IS there a way to find power(WATTS) the computer is using?

Lord Banshee

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Sep 8, 2004
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OK i want to make a new HTPC/FilePrintServer But i don't want to do it if it is going to eat me alive on my electric bill if i leave it on 24/7. I need something to find the power useage when machine is idle.

Maybe even something that will allow it to go into sleep mode when not being used then if someone starts looking for a file and/or Printer it wakes up (FAST)?

Never did something like this any ideas?

Machine will probally be

AMD64 1.8
1024MB
nf4 with 6150
PSU unknow at the moment.
WinXP
 

Doctorweir

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Sep 20, 2000
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You need a power meter that is plugged between the power plug and your PC.
I use one of these for my PC to find out, that it consumes 110W idle and 300W at full 3D action load.
You should be able to get one of those in an electronics shop...
 

Lord Banshee

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Sep 8, 2004
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Thanks guys

Does anyone know how to make windows do what i said in the second topic? Maybe post it in OS Forums.
 

Doctorweir

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Originally posted by: Lord Banshee
Thanks guys

Does anyone know how to make windows do what i said in the second topic? Maybe post it in OS Forums.

This should work when the Wake-On-LAN (WOL) function is activated in the BIOS...
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
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I don't think WOL would get the machine running soon enough for use as a file server and print server. I believe the solution is just to intelligently spec the machine to use as little power as possible from the start.

If you're serious about having the ultimate low power system and don't need a super high performance file server (RAID on GBe) then get something like the following:

AC adaptor
Pico PSU claims near 100% efficient
a VIA mini-ITX board

Combine those parts with a USB printer and a single, large hard drive and you'll have probably the most power and space efficient server you can imagine. I'd be willing to assume that such a setup will probably consume less than 50 watts idle - and that's including the printer. Note that these parts are also available elsewhere, I just linked to this store because it was convenient.

If you want to stick with more "common" parts:

Sempron 3000+ (supposedly lowest socket 754 with Cool and Quiet)
SiS chipset board with IGP (I believe uses less power than Geforce6100/6150)

Use the highest efficiency and lowest power output PSU you can find because PSUs usually are most efficient closer to the maximum output. Inefficiency is just wasted Watts. Let's say a 400W PSU is 70% efficient at full draw, meaning when you have components drawing a total of 400W power, the PSU actually draws around 571W from your wall outlet and wasts the extra 171W as heat. The same 400W PSU may only be 50% efficient at a 200W output, meaning if your components draw 200W, the PSU takes 400W from the wall and wastes the extra as heat. Thus the importance of high efficiency and as low an output as you can get away with while being stable.

Use integrated graphics only, and one of the lower performing offerings instead of the highest. That graphics performance won't help a server at all and just makes the system draw more power.

The lowest CPU with Cool and Quiet - I've heard that it is the Sempron 3000+ for socket 754. The reason for this choice is that a lower active transistor count will equal lower power usage and the 128k cache Semprons are the lowest on that platform, plus with Cool and Quiet, just get a third party tool such as RMClock and manually set the CPU to the lowest multiplier, then set the voltage to the lowest that it can run stable at that speed. I do something similar on my Pentium M notebook (using CrystalCPU) and my battery life increases dramatically while still being powerful enough to watch movies for 4-5 hours on a charge (on long flights).

Minimize the number of hard drives. Each hard drive adds between 5-10W of power draw. Go for a single 500GB drive if you need the space instead of three 160GB drives, for instance.
 

Lord Banshee

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Sep 8, 2004
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ZAP

Wow thanks for all the info

But,
the Semprons don't have Cool and Quiet, my last htpc was a sempron64 2600+ it did not have the feature. Reason why i am planning to use a Athlon64 3000+ (and tomorrow when my opteron comes in i'll have an extra)

Also i don't want to go with the Via itx and/or the Sis IGP solution as i would like the machine to be used for HTPC.... Well maybe not, haven't decided just yet as i never really used my old one lol.

But if i would go the HTPC route i was thinking about this PSUSeaSonic S12-330

yeah i was planning to use only one HD.

But if i decided to go to with the Via w/ITX design, does it support windows?
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
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The VIA mini-ITX can run Windows just fine.

The lowest end Seasonic S12 series is a good choice.

I was not aware that you also were thinking of HTPC chores for the system. That plus your upcoming surplus CPU makes your parts list make sense. The VIA mini-ITX has probably seen duty in many HTPCs but IMO it is a bit underpowered for those tasks, especially if you want to do FFDSHOW post processing or play an occasional game on the big screen. You can still use software to manually underclock/undervolt the CPU (instead of relying on standard Windows power management and Cool and Quiet).

I have heard over and over again that the Semprons 3000+ and up (not including original 130nm) have Cool and Quiet, which is why I recommended it but with the word "supposedly." I have not personally used a Sempron with this feature (2600+ and 130nm 3100+).

Just find a board with TV-out, underclock/volt the CPU and you'll be set! :thumbsup:
 

Lord Banshee

Golden Member
Sep 8, 2004
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How i would love to spend the money on the S12 and a very nice case i found this case with 220 PSU online

Antec Minute II

Do you think will be good for (PSU wise)
AMD64 1.8 (hopefully i'll be able to undervolt it some and Prime Stable)
Gigabyte GA-K8N51PVMT-9
2x 512MB DDR400
1x IDE/SATA HD
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
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That PSU should be decent for your modest system. It has 12A on the +12v for the rated 220W and I've seen that amperage on craptacular PSUs "rated" at 400W.