Re: Computer turns on and then just dies

Paul <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Thu, 11/28/2024 12:07 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
>> s|b <[email protected]> wrote:
>> 
>>> And I'm saying /almost/, because the PSU only has one SATA cable and I
>>> need at least 3 (SSD with W7, SATA hdd for data, SATA for
>>> CD/DVD-(re)writer). So I'm looking to buy a (cheap) PSU that will
>>> support at least 4 SATA (SATA6?) devices. I think non modular would be
>>> the easiest?
>> 
>> After Paul responds, you might get away with just using a Y-adapter
>> cable (aka power splitter): one sata power connector on one end, and
>> multiple sata power connectors on the other end.  Typically it is a 1 to
>> 2 arrangment, but you could use another Y-adapter to go 1 to 2, and then
>> another 1 to 2, to give you 3 total.  Presumably the sata power and sata
>> data pins are not all in 1 connector, but instead the sata power
>> (between PSU and drive) is a separate connector from the sata data
>> connector (between drive and mobo).
>> 
>> You might not get enough length to reach all drives with just a chained
>> 1-to-2 splitter.  There are sata power splitters that have 4 and even 5
>> connectors (not including the 1 that mates to the PSU sata power
>> connector) that can reach 24" in length.  The placement of the
>> in-between connectors may not be optimal for all drives, but 4 of them
>> in a 5 connector cable should reach your drives.
>> 
>> https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?d=sata+power+splitter
>> 
>> You would have to check the power spec on the SATA output from the PSU
>> to ensure it will handle the load for all 4 of your drives.  Not an
>> issue with SSDs, but the spinners (HDD and optic) have a startup surge
>> current.
>> 
> 
> The SATA pins are rated for one ampere per contact, three contacts
> in parallel, 3A max per rail. The SATA power design assumes power
> is not being drawn from all three rails at the same time. Usually
> only two of three rails have a power demand (not that it matters).
> 
> If used for splitting, you would check what kind of current the hard drive
> draws. The max current is at spinup, and can be 1.5-2A or so. Spinning
> up two drives on a SATA to SATA splitter would be the limit that way.
> This is why I don't recommend 1-to-3 or long chains of these for fanout.
> 
>                             SATA-power
>                              /
>              SATA-power -----             1-to-2 is safe for this
>                              \
>                             SATA-power          This cabling has 3.3V, 5V, 12V on it
> 
> The power supply likely has Molex. Molex can take 6 to 10 amps,
> depending on nearest-neighbors (a Molex 1x4 is a short connector
> so not a thermal issue). The thicker the gauge of wire, the
> closer to 10 amps you get. I generally assume 6 amps per wire in
> conversations here (as the wire gauges used may not be the best).
> This kind of thing would work. The 3.3V rail which is missing
> this way, is not usually a problem. Only the microSATA drives
> potentially used 3.3V (there are no longer microSATA at retail).
> 
>    ----+
>        |               SATA-power
>        |                /
>        +--- Molex ------
>        |                \
>        |               SATA-power
>        |
>        |               SATA-power
>        |                /
>        +--- Molex ------
>                         \
>                        SATA-power          This cabling has 5V, 12V (suited to most regular SATA)
> 
> If you use too many adapters sequentially, eventually
> the 12V supply falls to 11V at the end of the cabling.
> If you hear "clicking sounds" from your hard drive, this
> is a sign the 12V supply is approaching 11V and the drive
> will not reliably stay rotating that way. Shorten the
> chain of cables, rearrange the chain, and the clicking
> will stop. This has happened to be *twice* :-)
> 
> *******
> 
> 3 Molex, 3 SATA, 2 PCIe   $55   EVGA 600 BR 100-BR-0600-K1 600 W
> 
> https://www.newegg.com/evga-600-br-100-br-0600-k1-600-w-80-plus-bronze-certified/p/N82E16817438146
> 
> Similar  Thermaltake, power rating not as nice, vent design not so good, 600 W Gold, $59
> 
> https://www.newegg.com/thermaltake-toughpower-gx2-gold-ps-tpd-0600nnfagu-2-600-w-80-plus-gold-certified/p/N82E16817153415
> 
> You'll have to check the customer reviews, and see if anyone has figured out the real manufacturer.
> The lower-price items can be contract manufactured by a competitor.
> 
> There are some Silverstone supplies, but the prices are likely to be too high.
> 
> *******
> 
> Summary:
> 
> See if there are enough Molex connectors, to use two of these, to power four drives.
> Don't buy this particular one, wires might not be long enough.
> 
>    "Molex to two SATA, no metal clamp on these ones"
> 
>    https://c1.neweggimages.com/productimage/nb1280/A20PS2307010DGQDZC4.jpg
> 
> Check the wire length on the items, to make sure the wires will
> reach all the drives.
> 
> If you look in the mouth of the SATA, some 15 pin SATA on extenders, are missing
> 3 of the contacts, and only 12 contacts are loaded in the connector. I like
> to buy products that load *all* the contacts (15 of them), for equal insertion
> force across the connector. The only way to look in the mouth of the connector,
> is to shop retail and inspect the damn things :-)
> 
> The metal clamp is unnecessary, and there isn't always a place for the
> clamp to clamp on to. The metal clamp is good on the seven pin data cable.
> 
> If it comes with a metal clamp, well OK, but the metal clamp is not
> a necessity and none of my adapters have that clamp on them. The retention
> force on the 15 pin ensures it is not going to fall off.
> 
>    Paul

Some PSUs still have cabling for floppy drives.  There are adapters to
change to sata power.  Are those safe to use for sata power?