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I'm looking to extend my current set of 6 rigs but with new RX580s drawing more power, I am going to need more than a 1000W PSU to get 6 GPU running off one rig.  I can get 1000W EVGAs for about $150..  But to go up to 1200W or 1300W the price jumps to around $260..

NewEgg sell server PSUs - such as https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4A04496806 (https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4A04496806) for around $55.

It looks like you need to buy a breakout board to plug the PCIE cables into such as: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Breakout-Board-w-8x-6-Pin-to-6-2-PCIe-Cables-for-HP-750w-PSU-Ethereum-ETH-GPU/232124777244 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Breakout-Board-w-8x-6-Pin-to-6-2-PCIe-Cables-for-HP-750w-PSU-Ethereum-ETH-GPU/232124777244)

My questions are:

1. Is using a server PSU the way to go and any potential problems?

2. For those that do use server PSUs, do you use a separate PSU for the motherboard and risers?  If so, do you have to get the switching on done in the right order?

Any advice on this appreciated!

I use pcpartpicker to show me what the best deals are on parts but I can tell you right now that the cheapest non-distributor prices for a 1300W is 219.89. Superbiiz also has them for 179.99 but they are out of stock right now.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1012719-REG/evga_120_g2_1300_xr_supernova_1300_g2_power.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Breakout-Board-w-8x-6-Pin-to-6-2-PCIe-Cables-for-HP-750w-PSU-Ethereum-ETH-GPU/232124777244 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Breakout-Board-w-8x-6-Pin-to-6-2-PCIe-Cables-for-HP-750w-PSU-Ethereum-ETH-GPU/232124777244)


I've been trying to track those breakout boards down in the UK, but so far only USA links have been fruitful. The price, along with shipping makes them quite expensive ... anyone know of a UK seller ?

I don't think prices are quite as good across the pond as here in the U.S. This is the best I could find with a quick search but I don't even think it is cheaper than the Amazon prices that you have probably already seen.

https://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/powersupplies/over1001w/

Server PSUs are definitely worth it.
It's also better to use 220v vs 110v.

They both require more work.

If you only have 1,2,3 mining rigs, probably not worth it to go through the effort of using server PSUs and converting to 220v.

If you are running a farm or plan on building 10+, then yeah, get some server PSUs.

In the end, the longer you don't have miners running the more money you are losing. If you have to spend $100 extra on a PSU, but it'll be much shorter to get started mining, then do it. If you want to spend the extra time to get it setup and working correctly, it would be worth it in the long run if you are continually build mining machines.

Well the normal PSU units will take up to 240V so its really of no consequence. If you are building a large farm I would still go with the EVGA power supply units but instead put the entire rig into a rack mountable 4U case so that you can more effectively utilize space and optimize/control heat better.

ATX
- its more expensive
- not designed for 24/7 (but its not a problem anyway just wear off faster)
+ its more safe (more protection, covered by 80+ standard, designed to work on wide working condition)
+ covered by long warranty
+ more availability
+ does not need custom breakout (all ATX standard))

Server
- less safe (less protection feature than higrade ATX, had strict working condition requirement)
- warranty ? (its complicated to claim RMA)
- less availability
- need custom breakout cables
+ designed for 24/7 with server grade room condition (temp and humidity)
+ cheaper

I think that you can go with the server psu. For the rx series you will need 6 cables with two 6+2 pins so that you can power the card with one of the 8 pins and power the riser with the other end of the cable. You will need a version 006C for the risers. It's very clean and the less you joint cables the better.

and also you can use PCIE Splitter cable so one GPU only use 1 PSU's cable, and  (for GPU+Riser) its safe assuming splitter cable at least use 18awg wire

https://i.imgur.com/1vx0MwZ.jpg

In my experience, surplus server PSUs are so cheap that when you can easily buy 4 or more for the price of an equivalent ATX unit, warranty doesn't really matter. Just keep a few spares on the shelf.

A consideration:  often server psus are very loud (if that is relativant to your environment).

The HPs I have worked with are pretty quiet. Almost certainly quieter than the mining setup you'll run with them.

It all depends on how much load you put on them. For example, if you are pushing the HP's server psu near it's limit(close to max wattage), it's like a screaming banshee. But if you are only using about 30-50% load or so, then it'll just be humming.

im standardizing to 1500 watt rosewill quark psus so i can dusl mine
they have a ton of cables for up to 8 gpus and are way quiter than server psus
also they have next day replacement inly company that will send rma withoute reciving damaged
units back and a 10 year waranty.  they will hold thier value too  when mining ends

question for those running those HP "1200W" power supplies (that are actually only 900W at 120vac),

how hard are you pushing them?

I only have three GTX1070's on one right now and it's already hot as hell, can it actually handle 900W?



to answer OP's question about switching, you can get fancy and rig up something to switch them on at the same time, or do what I do: just switch on the GPU's a second before the main system

You want at least 20% margin throughout the power delivery setup, including the PSUs.

atx psu are better they offer surge protection, they are also more plug and play and less hassles, but they cost more, personally i would go with atx, saving $200 is not that important now with the current profit, you can roi in the same time

Personally myself i prefer server psu, for the a good reasons stated above, i agree its more tolerant to environmental conditions vs PC ATX.
I also agree about margin, never load PSU to above 80% not critical, but certainly truly stresses it if you go above.
Breakout cable is not a problem.
There are server PSU's that can handle over 200A on 12V rail - im not aware of any PC psu that can handle that (some IBM BLADE's for example) they have some funky nreakout adapter-cable, but hey ....200Amps.. 8))
any recycling company just trashes those HP/DELL/IBM power supplies and will sell them to you for like 15-20$ a piece in working order, so no competition near, i just buy 5 right away and if need arises will swap... just seen a couple times when psu swap was needed.

Is there a maximum recommended watts per cable from the breakout board - to ensure the GPU+Riser with the splitter cable don't overload things?

I've read that you can get PICO PSU - something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Power-Supplies/Mini-Box-picoPSU-160-XT-Power-Mini-ITX-Supply/B005TWE6B8 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Power-Supplies/Mini-Box-picoPSU-160-XT-Power-Mini-ITX-Supply/B005TWE6B8) which I guess somehow you connect up to the breakout board - and then the server PSU powers everything?  Anyone use this setup - and know where to source in Europe/UK?

Final question - do all server PSUs have the same connectors where the breakout board connects - or does each manufacturer (Dell, HP etc) have different connector?

Does anyone know where I can buy some server PSU's along with the breakout boards and ITX connector in Europe?

Only ATX!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Breakout-Board-for-HP-Server-Power-Supplies-GPU-ASIC-Mining-12-6Pin-PCIe-Slots/152819403670?hash=item2394bf0b96:g:BmMAAOSwbw1aKJ-X

There is many many different connectors.
Main difference from server and ATX psu - server PSU have only +12V output

Why do only HP server power supplies are being user on mining? Is that because they have a slot where to attached breakout board?

Also evga t2 titanium is rated at 96 percent efficiency at 220volt . Server platinum is 94 percent.

Can someone clarify the response to the OP's question about having one PSU for the motherboard and the Server PSU dedicated to PCIE adapters for the cards?

I read the reply where someone said they turn on the server pSU 1 second before the main power, but I was wondering if there were opinions on this. I have read other people online say not to do that, but they didn't display a reason why/how it is dangerous.

Thanks

I don't use server PSU's but I have them turn on at the same time by having a dual PSU cord. The one below is good for 2000W or so.

https://www.amazon.com/Leboo-Motherboard-Mainboard-Connector-Extension/dp/B075VRMQ55/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1516760109&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=dual+PSU+cable&psc=1

roi in the same time, no that's not true, more cost = longer roi, less cost = shorter roi. server psu is considerably less hassle than you might think, you used a server psu with breakout board at all? if you had of before youd know its much less cables to deal with, there only a hassle for someone who doesn't know squat

That's exactly the cable I used when I hooked up one 350w (yes I know) and one 650w PSU to a rig with one 1080 and 1080ti and it killed one of the PSU's (I forgot which), I realize - the draw was too much and that 350w does not mean 350w is maximum draw.

Useful https://youtu.be/MPjj9EejrYg

I have a 6 GPU rig with the mobo supplied by an ATX PSU and the PCIe power connectors on each card supplied by an HP server PSU. I leave the server PSU on all the time without issue. The only real requirement is that GPU power be present at the same time or before the mobo is turned on.

I have used it for 6x 1080 TI rigs and they have been running perfectly stable for months and months. This was done with a 1300W and a 1000W PSU. Maybe its a problem with your setup or that particular cable that you received.

I just hooked up a rig with a 1000w ATX powersupply running 2 1080 ti's and another 1000w server powersupply with a breakoutboard connected to it and individual cables to each card and risers, powering an additional 2 1080 ti's.

I could maybe add another card, but 1080 ti's are such beasts I don't want to get too close to capacity.

I will post a photo of what I did, but very happy with the sever PSU's and in the future, will use a small PSU for the motherboard only and a server PSU for cards.

Oh fercryinoutloud - I answered this in post #32.

You use PICO to power mobo/ssd/cpu. PICO gets power from server PSU breakout board.

Also, you can use 2 different PSUs - 1. is server PSU and the 2. is usual ATX PSU. I'm using server PSU to power my GPUs and ATX for MOBO+other low power components. Choose what fits best for you :)

I hate ATX psu`s, they are bulky, heavy, expensive. PICO is microscopic compared to ATX.

True that!

Yeah, and it also blows up when overloaded and takes the mobo with it. No thanks.

That's why I only use ATX to power low power components (MOBO, CPU, SSD, fans).

The only problem with PICO can be a MOBO that won't POST with 12.5 volts that most server PSUs provide. There was a topic on this forum not so long ago where someone had a non POSTing miner because of that.

But PICO is usually the best way to go (save some money and space ;))!

I do the exact same set up on 5 mining rigs. ATX for mobo, cpu, and ssd only and I have the hp 1200 server psu for risers and gpus.

server PSUs are awesome. they are MADE to be on 24/7 and when on a 240v outlet they get the true power and reduced amps. people who don't know are missing out on getting a faster ROI. I got 5 HP 1200 server PSUs on ebay for $50 each. so $250 for all of them and they are platinum rated as well. 1 ATX would be more than that at 1200+ watts. Breakout boards and wires would be another $30 total per PSU also (max). 

:)

If using a mobo that requires risers for the GPUs then sure, a PICO + server psu is the way to go, but if using a riserless mobo like the Onda D1800, etc., then you pretty much have to use an ATX PSU, with or without a server PSU.

Same as me, I bought six 1200w platinum HP server psu`s for peanuts. They are designed for critical infrastructure and will run 24/7 for years.

When building a farm I would not recommend saving on two things-this is the motherboard and power supply, it is best to buy an ATX power supply PSU, because it will be able to save your graphics card in a critical situation while PSU is designed only to work 24/7.

For me in expensive California electric rates @15 cents and higher I only go with EVGA T2 titanium. Been running 24/7 for 6 months without issues. Anything less than titanium  I don't touch.  I also make sure I got 240 volt for max efficiency at 96 percent.

People that pick gold PSU is low class in my eyes