[Paul666]

Originally Posted by Litreb

No problem.

I noticed a message in this thread saying the N36L consumed 27W with the drives spun down. Without any drives my N40L use 43-44W, notice how it differ 16W even when running, maybe just a coincidence but still odd.

Would be nice to know where those 16W comes from.

Don't know how much odds it makes but its a different CPU, HD & more mem in the n40l.

[harshw]

Originally Posted by Steiner

I would humbly disagree with your findings about how many watts your laptop and gaming rig consume.

A normal "gaming" rig will consume closer to 500 watts at the wall - sometimes closer to 800-1000.

The 50W used by the N40L is pretty low...

500W at the wall ? 1000W ??? They would consume 300W-400W when both CPU and GPU would be loaded 100% ie when playing demanding games but when doing web surfing or when idle, there's no way a PC would consume that much, even when kitted out with the latest AMD cards and i7 CPUs

[harshw]

Originally Posted by Litreb

No problem.

I noticed a message in this thread saying the N36L consumed 27W with the drives spun down. Without any drives my N40L use 43-44W, notice how it differ 16W even when running, maybe just a coincidence but still odd.

Would be nice to know where those 16W comes from.

That's interesting. When the server is shutdown it should consume 1W-2W (phantom power) and when it is idle it should consume 25W-35W. Probably it's this particular PSU efficiency that's low ? If you're not using all drives or if you are using 5400 rpm drives, it might be worthwhile to use a PicoPSU. With a good power brick ( such as a 90W Dell PA3E or one of the 150W Dell bricks for the XPS laptops ) the PicoPSU does close to 90% efficiency.

[harshw]

Originally Posted by Paul666

Don't know how much odds it makes but its a different CPU, HD & more mem in the n40l.

CPU isn't a big upgrade. The NL36 has a 1.3 GHz CPU whereas the NL40 has a 1.5 GHz. In any case CPU is 12W-15W max TDP. Non-green drives take a lot of power though. Memory is usually 1W-2W per DIMM

[Litreb]

Originally Posted by harshw

CPU isn't a big upgrade. The NL36 has a 1.3 GHz CPU whereas the NL40 has a 1.5 GHz. In any case CPU is 12W-15W max TDP. Non-green drives take a lot of power though. Memory is usually 1W-2W per DIMM

Thats why I bought the N40L, because the CPU was rated at just 3W more than the N36L. Little did I know about this phantom load that seems to be there when off.

Booting with a bare shell, no drives, DVD or anything connected it uses 43-44W, loaded with a drive or two that will get it past 50W. Its seems like it consume quite a bit more than the N36L, not just the 3W caused by faster CPU but also with a figure close to that of the phantom load (16W)?

Can confirm the DIMM consumption too, as I reverted back to one row just to check.

[MacUsers]

Originally Posted by Litreb

Would be nice to know where those 16W comes from.

Well, I experienced that very thing (as I reported long time ago); I was really very surprised and logged a call with HP as well. Later, it appeared to be a case of dodgy meter. Using another meter (bought from Maplin) gave ~1W during soft-off. Do you think you can use a different meter to re-test?

Now it makes me thinking, why it's exactly 16W is coming in picture time to time? Cheers!!

[Litreb]

Originally Posted by MacUsers

Well, I experienced that very thing (as I reported long time ago); I was really very surprised and logged a call with HP as well. Later, it appeared to be a case of dodgy meter. Using another meter (bought from Maplin) gave ~1W during soft-off. Do you think you can use a different meter to re-test?

Now it makes me thinking, why it's exactly 16W is coming in picture time to time? Cheers!!

I dont have any other meter but ive used the same to measure my other computers and they use less than the N40L. (600W Desktop PSU @ 9W, HP Envy laptop with 90W PSU @ 4W)

Did HP get back to you on this? I tried calling them but as you would think 16W is peanuts to them.


Just a bit sad when I tried building a power friendly rig, ive placed an order for Caviar Green disks that use a watt or two less than normal hard drives. Seems a bit wasted when it turns out that the PSU might be inefficient?

I guess PicoPSU could be a option but then my N40L would become pretty expensive compared to the N36L.

Took a pic to show how it uses 16W even when not hooked up the motherboard.

[instigator]

Originally Posted by Litreb

Did HP get back to you on this? I tried calling them but as you would think 16W is peanuts to them.

Just a bit sad when I tried building a power friendly rig, ive placed an order for Caviar Green disks that use a watt or two less than normal hard drives. Seems a bit wasted when it turns out that the PSU might be inefficient?

I dont have any other meter but ive used the same to measure my other computers and they use less than the N40L.

Took a pic to show how it uses 16W even when not hooked up the motherboard.

Do you know the tolerance of your measuring equipment?

[Litreb]

Originally Posted by instigator

Do you know the tolerance of your measuring equipment?

Not really but ive removed the PSU and will take it to a friend that got proper gear.

Perhaps someone that put a PicoPSU in their N36L/N40L so they might got easy access to their old PSU could compare the sticker with mine. HP PIN 630295-001

[Litreb]

Originally Posted by MacUsers

Well, I experienced that very thing (as I reported long time ago); I was really very surprised and logged a call with HP as well. Later, it appeared to be a case of dodgy meter. Using another meter (bought from Maplin) gave ~1W during soft-off. Do you think you can use a different meter to re-test?

Now it makes me thinking, why it's exactly 16W is coming in picture time to time? Cheers!!

Whats the consumption under load/use with your Maplin meter?
Mine use 50W with the included 250GB drive, if i measure a light bulb that is rated at 25W my meter says 23W so it seems accurate.

[EMM386]

Only the very early N38Ls had the 200w power supply. The ones with 150Gb hard drives. All the later N36Ls shipped with 250Gb hard drives had 150w power supplys. Presumably the ones that also ship with the N40L

[BKMacC]

Anyone else tried 2 x 2GB Corsair CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 memory?

I can't get the N40l to boot using it, works fine with the standard HP memory.

[Litreb]

Originally Posted by EMM386

Only the very early N38Ls had the 200w power supply. The ones with 150Gb hard drives. All the later N36Ls shipped with 250Gb hard drives had 150w power supplys. Presumably the ones that also ship with the N40L

Thank you, so unless there is something wrong with my PSU pretty much all owners of N40L and N36L should see this phantom load?

[Litreb]

Originally Posted by MacUsers

Well, I experienced that very thing (as I reported long time ago); I was really very surprised and logged a call with HP as well. Later, it appeared to be a case of dodgy meter. Using another meter (bought from Maplin) gave ~1W during soft-off. Do you think you can use a different meter to re-test?

Now it makes me thinking, why it's exactly 16W is coming in picture time to time? Cheers!!

Ive tested a different meter that reads 1W but its most likely a faulty value. The reason is it reads almost the same voltage and current as my meter but somehow calculate that into 1W.

The new meter says 230V, 0.065A and 1W.
The old meter says 230V, 0.07A and 16W.

Voltage * Amps = Watts
230V x 0.065A = 14.95W (yet it display 1W)
230V x 0.07A = 16.1W

If you got the time please check your meter again and multiply the voltage with the current and it probably equals something different than 1W.

Testing with 25W lightbulb both meters give correct values but for some reason they differ on the PSU.

[EMM386]

Originally Posted by Litreb

Thank you, so unless there is something wrong with my PSU pretty much all owners of N40L and N36L should see this phantom load?

Over the past year I read about 6 HP MicroServer threads daily and many folk have reported inconsistent values over that time.

Some report nominal values a la 1W

Others think their meters r dodgy

And some get a value similar to urs about 16w

[Litreb]

Originally Posted by EMM386

Over the past year I read about 6 HP MicroServer threads daily and many folk have reported inconsistent values over that time.

Some report nominal values a la 1W

Others think their meters r dodgy

And some get a value similar to urs about 16w

Yes, ive realized its not healthy using so much of my energy on this problem, time to move on. Torrow my hard drives and dvd arrive, finally time for installation.

Now for something completely different, how does the IMPI card work, do I need a second network cable for that card or does it share the same cable as the network adaptor?

[gkprabhu]

Hi folks, I have installed Windows Home Server 2011 on my machine. I just upgraded the RAM to 6 GB today. ( Added a 4 GB stick).
In my system settings it shows that I have 6 GB of RAM but only 1.87 GB usable. What does this mean ? I am pretty sure that it is not a OS Limitation as WHS is a 64 bit OS.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Gopal

[cjed]

Originally Posted by gkprabhu

Hi folks, I have installed Windows Home Server 2011 on my machine. I just upgraded the RAM to 6 GB today. ( Added a 4 GB stick).
In my system settings it shows that I have 6 GB of RAM but only 1.87 GB usable. What does this mean ? I am pretty sure that it is not a OS Limitation as WHS is a 64 bit OS.

Sounds like the same setup I have, which is the original 2GB stick + non-ECC 4GB stick, running WHS 2011 64bit. Control Panel\System and Security\System reports :
Installed Memory (RAM): 6.00 GB (5.87 GB usable)

Have you run a memory checker (such as Memtest86+) on your system ?

[gkprabhu]

Originally Posted by cjed

Sounds like the same setup I have, which is the original 2GB stick + non-ECC 4GB stick, running WHS 2011 64bit. Control Panel\System and Security\System reports :
Installed Memory (RAM): 6.00 GB (5.87 GB usable)

Have you run a memory checker (such as Memtest86+) on your system ?

Hi there

Thanks for your post. I ran a memory check on it and now it recognizes the ram. It shows up the same as yours 5.87 GB Usable.

Thank you kindly
Gopal

[jerrymac]

Originally Posted by Litreb

how does the IMPI card work, do I need a second network cable for that card or does it share the same cable as the network adaptor?

It uses a seperate network cable and gets a seperate IP address as it has its own network interface onboard.

[Sparky72]

Originally Posted by Litreb

Ive tested a different meter that reads 1W but its most likely a faulty value. The reason is it reads almost the same voltage and current as my meter but somehow calculate that into 1W.

The new meter says 230V, 0.065A and 1W.
The old meter says 230V, 0.07A and 16W.

Voltage * Amps = Watts
230V x 0.065A = 14.95W (yet it display 1W)
230V x 0.07A = 16.1W

If you got the time please check your meter again and multiply the voltage with the current and it probably equals something different than 1W.

Testing with 25W lightbulb both meters give correct values but for some reason they differ on the PSU.

Remember that a Lightbulb draws a sinusoidal current - A Switch-Mode PSU does not.
Non 50Hz sinusoidal waveforms require the meter to be "TRUE RMS" I very much doubt those cheap energy meters are!

[Litreb]

I have installed WHS2011, can I install all updates suggested by Windows Update? There is just one that is labeled Windows Home Server 2011 but loads that says Windows Server 2008.

If anyone wants a silent and power efficient hard drive and can do with "just" 1TB I can recommend a Western Digital Green (WD10EZRX), use less power than Seagate Green and the makes 21dB in idle and 22dB in seek. Please note that there are several Green versions so you dont end up with a louder, power hungry drive.

Originally Posted by Sparky72

Remember that a Lightbulb draws a sinusoidal current - A Switch-Mode PSU does not.
Non 50Hz sinusoidal waveforms require the meter to be "TRUE RMS" I very much doubt those cheap energy meters are!

Thanks, that explains why one one meter said 34W and another 46W.

[Schemer]

Is there a secret to removing the Mini SAS Cable?

I got everything disconnected except this cable but can't see to figure it out. The locking mechanism doesn't move up, I can't press it in and pull, what am I missing?

[MacUsers]

Originally Posted by Schemer

I got everything disconnected except this cable but can't see to figure it out. The locking mechanism doesn't move up, I can't press it in and pull, what am I missing?

Don't think you missing anything - I did a number of times before and the last time (a week ago) I didn't able to do that at all.

[cjed]

Originally Posted by Schemer

Is there a secret to removing the Mini SAS Cable?

I got everything disconnected except this cable but can't see to figure it out. The locking mechanism doesn't move up, I can't press it in and pull, what am I missing?

Don't worry, you're not the only one to find it a b*gg*r to remove. I also found the 4 way SAS connector very difficult to pull out.

In the end I resorted to Googling to find a way to pull it out. Apparently you need to push in the catch on the side, then push down slightly before pulling it up and out. It took a fair amount more force than I was comfortable with, but seemed to come out cleanly in the end.

[Litreb]

If the SAS cable still wont come off use a tiny flatheaded screwdriver and poke gently in the small slots of the motherboard connector ie on the side facing the CMOS-battery.

There are anchors that should release when pressing the catch but sometimes these get stuck in the two locking slots, you should be able to spot what slot is stuborn. Give it a hand with a gentle push and it should release its grasp of the cable.

[Schemer]

Originally Posted by Litreb

If the SAS cable still wont come off use a tiny flatheaded screwdriver and poke gently in the small slots of the motherboard connector ie on the side facing the CMOS-battery.

There are anchors that should release when pressing the catch but sometimes these get stuck in the two locking slots, you should be able to spot what slot is stuborn. Give it a hand with a gentle push and it should release its grasp of the cable.

That was it exactly, thanks!

[sancho1983]

Can anybody recommend a NVIDIA graphics card that would fit in this please.

I have an ATI one at the moment but I bought it before realising xbmc has issues with ATI and recommends NVIDIA.

Looking to spend 35 pounds max really. Someone suggested a 520 but I'm pretty clueless.

[dubcat]

Has anyone got wol working with Ubuntu on the n40l?

[Litreb]

Any pointers on how I should setup my spare internal hard drive in WHS2011?

I intend to take backups of the OS- and Media partition to an external drive but what shall I do with my currently empty second internal drive?

Would mirroring be a good choice to get some kind of redundancy?