PicoPSU Mains Brick Choice

#Chri5#

#Chri5#

#Chri5#

Soldato
Joined
27 Feb 2003
Posts
7,284
Location
Shropshire
I've got a 90W PicoPSU running:

  • Intel D525mw (Atom) board
  • WD 1TB GreenPower
  • 2GB SODIMM

I've been using a 12v / 5A / 60W external mains brick to power it but the system kept crashing. I moved the HD onto it's own PSU (one that came with an external USB <> SATA interface) and things improved. In the past week the PC has gone AWOL on the network a few times (though stays powered on) so I'm wondering if the mains brick is on the way out.

I'm just debating between getting a new 80W or 110W mains brick. Does the brick need to exceed the wattage of the PSU? Or can I save the tenner and go with the 80W?

Cheers,
Chris.
 
Cheers guys.

Just been investigating the problem further. Putting my multimeter over the DC plug shows the brick is steady at 12.1v. Powering on the system with no fan, I can hear the HD whir, then stop - very much like it's not getting enough power from the Pico. Move the HD back on to the stand alone PSU and it spins up fine - I've just CHKDSK'd the C: partition via USB on my laptop.

However, even with the HD on it's own PSU, the system doesn't POST. Hmmm.
 
After a bit more waving of multimeter (voltage on the PicoPSU input dropped as low 10v with the HD connected), I ordered a new 60w brick and all is fine. Booted first time with the HD :)
 
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