[mythtv-users] Power Saving Frontend Ideas

[Rick Hudson]

On 14/04/2008 3:02 p.m., Brian Foddy wrote:

>> I have a combined frontend and backend so so my requirements are slightly
>>  different so my solution is to have an efficient computer and leave it
>> on. My whole computer only uses about 15W (measured) when it's idle with
>> the HDD spun down (OS is on flash drive) and I figure that's reasonable 
>> provided all the other theatre gear (monitor, amp, sub, etc) have
>> sub-watt standby modes - which they do.
> 
> Can you describe your machine a bit more.  15 watts of power is VERY low in
> my experience.

Sure. The motherboard is a Commel LV-675 which has a 1.8GHz Intel Pentium-M 
(first gen) CPU and Intel 82845G GPU. Its power supply is an internal DC/DC 
converter with an external 60W power brick (no PSU fan). TranquilPC in the UK 
sell these as a complete zero-noise HTPC. Pentium-M's normally need fan 
cooling but Tranquil replace the fan with a heat pipe and and external heat 
sink. I've never experienced any reliability issues with this design.

15W is very common for low horsepower mobos intended for embedded applications 
(VIA have a large range in the Mini ITX form factor) and now that laptop 
technology is making it into regular mobos you get suprisingly high 
performance with very low idle power. In fact using 50W at full tilt with the 
hard drive running is not too bad either.

> I too have a kill-a-watt and the lowest power machine I have in my house is
> a p2-450 that uses about 56 watts, its a linux firewall running 24x7.

It's quite alarming what you discover with those things. :-)

> I'd be curious in a ultra-low power firewall machine where performance 
> isn't a big issue, and a much better performance HD frontend machine that
> has good sleep and power features.

I have a linux firewall running on an Axiomtek SBC. It's only 400MHz or 
something but it comes in a tiny case that looks like an Ethernet switch and 
uses less than 10W (might be as low as 5).

-- 
Rick Hudson
http://www.kpo.org.nz/                                        rick at kpo.org.nz