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  1. #1

    Estimating server power usage

    I am trying to estimate power usage for the purpose of looking for colocation offers and am wondering what you guys think the draw for this server would be. Thank you for all your help.

    ​4U Supermicro X7DB8 motherboard
    Dual Quad-Core Xeon E5345 2.33GHz
    8GB DDR2 PC-5300 RAM
    Adaptec AID-9140w SAS/SATA Controller
    6x Hitachi 36GB 15k rpm Hard Drives in RAID 10
    2x Western Digital 250GB Hard Drives for backup
    Last edited by jjtoday; 11-10-2009 at 11:35 PM. Reason: Title spelling fix

  2. #2
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    i would assume this config should draw around 6 amps more or less.
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by jjtoday View Post
    I am trying to estimate power usage for the purpose of looking for colocation offers and am wondering what you guys think the draw for this server would be. Thank you for all your help.

    ​4U Supermicro X7DB8 motherboard
    Dual Quad-Core Xeon E5345 2.33GHz
    8GB DDR2 PC-5300 RAM
    Adaptec AID-9140w SAS/SATA Controller
    6x Hitachi 36GB 15k rpm Hard Drives in RAID 10
    2x Western Digital 250GB Hard Drives for backup
    If you have the server already, the easiest way to get the power draw is to plug it into a kill-a-watt meter... They are cheap to buy... But keep in mind power draws are going to vary depending on CPU usage and cooling factors (fans will run more etc).... It's impossible to really say how much this server is going to draw if you need an exact number.

  4. #4
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    The easiest way to get a wattage figure is to go by the power supply rating. That gives a peak consumed power estimate, though it should be higher than the actual watts used. If the server uses a 1200W PS, then it needs at most 10 Amps at 120V. At least in theory.
    bigwrench

  5. #5
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    I'd put my money between 2.25A and 3.75A @ 110/120v (depending on PSU efficiency, number of dimms, and type of dimms, and quantity/type of fans)

    The E5345 has a TDP of 80W, hence a 6.0A estimate @ 120V is wayyyy out in left field.
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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by porcupine View Post
    I'd put my money between 2.25A and 3.75A @ 110/120v (depending on PSU efficiency, number of dimms, and type of dimms, and quantity/type of fans)

    The E5345 has a TDP of 80W, hence a 6.0A estimate @ 120V is wayyyy out in left field.
    True, CPU's dont consume much power, but we are talking about 8 HDD here.
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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by IPStrada LLC View Post
    True, CPU's dont consume much power, but we are talking about 8 HDD here.
    I took that into consideration with my statement.
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  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by porcupine View Post
    I'd put my money between 2.25A and 3.75A @ 110/120v (depending on PSU efficiency, number of dimms, and type of dimms, and quantity/type of fans)

    The E5345 has a TDP of 80W, hence a 6.0A estimate @ 120V is wayyyy out in left field.
    Sounds about right. I'd say ~3A.
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by IPStrada LLC View Post
    i would assume this config should draw around 6 amps more or less.
    yes I agree with you dude! thanks

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    Quote Originally Posted by porcupine View Post
    I'd put my money between 2.25A and 3.75A @ 110/120v (depending on PSU efficiency, number of dimms, and type of dimms, and quantity/type of fans)

    The E5345 has a TDP of 80W, hence a 6.0A estimate @ 120V is wayyyy out in left field.
    I would agree with your estimate.

    160w for the CPUs, 120w for the drives, 110w for the motherboard, fans and other components. With an ~85% efficient power supply you're right at the top end of that, 3.7A at 120v and the numbers I provided are peak numbers, so you should pretty much always run less than those.
    Last edited by KarlZimmer; 11-12-2009 at 03:58 PM.
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  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by porcupine View Post
    I'd put my money between 2.25A and 3.75A @ 110/120v (depending on PSU efficiency, number of dimms, and type of dimms, and quantity/type of fans)

    The E5345 has a TDP of 80W, hence a 6.0A estimate @ 120V is wayyyy out in left field.



    I'd say probably 3 or 4 amps just because of the large number of hard drives.
    Jacob Wall

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jacob Wall View Post



    I'd say probably 3 or 4 amps just because of the large number of hard drives.
    Yeah 3-4 AMPS is also my guess.. As he said it has a large number of hard drives.

  13. #13
    Thank you all for your estimates. Until I get a measurement, I will use a 4A estimate to be a little bit on the safe side.

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    Quote Originally Posted by bigwrench View Post
    The easiest way to get a wattage figure is to go by the power supply rating. That gives a peak consumed power estimate, though it should be higher than the actual watts used. If the server uses a 1200W PS, then it needs at most 10 Amps at 120V. At least in theory.
    Server manufacturers only have a limited range of power supplies.

    For each model of server, the use the next-higher power supply that is capable of powering a maximally configured server running flat out in a room whose temperature is the highest the server can run in (so the fans are running hardest.)

    In practice, you may find the server is using about half the power that the power supply can deliver.

  15. #15
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    We have dual quad core, 8 SAS disk machines drawing 1.5A @ 220V (Dell R710), so I'd estimate this machine to use ~3.5A @ 110V.
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  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by tim2718281 View Post
    In practice, you may find the server is using about half the power that the power supply can deliver.
    I agree and it's done to handle normal current surges like spinning up all drives at poweron, peak cpu bursts on all cores, and don't forget a PS also powers any optional add-on cards and external devices (USB, firewire, etc). PS wattage is a rough estimate, but it's an estimate!
    bigwrench

  17. #17
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    The amount of disinformation, bad information, or just flat out wrong information present in this thread, boggles the mind.
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    Priority Colo Inc. - Affordable Colocation & Dedicated Servers.
    Two Canadian facilities serving Toronto & Markham, Ontario
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