(no subject)

[rhu]

The power supply on our Linux server seems to have died. I tried cannibalizing one from an older computer, but it doesn't have the right connections. Am debating whether to buy a new power supply or call this box dead and get a nettop and restore from backup. Best nettop I've found so far is the MSI Nettop 120, but that's already $300 and runs Windows. Any suggestions? My goals are to spend under $200 and, if possible, have a power brick rather than a "real" power supply.

Comments

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

A power supply should cost you well under $200! I'd just recommend getting one, but that presupposes you can drive to a Fry's, Microcenter, PCsForEveryone, or some other store where you could just pick one up. It also depends how much downtime you mind having.... And how old your server is.

note that this wont get you your "power brick".

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

My old server is about 7-yr-old hardware, and has been running in this configuration for about 4 years. So it's due. (My usual duty cycle is 3-4 years as a Windows desktop, and then rotating in to my Linux server farm for svn repository and other light duty.)

I've been thinking for a while that I should go with something with lower power consumption for this server, and this was prompting me to wonder if now is the time. But I think not.

I think I'll plan to pick up a power supply at You-Do-It tomorrow, and build a new server based on the MSI barebones nettop later this summer when I have more time.

[devjoe.livejournal.com]

You should be able to get a good new power supply for $50 or a cheap one for $25. There are more expensive ones but they aren't really necessary. But I have never seen a desktop power supply with a power brick rather than having that circuitry go inside the case. If the noise bothers you, there are quieter ones (one of the things which can bring the price up into the $50 neighborhood).

If the power supply from the old computer has the wrong connections for the new one, then it probably means the new one uses ATX. But you're in luck, because ATX is still standard today. You'll probably find that the motherboard power connector on the new power supply will be 24 pins in a 2x12 rectangle with a 2x2 block on one end that can be separated from the rest for systems which don't use those pins, and given the age of your computer you will probably need to separate it.

If you have a 7 yr old hard disk in that server it is likely near the end of its life. But it sounds like you already have backups of some sort set up, and it's likely that you upgraded just for capacity reasons sometime in those 7 years.