PSU
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Hello everybody,
I'm going to build my first pfsense machine (main target is to have a router with openvpn client with PIA vpn + openvpn server when connecting to home lan from outside) with the following hardware:
J3455M-E Asus motherboard micor-atx
8gb ram (2x 4gb Kingston KVR16N11S8/4)
2,5" hard disk
Kolink Satellite midi tower case micro-atx
I340-T2 or I340-T4 lan card (not yet decided)No I know psu is an important component too but I'd like not to spend really a lot ;D….any suggestion?
Thanks
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people really seem to like this UNIT and is under 40 USD
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yikes, do not buy a 430W PSU for your router - horrible idea.
Get one of these picoPSU 80 kits:
http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-80-60W-power-kit
The AC/DC converter is where any inefficiency will occur, at 60W it will never be overtaxed by your system and it will be the closest you're going to get to operating at ideal efficiency level. They post a data sheet for the AC/DC converter they are selling you. I've looked at it before and think it was something in the neighborhood of 80% efficiency, so like an 80+ fanless PSU, but much better for a low power application since a 430W PSU will have less than ideal efficiency in the 10-20W range your router will operate at.
Here's a review where many PSU's are tested at 22.5W (which is probably higher than your system will operate at). https://us.hardware.info/reviews/4683/3/45-psus-tested-at-very-low-loads-which-one-is-the-most-efficient-225-watt-test
The best was 77%, worst 57% - I would expect a $35 430W PSU to fall in the low end of that range if not worse + you have to power its fan 24/7/365.
So if your system needs 15W it would actually pull ~22W from the wall @ 57% +~3W for the fan or ~18W @ 80% for the picoPSU. That comes out to ~+$10-17/yr depending on where you live. Certainly not a reason to replace the PSU you already have - but since they both cost about the same initially it's an easy choice if you don't already have a PSU.Most importantly though - picoPSU's have no moving parts, and they are cheap @ $35 for the kit. No fans and operating close to your actual power usage means this will use VERY little power. And you aren't paying a premium to go fanless so it really is a good deal.
If you get a picoPSU please post back with your power consumption at the wall with pfSense if able!
If you don't already own the 2.5 HDD I would recommend a cheap SSD instead (like a bargain-bin brand 32GB or something) or even a pair of thumb drives in raidz with a RAM disk if you're really strapped for cash. The less moving parts the better.
If you are reusing the HDD then by all means don't buy anything new to replace it until the one you already own dies.
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well, I slightly changed my build:
J3455M-E Asus motherboard micor-atx
8gb ram (2x 4gb Micron MT8JTF51264AZ-1G6E1)
128Gb SSD
Kolink Satellite midi tower case micro-atx
quad lan card HP NC364T…..would that PicoPSU-80 + 60W Adapter Power Kit be really enough? I tried some psu calculator all giving 120W recommended....but I'm really not an expert on this matter ;D .....that's why I'm asking
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and what about the 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector on the motherboard?
I know about pico power adapters but not much and always just figured they were for very small atom soc units.
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Yeah check out the link, the Pico PSU works for 110/240 at the wall and the connector is ATX.
You're system won't get even close to 60W.
You'll run at probably sub 20W even at high usage on that system.
PSU calculators are usually meant for gaming computers with a bunch of high end components that get really hot and draw a lot of power while spinning up a whole bunch of large high speed fans at the same time.
Your system has 0 moving parts to include no fans with a picoPSU.
I use that picoPSU on my J3355B HTPC with ssd and I forget the exact power usage from the wall but it's sub 20W. I don't think the usage changes by even 1W between idle and load playing 4k HEVC content.
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This is basically the ideal application picoPSU is designed for.
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and what about the 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector on the motherboard?
I'm using one on a mythtv frontend that has a Mini ITX AM1 board. I just skipped the 4 pin connector and the system works fine. I'm even using an old 12V adapter I had lying around that used to be for a thin client. Runs 24x7 with zero issues.
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TLDR; Get the PICO PSU
I originally had my core i5-7500 on pfSense duties, but it was WAY to powerful for my needs (home use only). I had a PICO PSU 80w wide input range and it used to idle at 11w from the wall. It'd jump up to 30w if I had 2 OpenVPN sessions going, and even then only briefly. I wasn't taxing it in the slightest.
From memory, I had to buy a 6pin or 8pin connector for the motherboard, but otherwise, was excellent. You won't regret it.
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thanks a lot folks for all suggestions
now last question is: that suggested pico psu has 20 pins main connector while the motherboard has a 24 pins one…so?thanks again
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thanks a lot folks for all suggestions
now last question is: that suggested pico psu has 20 pins main connector while the motherboard has a 24 pins one…so?thanks again
There is an add-on cable available for the 80W picopsu - in case you have a 24 pin connector. It costs $1.25 for the 48mm cable which is best if you have a 24 pin connector & $1.35 for the 230mm cable in case your P4 connector is a bit further away from the main 20 pin connector
Another option is to get the 90W picopsu– which includes a 24 pin connector
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and what about the 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector on the motherboard?
I know about pico power adapters but not much and always just figured they were for very small atom soc units.
you should be able to ignore it and just use the 20 pin connector–the system shouldn't draw enough that the extra power connections are necessary. if you actually need the extra pins, you also need a bigger power supply. :)