[mythtv-users] Backend hardware advice - Power usage - RESULTS

David Rees drees76 at gmail.com
Thu Aug 3 20:01:23 UTC 2006


On 8/3/06, dave johnson <DJ4904 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Storage system:
> -1GHz PIII System
> -512MB Ram
> -Intel Desktop Board with integrated video
> -Intel Pro1000 Desktop Card ($15 craigslist)
> -3Ware 7508-12 PATA RAID controller ($219 ebay)

All this probably sucks about 40-60w.

> -11x200GB Seagate 7200.8 PATA HD ($43/ea total after rebate)

Each drive is about 8-10w each idle.

> -2x250W powersupplies (connect green leads from each ATX connector to have
> both support auto-on/off.

Why 2 PSUs? What PSU specifically? Most PSUs are horribly inefficient,
as in 50-60% efficient. A good PSU these days is over 80% efficient so
this will save you 25-50w. Something like the Seasonic S12-330 will
have plenty of power for your system and has high efficiency.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article596-page1.html

> Total at this max load hovered between 218W and 228W

The Mersenne Prime program and running it in torture mode to fully
exercise the CPU.

> Now I need to grab a Goede system and see what it comes in at but from the
> looks of it :)

That will reduce the 60w to about 15w which is pretty nice. I think
that combined with an efficient PSU will get your power utilization
down to 125w during idle if not lower.

Aside from that, if you can spin down the drives that drops the power
of the drives down to nearly negligible when they're not in use.

-Dave


More information about the mythtv-users mailing list