Power Supply for HTPC/NAS build?

[Diogenes5]

So far this is my wishlist.

* CPU - G3258 - Alert set on slick deals
* RAM: 8GB Patriot Viper 3 DDR3-1600 — $82.99 via Amazon
* Hard drive: PNY XLR8 128GB Solid State Drive — $59.99 via Amazon
* Additional HardDrives (3x4TB Drives)
* Wireless adapter: Generic 300Mbps USB Wireless-N adapter — $9.99 via Newegg
* Remote control: Measy RC11 Air Mouse — $15.48 via eBay
* Power Supply - PicoPSU
* Motherboard - Gigabyte LGA 1150 Intel B85 HDMI SATA 6Gbps USB 3.0 Micro ATX DDR3 1600 Intel Motherboards GA-B85M-D3H
* Fractal Node Case 304 -

My question concerns to the power supply. I have my eye set on this Mini-Box picoPSU-160-XT High Power 24 Pin Mini-ITX Power Supply in order to minimize power draw as this system will be on 24/7.

Will this be enough to power my system considering the fact that I will probably try to overclock my pentium to 4.2-4.5 ghz and possibly max out my enclosure with 6 hard drives?

Thanks for any input.

 

[LurchFrinky]

That cpu has a TDP of 53W (not truly power used, but close) before overclocking.
With 5W per HDD, that is an additional 30W.
You are probably under 100W peak power draw before overclocking, so the picoPSU is fine for normal use.

Now, why on earth would you want to overclock an HTPC or NAS? I'm sure it could be done, and you still have some power headroom to play with (you can use the picoPSU right up to its rated capacity), but you specifically mention minimizing the power draw. I (and others as well) actually underclock and undervolt the system to minimize power draw.

 

[Diogenes5]

Now, why on earth would you want to overclock an HTPC or NAS? I'm sure it could be done, and you still have some power headroom to play with (you can use the picoPSU right up to its rated capacity), but you specifically mention minimizing the power draw. I (and others as well) actually underclock and undervolt the system to minimize power draw.

Sorry, that was my fault for being unclear. I would like the option to overclock for when I would be using the system for something like light handbraking. Really wanted to see if there would be headroom left over.

As such, I might end up saving the money and getting the basic pentium instead of the new overclockable one. It defeats the purpose and I already have a 2500k gaming computer for steam streaming.

 

[Charlie98]

I would like the option to overclock for when I would be using the system for something like light handbraking. Really wanted to see if there would be headroom left over.

As such, I might end up saving the money and getting the basic pentium instead of the new overclockable one. It defeats the purpose and I already have a 2500k gaming computer for steam streaming.

The Pentium doesn't do well with encoding... I tried my little G620 vs. my 2500K... 8 minutes vs. about 35. Not that it can't do it, it just doesn't like it. Certainly the G32xx would be better, but nothing significant.

Personally, I use my desktop to rip and/or encode video and transfer the files over using TeamViewer or a portable HDD.

Rest of the parts look good, that's a nice B85 board... I have it's older B75 brother in my HTPC (with the G620.) Understand, there is no OC'ing on a B85...

 

[aigomorla]

if u add the 144W Power brick with that pico psu, your going to spend more on that vs something simular like a Corsair cx430m.

And at the power draw your machine will consume, im willing to bet the corsair will be more efficient, as well as cleaner then the pico.

 

[Charlie98]

if u add the 144W Power brick with that pico psu, your going to spend more on that vs something simular like a Corsair cx430m.

And at the power draw your machine will consume, im willing to bet the corsair will be more efficient, as well as cleaner then the pico.

I was kind of thinking the same thing... except I would skip the modular 'M' model. I just installed one in a new desktop build and the SATA power and Molex cables especially are not very flexible. If the OP is building in a Node 804 he will need the flexibility of the standard CX.

* Motherboard - Gigabyte LGA 1150 Intel B85 HDMI SATA 6Gbps USB 3.0 Micro ATX DDR3 1600 Intel Motherboards GA-B85M-D3H
* Fractal Node Case 304 -

OP, the Node 304 is an mITX case. If you want to stay with mATX, you will have to go up to the Node 804.

 

[mfenn]

OP, the Node 304 is an mITX case. If you want to stay with mATX, you will have to go up to the Node 804.

Good catch! Also, the B85 motherboard won't allow overclocking anyway.

Personally I would skip the idea of overclocking an HTPC/NAS altogether. Even if you spent the money on a mini-ITX Z97 board and got it up to 4.5 GHz, you'd only be looking at a 25% speed increase. At that point you might as well stick with the B85 and pick up an i3.

 

[Diogenes5]

I was kind of thinking the same thing... except I would skip the modular 'M' model. I just installed one in a new desktop build and the SATA power and Molex cables especially are not very flexible. If the OP is building in a Node 804 he will need the flexibility of the standard CX.



OP, the Node 304 is an mITX case. If you want to stay with mATX, you will have to go up to the Node 804.

Dang. I wanted to go with the B85 because it has 6 sata's instead of 4 (for NAS purposes). Is there a good mITX board with these features?

I think I will get a Corsair 430m there. I wanted it to be relatively low power but scaling up to htpc/media tasks is more important to me so I will take the wattage hit. Thanks for all the input.

 

[Charlie98]

Dang. I wanted to go with the B85 because it has 6 sata's instead of 4 (for NAS purposes). Is there a good mITX board with these features?.

Gigabyte!

 

[Diogenes5]

Gigabyte!

If I'm going to up $100, I wonder if it wouldnt be for the best to switch to AMD instead. They have motherboards that cost $40-50 with 6 Sata ports. I know nothing about AMD though

 

[mfenn]

If I'm going to up $100, I wonder if it wouldnt be for the best to switch to AMD instead. They have motherboards that cost $40-50 with 6 Sata ports. I know nothing about AMD though

The least expensive AMD board with 6 SATA ports that I found was the ASRock FM2A78M-ITX+ for $85. You could pair that with a Richland APU like the A4-4020 for $45. That'd put your CPU+mobo cost at $130 instead of $160 AR for the board that Charlie mentioned plus a G3220.

So you could save about $30, which isn't insignificant. You'd end up with a slower and less power efficient CPU, though the A4 is probably fast enough for everything that you'd want to do.