Low power linux box ideas

[Venner]

I didn't see any threads more recent than 5 or so years ago, so I thought I'd ask.

I'd like to buy or build an ultra-low power linux box, and I'm not sure what's out there these days, or in that market segment. Ideally, it'd be able to run a full (if minimal) linux distro.

I'm planning to use it as a box I can leave on 24/7 for:
(a) web server (apache or a lighter alternative), with PHP and an SQL Db of some sort
(b) Asterisk PBX (I have vintage phones I connect via VOIP)
(c) Plex (doesn't need to be able to transcode.)
(d) misc other functions (less important)

Needs: ethernet (preferably giga) and at least one USB port.

It won't see heavy use or many users, and I'm mostly concerned about power consumption -- especially since I may be moving to a country where electricity is much more expensive, for work. (On that note, I need to make sure the input power can take 120/240v.) Lower cost always better.

 

[Ken g6]

Raspberry Pi might work. It has Asterisk. I'm not sure if it could do it all at once though.

Minnowboard Max could have great potential. But it won't be out for a couple of months.

You can install a different OS on an ASUS ChromeBox, but if you don't press a key every time you boot, it gets wiped and replaced with Chrome OS. :hmm:

 

[mvbighead]

I'll leave this here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2377340

 

[snoturtle]

You could wait for the new revision of the DN2820FYKH to come out
Read somewhere their was an issue with USB on the early models
Hopefully they will be back in stock soon as I want to order one

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/nuc-board-dn2820fykh.html

 

[mfenn]

What does "ultra-low power" mean? 5W max? 15W max? 25W max?

 

[Venner]

For me, ultra-low power would be the least possible power draw that could handle the tasks I mentioned on a 24/7 basis. Where I live now, I keep my server on all the time. At $0.08 - $0.10 per kwh, it costs me (at worst) $15 a month, which I certainly wouldn't mind saving. At $0.40/kwh where I may be moving however, the cost of a normal server would become ridiculous. I'd *like* to see < 10w at idle.

That AMD setup mvbighead posted looks nice and the price is right, but -- just from the few initial reviews I could find -- it looks like the Intel offerings draw less power for the same performance (roughly -- barring video). They are also passively cooled system which, while they run hotter than the AMD offerings should be quieter too.

I hadn't thought about also replacing my HTPC setup with such a unit -- after all, it's only on if I'm watching a movie, so power's not as big a concern -- but if it were robust enough, that might lean me towards the AMD side, which seems to handle 1080p output better. Hmmm.

(My 16Tb of film storage is in an external unit with USB/eSata/GigaE, so not a real concern for the problem.)

 

[jaydee]

Those Ivy Bridge i3 NUC's for $170 a few months ago would have been great. They're about $230 now, still not bad.

 

[alfa147x]

I've been considering the GIGABYTE GA-J1800N-D2H
But I would have to get a mini PCIe to PCIe 1x adapter


This combo sounds promising:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...=Combo.1619485


This is what I've come up with so far:

 

[mfenn]

For me, ultra-low power would be the least possible power draw that could handle the tasks I mentioned on a 24/7 basis.

As long as your web app isn't really intensive, then I see no reason why a Silvermont or Kabini couldn't meet your needs. Something like this GA-J1900N-D3V Silvermont board for example.

 

[Venner]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Yes, looking at your suggestions and doing more research, if I were to buy today, I would lean towards the GA-J1900N-D3V, for its relative power, low electricity consumption and the dual Ethernet ports. I use a DVI-to-HDMI cable for my current HTPC setup, so if gave this build that responsibility as well, the lack of HDMI would not bother me.

I have a while before I learn whether I will get the position overseas, and should also have a goodly amount time after that before I report, so I can bide my time for some deals or new developments. Time to start watching for sales on quiet, efficient power supplies and cheap ram; thankfully I already have a smaller spare SSD from a previous project.

 

[Knavish]

Time to start watching for sales on quiet, efficient power supplies and cheap ram; thankfully I already have a smaller spare SSD from a previous project.

I've been wanting to build a power efficient server with a PicoPSU for a while. If you're under 150 W max load, they should do great. With the right power brick they can be >80% efficient at loads between 20W and 100W.

http://www.mini-box.com/DC-DC

 

[mfenn]

I've been wanting to build a power efficient server with a PicoPSU for a while. If you're under 150 W max load, they should do great. With the right power brick they can be >80% efficient at loads between 20W and 100W.

http://www.mini-box.com/DC-DC

:thumbsup: A PicoPSU is the perfect way to go for really low power boxes like this. It takes up next to no space and is completely silent.

 

[pitz]

You can install a different OS on an ASUS ChromeBox, but if you don't press a key every time you boot, it gets wiped and replaced with Chrome OS. :hmm:

Is this really true? Could one not just remove the M.2 SSD and replace it with a blank one? Or have they really gone to the lengths of embedding a restore capability into the UEFI or coreboot firmware?

 

[Venner]

I've been wanting to build a power efficient server with a PicoPSU for a while. If you're under 150 W max load, they should do great. With the right power brick they can be >80% efficient at loads between 20W and 100W.

http://www.mini-box.com/DC-DC

That is a very cool idea, but where would one go about getting a power brick that would work? I am assuming that these are meant more for a datacenter or elsewhere where you might have a DC rail to plug into to? I would be extraordinarily leery to connecting a computer directly to the mains with nothing but a transformer and DC rectifier in between. Even a cheap-o power supply will have a basic filter network and so forth. I suppose it would be okay if we were sourcing from a good-quality UPS unit to begin with. (And shoot, I just noticed that my APC UPS units won't take 220v inputs. Bah.)

 

[Knavish]

That is a very cool idea, but where would one go about getting a power brick that would work? I am assuming that these are meant more for a datacenter or elsewhere where you might have a DC rail to plug into to? I would be extraordinarily leery to connecting a computer directly to the mains with nothing but a transformer and DC rectifier in between. Even a cheap-o power supply will have a basic filter network and so forth. I suppose it would be okay if we were sourcing from a good-quality UPS unit to begin with. (And shoot, I just noticed that my APC UPS units won't take 220v inputs. Bah.)

I've seen them used in embedded systems before that used a shared DC power supply between multiple components. Most people who use them for their PCs just plug the PicoPSU into a laptop-style power brick. If you look at the minibox site at the link I posted, they have different wattage power bricks available for the different PicoPSUs.

If you have a good power brick these can buy you some efficiency because the power bricks are 80% efficient under 100 Watts vs. a ~300 Watt computer power supply that might be 70% efficient at the same low wattage. I guess it might just be a savings of a few watts in the end. Some people also like the PicoPSU because they move the bulky power supply outside of the case. Just watch out -- they do not typically have many connections available for HD or DVD drives.

 

[mfenn]

Is this really true? Could one not just remove the M.2 SSD and replace it with a blank one? Or have they really gone to the lengths of embedding a restore capability into the UEFI or coreboot firmware?

Yes, it's really true. Google mandates that all Chrome* appliances have a "developer mode", where you can do whatever you want. And no, you cannot just replace the drive becasue the bootloader is locked (ah, the joys of UEFI).

That is a very cool idea, but where would one go about getting a power brick that would work? I am assuming that these are meant more for a datacenter or elsewhere where you might have a DC rail to plug into to? I would be extraordinarily leery to connecting a computer directly to the mains with nothing but a transformer and DC rectifier in between. Even a cheap-o power supply will have a basic filter network and so forth. I suppose it would be okay if we were sourcing from a good-quality UPS unit to begin with. (And shoot, I just noticed that my APC UPS units won't take 220v inputs. Bah.)

Mini-box sells compatible power supplies, some even come in kits.

There's nothing fundamentally different between a modern ATX PSU and a "high-output" plugpack. They're both true switchmode power supplies; you won't find anything with a simple transformer and and rectifier in this market. Hell, you can hardly find them in any market these days because that much copper is too expensive.