Do I need a better PSU?

[GiganticDays]

Just built a file server with the following spec (bits I had lying around mainly)

Gigabyte GA-M68M-S2P motherboard
AMD Phenom 9650 2.3GHz Quad
4Gb DDRII 800MHz RAM
1 x WD 1600BB PATA (System drive)
1 x Samsung HD204UI 2Tb SATA
2 x Seagate ST200DL 2Tb SATA
1 x Seagate ST32005 2Tb SATA
Trust 420W PSU

Originally I setup the 4 x 2Tb drives in a RAID 5 array creating a single 5.5Tb volume.

Started copying files over from an external USB drive - all going well so far. Then on top of that transfer I started copying files over the network.

Shortly after starting the second transfer I heard what I though was one of the drives shutting down (click) and both transfers stalled.

I though the RAID setup might be at fault so I deleted the array and set up the drives separately.
Started copying from the USB drive to one of the SATAs then over the network to another.
As soon as the second transfer started the same thing happened.

Seatools doesn't seem to be able to test these drives (says test not available or fails them all together). I just removed all four drives from a ReadyNas NV+ in which they were all healthy and I doubt they've all failed together.

I'm currently transferring from the external USB drive alone without a problem.

Any ideas what's going wrong?

[JPMiller]

Never heard of trust as a brand...
can you post a picture of it?
and what is the +12V amperage rating from the sticker?
power supply issues are notoriously hard to troubleshoot.
The only true way is to swap with a quality brand.

[GiganticDays]

Here's the info from Trust.
Trust.com - 420W PSU Big Fan

[ShyguyXPC]

I've heard of and seen Trust Brand PSU's, but only in passing over the years, usually from users in UK/EU regions, don't know much about them, whether their good, bad, or whatever. but due to scarcity of seeing them around, I'd be willing to bet their low end.

The fact that they don't even list the voltage specs of the unit on their site or product page, let alone any pics with the label displaying that info, is a sure sign its low end trash.

[GiganticDays]

Yep. Like I said; stuff I had lying around. Is this one good enough?
Coolermaster RS-500-ASAB GX-Lite 500W Power Supply (PSU) - Scan.co.uk

[ShyguyXPC]

should be, I don't see why it wouldn't. Its a decent brand, and should have enough power to run the system as listed.

[GiganticDays]

A bit more info on the symptoms.

When transferring files either from a USB drive or over the network - so long as that's all I'm doing ie. a single transfer, all is OK.

As soon as I try to do something else with any of the drives, even just browsing folders, there is a series of clicks from one or more (it's hard to tell) of the drives, then the transfer stalls.

It doesn't fail, however, because if I leave it for a short while it will resume.

Does that sound like a PSU problem or one or more failing HDDs?

[GiganticDays]

OK I've ordered the PSU.
Anyone got any idea why Seatools for Windows can't even see any of the SATA HDDs, even when they're connected singly?

[JPMiller]

power issues are insanely random and dont always make sense, they also tend to make it look like the wrong hardware is at fault...
AND, dirty power can damage hardware and corrupt data and therefore software.
To be able to really troubleshoot, you HAVE replace the PSU first

[GiganticDays]

Turned out there were three separate issues at work here.

1. One of the drives was failing
2. PSU wasn't up to the job
3. NVidia RAID driver was corrupt.

Replaced all three and everything working tickety-boo

Thanks for the help.