qoute me shipping costs.

[maastricht]

How many drives are you planning on running?
About 10 I think.

[Bun-Bun]

Hmm, I thought I subscribed to this thread...

I have drooled over the Seasonic M12 and even considered cutting in my cabinet, but hopefully I'll find a better solution. One concern I had about the Seasonic M12 was that I read one review (can't remember where) that stated that the fans were hooked up in such a way, that once the 60mm fan started going it would not spin down again. What is your experience?


Don't know... the most that I have had the Seasonic power is 5 fans and some LED's (computer is in the works... $4550 left to go...) but so far I have not been able to hear the PSU except on low load (<~10w) it makes a ticking sound. BTW should that concern me?

On that note, a little off topic, but with my Seasonic the first time I power it up with the fans hooked up after its been off for awhile it has a hard time starting them up (takes just over a second for the fans to go full speed and LED's flicker for a second before going full on. Does not happen if I turn it off and then back on again). Is there something wrong with the PSU or is it just not enough of a load for a cold start?

[CAD4466HK]

If it was me, I would either mod a Zeus or find somthing thats server grade
unlike the Silencer;)

[Oklahoma Wolf]

How would I go about that exactly? I'm quite handy, but no technical wizz. If I had some instructions I'm sure I could manage. Would you mod one of the 4-pin molex connectors?

As long as I wasn't needing it for its intended purpose, I'd likely use the PCI-E connector attached to 12v2.

[maastricht]

As long as I wasn't needing it for its intended purpose, I'd likely use the PCI-E connector attached to 12v2.
Ok, thanks. Since my MB only has 2 PCI-E x8 buses it will not be a problem :)

Out of ignorance I'm asking, is that a better solution than using one of these?

http://www.order.conrad.com/xl/9000_9999/9800/9810/9811/981147_BB_00_FB.EPS.jpg

[Oklahoma Wolf]

That adaptor will put the 4 pin connector on 12v3 - should work too unless you have a real big pile of hard drives to run.

[maastricht]

Yes, rails and what goes where. :confused:

Using one of the PCI-E connectors is a very good tip, I'll seriously consider that.

Thanks :)

Now, where is that PCI-E to P4 (or P8) adapter .......?

[maastricht]

Don't know... the most that I have had the Seasonic power is 5 fans ...
I was actually referring to the 2 fans inside the PSU. Above a certain temperature the small fan should kick in, but when the temperature drops again the fan does not spin down. The only option left to turn the small fan off, would be to restart your PC. If this is the case I would personally find it very annoying, as most of my PCs are running 24/7.

But then again, its been a while since I read this, and I could be mixing it up with another PSU with a similar design. I was just curious whether you had noticed this behaviour or not.

[Bun-Bun]

I was actually referring to the 2 fans inside the PSU. Above a certain temperature the small fan should kick in, but when the temperature drops again the fan does not spin down. The only option left to turn the small fan off, would be to restart your PC. If this is the case I would personally find it very annoying, as most of my PCs are running 24/7.

But then again, its been a while since I read this, and I could be mixing it up with another PSU with a similar design. I was just curious whether you had noticed this behaviour or not.

As I said... all I have used the seasonic for thus far is to power 5 fans. Thus I have not loaded the PSU to the point of the 60mm fan kicking in thus I would not know when/if it will spin down without a restart.

[maastricht]

New developments...

Hipergroup sent me a new email after consulting with their engineers, and now confirms that both P4 and P8 can be used on their 4M730. However the connectors are on the same cable and are only 6 inches apart. They are now addressing the length issue.

CAD4466HK made a post about a German review on Etasis ET850 which contained the link to the German distributor. Finding one of the distributors resellers that actually sells the PSU is near impossible. Googling on "etasis site:nl" gives me 18 results, so I cannot say it is a well known brand in the Netherlands either.

But now with two candidates, Hiper 4M730 and Etasis ET850, both with P4 and P8 and relatively silent, there is some light at the end of the tunnel....:)

[Bun-Bun]

Update on M12-700, I have it hooked up to my main rig for testing and the 60mm fan started up pretty quickly and have not seen it shut off since. However I can not hear it.

[Bun-Bun]

It was getting hot in my room so I opened the window. Little while later I looked over at the M12-700 and the 60mm was turning very slowly... I touched it and it stopped. So the 60mm fan does indeed stop... it may not stop turning as in my case the airflow in the PSU kept it turning but when the temperature drops the fan does stop.