Help me get the most gaming with the LEAST ELECTRICITY :)

[Blue_Max]

I've had some ideas recently and would like to solicit some advice to help with planning...

I'm trying to make some designs for an RV or cabin in a no-electricity location and don't want to lean hard on generator use. (Will aim for battery array/ solar/ wind/ some kind of generator as a last option.)
I'd also like a little entertainment for me and the family! Wondering what my best options would be for doing a little gaming... I should consider two options:

1) the most I can get from an IGP in an absolute lowest electricity use possible scenario, call this the "Minecraft" level...
or
2) use perhaps a little more electricity but gain a LOT more performance. I would probably use this machine a lot less than the 1-2 setups found above, but would be able to play something fancy and fun... call this the "Fallout" machine.

I never really scrutinized the electricity use of screens/TV's before so should be part of the equation.

So... for the Minecraft level, whatcha' think? Laptops with Intel ULV processors and Intel HD 5500 or newer? NUC machines + monitor?

The GT 1030 gets an awful lot of performance out of only 30W these days, but are there even lower-electricity options for a Fallout-level PC? Or gaming laptop with efficient MXM?

Would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks!

 

[lakedude]

I'd think you are looking at a laptop of some kind. The screen is going to be a big issue so the smaller the better there, within reason. LCDs have much lower power draw than plasma (I doubt that helped much). Also a laptop has a built in battery backup and they generally are built for low power since they run on batteries.

I have a cheap Lenovo that uses an i3 "U" processor and it comes with a tiny power supply. Not sure about the gaming ability but it just sips power to be sure. My full on i7 gaming laptop has a huge power brick and draws a ton of power. Gaming and low power don't really mix so you are asking a lot. I expect most any modern computer (i3 or better) could play Minecraft. Fallout is another story.

 

[lakedude]

Broke out the Kill-A-Watt and hooked it up to the i3-6100-U laptop w HD 520 graphics.

5-7 watts at idle with no screen
7-9 watts with screen
up to 15 watts surfing the internet
7 to 11 watts watching a show (short peak at 15 for just a second)

18-20 watts running OCCT CPU

OCCT-GPU fuzzy doughnut 23 watts at 32 FPS.

OCCT power supply 28 watts and 42 FPS. Anyone know, why does the FPS go up?

Laptop cost $280 including a 1TB HD w Windows 10, 15 inch screen, 4GB memory (the new version has 6GB), CD/DVD burner, but only 2 stinking USB ports. Poor man's ultrabook at 5 lbs plus only a few ounces more for the tiny 45 watt PS.

 

[cbn]

I agree laptop is likely the best option, but perhaps a smaller LED backlit desktop screen can work for the fallout machine. This with the brightness turned down to some degree and coupled to a small SFF desktop perhaps with a "S" or "T" processor and a GTX 1050 with power turned down via MSI afterburner.

Example: My 8.5 liter Dell Optiplex 9010 SFF has a power supply rated at up to 90% efficient....so not that much less efficient than a power brick under a load.

 

[cbn]

I never really scrutinized the electricity use of screens/TV's before so should be part of the equation.

LED uses less power than LCD. However, I was surprised looking at the following energy calculator the difference is not much for the smaller screen sizes:

http://energyusecalculator.com/electricity_lcdleddisplay.htm

 

[edcoolio]

100% best laptop you can afford.

I'm sure you know this stuff, but...

One of the axioms of "off the grid" living is to charge everything while you have juice. If you do not have the money to design everything at once (full solar, wind, generator, and battery system), then you are better off building from the generator up.

Basically, the order should be: generator - built in and rechargeable batteries by singular device (lights, laptop, whatever) - battery packs - solar - wind.

The idea is to build the basics for reuse. The generator you will likely need for water. If you do not want it on all the time with tons of gas, then a cheap water tower or pressure system is your "storage device". The same goes for rechargeable batteries that can run lamps, laptops, fans, toys, cell phones, tablets, and whatever else you want. The next step would be a marine battery to run a central led light system and charge small electronics.

A battery bank is the next step. Use your generator to charge your battery bank, then kill the generator. If you designed it correctly, it will last for as long as you need or want it. The nice thing about the battery bank setup at this step is that it allows you to modify your power needs calculation up or down until you have it set where you are comfortable, in actual use.

Finally, you can buy and connect your renewables. Since you already know exactly what you need to charge your battery bank, the calculation for amount of wind turbines (type/size) and number of solar panels (seasons/averages) becomes simple. Ideally, at this point, the generator becomes regulated to the backup solution, just incase a storm or thieves do a number on your expensive equipment.

Have fun with it, because it really is a cool thing to be doing.

 

[edcoolio]

LED uses less power than LCD. However, I was surprised looking at the following energy calculator the difference is not much for the smaller screen sizes:

http://energyusecalculator.com/electricity_lcdleddisplay.htm

EXCELLENT website.

 

[cbn]

The GT 1030 gets an awful lot of performance out of only 30W these days, but are there even lower-electricity options for a Fallout-level PC?

It will be coming to laptops soon in the form of MX 150:

http://www.geforce.com/whats-new/articles/nvidia-geforce-mx150-laptops

https://www.notebookcheck.com/NVIDIA-GeForce-MX150-Laptop-GT-1030-GPU.223528.0.html

 

[Blue_Max]

Fantastic info all 'round! I just hope I have time enough to raise the funds to build my "getaway" cabin... it was meant to be a nice holiday, not a bug-out!

Depending on timing, we may have all new CPU/GPU combos that could challenge the best frames-per-watt.

Edcoolio, we may need to talk more - I know this stuff only barely enough to know you really know what you're doing!

 

[cbn]

I just hope I have time enough to raise the funds to build my "getaway" cabin...

You also mentioned RV in the OP, so I was wondering if you had seen this yet..,,

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/tow-rigs-trailers/955664-how-home-build-rv-doesnt-look-like-ass.html

 

[JeffMD]

I think my q550lf is amazing for gaming vs how much power and heat it uses. The 740m is a little dated now for sure, but gems like this laptop that stuck a "good enuff" but cool running video chip with an i7u based chip is rare. I think that is what you want to look at though... today would probably see if its possible to find a 1050 siphoning off an i7u based cpu. If not then maybe a 960 will work well.