[mythtv-users] Requesting some sample kill a watt meter numbers

[Joe Hickey]

On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 3:01 PM, Michael T. Dean
<mtdean at thirdcontact.com> wrote:
>  On 01/18/2011 10:48 AM, Joe Hickey wrote:
>>
>> I think the answer to my question is: if I want to substantially
>> reduce that number I have to look toward the atoms,
>
> No.  If you want to substantially reduce the power consumption, you need to
> shut down the system when not in use.

Not arguing with you on that -- and I clearly see and agree that it's
the highest bang for the buck.  In fact I'll probably do just that
with this machine.  The only issue I have is that there are SOME
services on this machine that I will have to move elsewhere (or give
up) when it's not running 24/7, things like mythweb and openvpn for
remote access, and it's also a file server on our network.  So, I'm
willing to to run _one_ system 24/7, and I'll shut down the rest.  I
just want that one system to be as low power as possible.

> Note that a MythTV developer (who isn't currently able to send an e-mail to
> this list--and I'll leave out names to protect the innocent) mentioned in
> IRC, early this morning, that his Mac Mini idles at lower than the 20W that
> many are quoting for their Atom-based systems.  (Note, also, that you can

I don't doubt you.  I really like the mac mini - I even bought one for
my mother.  But for the price I paid for that mini, it just extends
the return on investment out so far (like >6 years at NYC rates) that
it really doesn't make sense anymore...  Atom is at least cheap on
both sides- building and running.

> off the headroom--you /can't/ draw high power (but even when your at load,
> you're not accomplishing as much as, say a system with a nice Core 2 Duo
> that may hit higher power draw, but for significantly smaller times--and may
> idle at equivalent or lower power draw...).

That's actually the exact point I was trying to figure out by starting
this thread in the first place: is it possible to build a system
around a "real" processor that idles down near atom-level (say...
30w?).   It seems like it's possible in theory; a modern CPU with all
its power-saving features turned on SHOULD be just burning a watt or
two at idle.  My observation/theory is that when you go with a
standard processor, the requisite chipset and "features" on the
motherboard seem to consume more power than the CPU itself.

I was hoping someone would chime in with a build spec'd around a real
CPU that only drew 30 watts or so at idle, but so far it seems like in
real world usage a system with a Core2 or Athlon draws 2-3x the power
at the wall than an Atom-based system.

Again, hoping that someone can show an example where that's not true....

Thanks again for the thoughts and advice!