Did I make the right purchase?

[GLE3]

I recently bought a 500 GB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive for my Dell Optiplex GX620. My hope is to use it as a capture drive for my PVR project. Now I’m kinda worried with the way my setup is that I may be introducing overheating / power supply issues.

Here’s my PC’s specs:
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx620/en/ug/A02/sdspecs0.htm#wp1133451

Inside my PC (drive configuration):
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx620/en/ug/A02/sddrives.htm#wp1136008

The new SATA drive:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16822136073


What I will end up having is two SATA hard drives right next to one another (40GB stock drive was already included). Both of them will be under the CD drive which doesn’t leave much breathing room. I’ll also have a capture card and maybe a sound card internal(PCI). Kinda afraid to get any sort of video card and won’t get one unless I would need it. When in use the drive pulls about 9 Watts and from what I hear runs at about 25 to 35 degrees Celsius. Would that raise a red flag for anyone considering this is all in a SFF desktop?

[edDV]

It comes down to how Dell engineered the heat flow in that small case.

A 280W power supply is probably enough for the extra SATA drive. They mostly strain the PS during boot up.

[themaster1]

9 watts ? My samsung spinpoint pulls 7, a SSD drive around 4 watts. This drive wattage specs are not that good just average imo.

[rallynavvie]

Are you using a UKDM version of the GX620 like the one you linked? Your location says the US and a USDM GX620 might have a much larger PSU depending on what was ordered. For instance the GX620s I've been throwing away at work (we're replacing them with HP workstations now) have anywhere from 300W to 420W PSUs (desktop and tower form factors respectively). I'd check the actual PSU to see your rating. Either way you should be fine.

You might want to watch Geeks for some refurb deals instead of trying to fulfill your project with that box. I often see much better machines (though still quite old) at Geeks for around $300, just wait for the right deal to come by.

[GLE3]

It comes down to how Dell engineered the heat flow in that small case.

A 280W power supply is probably enough for the extra SATA drive. They mostly strain the PS during boot up.

Does that mean this is a trial and error thing? Are you referring to the placement of the fan? How does one determine air flow in a case?

Edit: Did some reading on the issue and I think I see what you mean. Looks like I could modify the case if I needed too(adding fans).

[GLE3]

9 watts ? My samsung spinpoint pulls 7, a SSD drive around 4 watts. This drive wattage specs are not that good just average imo.

I see. From what I hear Western Digital has the best to offer in hard drives. As long as I don’t over heat or blow up the PSU I’m ok with this. They do have lower energy drives but I would be sacrificing performance.

[GLE3]

Are you using a UKDM version of the GX620 like the one you linked? Your location says the US and a USDM GX620 might have a much larger PSU depending on what was ordered. For instance the GX620s I've been throwing away at work (we're replacing them with HP workstations now) have anywhere from 300W to 420W PSUs (desktop and tower form factors respectively). I'd check the actual PSU to see your rating. Either way you should be fine.

You might want to watch Geeks for some refurb deals instead of trying to fulfill your project with that box. I often see much better machines (though still quite old) at Geeks for around $300, just wait for the right deal to come by.

Thanks for catching that. It doesn’t look like the US version differs much. Sounds like you have firsthand knowledge on the GX620. I hear from most reports that these are solid machines but some say they run hot. Others say you occasionally have PSU problems. Your thoughts?
Could you give me an example of a box that would suit my needs better? Something I could get for $300 if I was patient for a good price? What kinds of things should I be looking for? You talking Dual core? More power(although more power would equal more heat)? I want to stay with something SFF so it can sit in my entertainment center. It looks like the build I’m doing now will cost about $200 when finished but I will sell it off and spend the extra $100 bucks if it was worth the upgrade….

Thanks for all the responses!

[rallynavvie]

I don't think I ever saw a SFF GX620 go through the office, and we had a pretty large gamut of options with that workstation for a long time. I've only ever seen desktops and towers. The PSUs in them aren't that great, but unfortunately they use proprietary connectors so only a few manufacturers make any replacements that fit and they're pricey.

Geeks does occasionally have refurbs (with no operating system) that have Intel C2Ds in them (Core 2 Duo) for around $400. That's about as good as it gets. They're usually towers though. Their thin clients, that would fit the SFF profile, are kinda spendy when you can get new HP thin clients for $300.

[usually_quiet]

Somehow the story that the mainboard power pinouts for Dells are always proprietary persists, but as far as I know, they have been standard for all or nearly all of Dell's desktops since at least 2001. I have worked on a couple of different models (mine and my sister's) and checked the pinouts. They are standard. The same is true for the Optiplex GX620.

Pinouts for the power connectors on the Dell Optiplex GX620 motherboard: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx620/en/ug/A02/mtpwrspl.htm?dgc=CJ&ci...938-#wp1109155

Standard ATX12V v2.0 pinouts:
http://pinouts.ru/Power/atx_v2_pinout.shtml
http://pinouts.ru/Power/atx12v_pinout.shtml

The PSUs themselves (and sometimes the chassis) are a little odd in other ways. Dell's power supplies don't have an on/off switch, at least not the ones I have worked on. The PSU's interior wiring may exit from 2 different points, like on my sister's Dimension 5100 and the Optiplex GX620 wide towers. Physical dimensions for the PSU may be a bit off from the most common ones for that form factor and PSUs with a fan on the top/bottom may not be a good choice for a replacement.

The back of the case may have cut-outs to match the AC power connector and voltage switch on older models, like my Dimension 4300, requiring a special PSU for that reason, as opposed to surgery on the case.

That being said, even when the motherboard's pinouts are all standard, the physical dimensions for SFF PSUs vary, in general, and often the only good option for a replacement is the manufacturer's own part.