Looking to build an energy saving rig

[gumpish]

I'm looking to have a machine running at home all the time, and I'd like it to be a power efficient box. At a minimum I'd want it running a UNIX-like operating system and sshd so that if I want to turn on any of my other machines, I can do so by broadcasting the appropriate magic packet from this small system I'm thinking about. (If only my Netgear router would let me route incoming packets to the broadcast address I could wake my machines up without using a go-between.)

I've never looked into this side of PC hardware before. Even the 65W TDP AMD processor is overkill. Can I make a diskless system that uses some sort of nvram for primary storage? No video hardware needed...

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Go outside, buy a beer, talk to a woman.

 

[Blain]

I don't see how you can get around the spinning of an optical drive. Maybe use an external unit, only connected when you need it.
But eveything else you can get to run dead silent.

A VIA EPIA EN12000E will get you some very efficient computing, not powerful, but efficient and silent.
Along with that, use a Gigabyte i-RAM for your storage needs. Again, there are big trade offs with going silent...
The i-RAM offers very limited capacity. You would also need a UPS for backup power, to hold the memory.
You can get fanless PS and video cards too.

:laugh: >> The PC would have definite limits, but it would be efficient and silent << :laugh:

 

[0roo0roo]

seasonic is pretty efficient for psu but yes there are fanless for even more.

 

[SuperNaruto]

wait for the pqi, sandisk, samsung ssds.... 32gb to 64 gb

 

[Blain]

Wait, Wait, Wait... :thumbsdown:
If you wait long enough you won't need a PC, because they will be implanted in your brain. :laugh:

 

[The Boston Dangler]

my best guesses at this type of rig:
VIA ITX or Intel MOTD (mobile on the desktop) these boards should have all necessary stuff (audio/video, USB, IDE/SATA, ethernet)
pico-PSU
bootable USB stick (if the board supports boot from USB)

www.spcr.com

 

[lobbyone]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
my best guesses at this type of rig:
VIA ITX or Intel MOTD (mobile on the desktop) these boards should have all necessary stuff (audio/video, USB, IDE/SATA, ethernet)
pico-PSU
bootable USB stick (if the board supports boot from USB)

www.spcr.com

same thought, scary

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: gumpish
I'm looking to have a machine running at home all the time, and I'd like it to be a power efficient box.

When it comes to home computers, just forget energy and go with cheap parts. Spending an extra $100 on parts will save what, like 5 cents per month on your energy bill? The computer will break down long before you recover the initial investment of efficient parts.

 

[BBock727]

Originally posted by: ShawnD1

Originally posted by: gumpish
I'm looking to have a machine running at home all the time, and I'd like it to be a power efficient box.

When it comes to home computers, just forget energy and go with cheap parts. Spending an extra $100 on parts will save what, like 5 cents per month on your energy bill? The computer will break down long before you recover the initial investment of efficient parts.

I agree, but maybe hes not worried about the money. Maybe he is just trying to keep the planet green.

There is the same issue with cars. You can buy a hybrid which costs like $5k more than the standard gas, same model car. Articles I read say you need to keep a hybrid for approximately 7 years to recoop your investment. (and thats just to break even).

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: BBock727
I agree, but maybe hes not worried about the money. Maybe he is just trying to keep the planet green.

There is the same issue with cars. You can buy a hybrid which costs like $5k more than the standard gas, same model car. Articles I read say you need to keep a hybrid for approximately 7 years to recoop your investment. (and thats just to break even).

Alright then.

Isn't there a way to boot Linux from a USB drive? It shouldn't be too hard to get a 1gb or 2gb storage for $50-100

 

[Blain]

Time for this topic to move to "Operating Systems" forum.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
my best guesses at this type of rig:
VIA ITX or Intel MOTD (mobile on the desktop) these boards should have all necessary stuff (audio/video, USB, IDE/SATA, ethernet)
pico-PSU
bootable USB stick (if the board supports boot from USB)

www.spcr.com

VIA EPIA EN12000E system with one notebook HDD and an optical drive at idle drawing a mere 17W from the wall. Peak (using ATI Tool and CPUBurn) was 24W. If the machine's just going to run Linux at the command prompt waiting for remote commands and idling most of the time...

$191 1.2GHz C7 CPU that draws 9W and runs passively

$39 PICO PSU (needs a notebook power brick)

$14 CF adaptor lets you run any Compact Flash card and system thinks it is a hard drive

That should get the OP started...