Low power socket 370 P3?

[mikeford]

I picked up a cheap old "client" style small PC based on a Intel® Desktop Board D810E2CB which currently has a Celeron 600. I am using it as a 24/7 server with very light duty running xp pro. Intel dropped support in 2004, and highest speed P3 they show is 1.1 Ghz with 133 bus. Any suggestions on a low power cpu, maybe a mobile P3?

 

[Doctorweir]

Hmmm...will a Cyrix C3 fit on that board? Not much to give performance-wise, but may run passive-cooled...
Enough for a file / routing server in the cabinet...

 

[Zap]

Are you needing "powerful" or "low power?" For the former, get a Tualatin CPU on an adaptor - fringe benefit is slightly lower power usage than a Coppermine of same speed. For the latter, as Doctorweir said look for a VIA C3 (AKA Cyrix). Look for one using an Ezra core at 800MHz or higher that runs on 1.35v. The 800MHz ones overlapped with the older Samuel2 core which ran at 1.65v. Above 800MHz they were all Ezra. The ones 1000MHz or higher (I think up to 1.2GHz) may be a different core - I'm no longer "into" them.

The Ezra core CPUs will probably use less power than the Celeron 600, but also may be similar or lesser performance even with the frequency advantage.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Any particular reason you need more oomph than that C600 can provide?

Sounds like you have a Compaq iPaq desktop ... you may also be limited to 100FSB on that model, but I'm not sure. Either way, your heatsink configuration will decide what you can and can't run passively. I had a Tualeron running passive 24/7 in an mATX case.

- M4H

 

[mikeford]

Its a Micron Clientpro PC, a solid little box, micron made good stuff, and its just a 145 watt ps, so low power seemed like a possibility.

I got no gripe with the C600, its working fine, but the only application running is a chat bot for a game I play (anarchy online, ignbot.) 24/7 without a sneeze for about a month now, and I am more curious than driven to see what sort of low power options might work.

Noise is a slight factor, the old 10 GB WD drive being the main source, but I haven't tucked it away out of sight etc. yet.

Besides what sort of a geek would I be to buy a new box and not fiddle around with it?

Via C3 looks like it should work, ditto some Cyrix, but I don't quite understand the socket terminology. Shentech has some in what they call micro (fc) pga, but the large print call the cpu a socket 370.

 

[mikeford]

I should mention that the Intel 810 board and I "think" the rest of the system do support a lot of neat low power modes, various hibernations and some kind of instant restart mode, but I haven't messed with any of those yet. Something blips the HD light a few times a minute, but no clue on what it is.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: mikeford
Via C3 looks like it should work, ditto some Cyrix, but I don't quite understand the socket terminology. Shentech has some in what they call micro (fc) pga, but the large print call the cpu a socket 370.

wouldn't it make more sense to pick up a pentium III off ebay?

and why do you need a low power chip? if you get a nice chunky heatsink with a silent fan, like the spire whisperrock, you can cool any pentium III chip more or less silently.

 

[mikeford]

Southern California Edison, 20 cents per Kwhr, 140 watts 24/7/365, plus its geekier to make things use lots more or lots less power.

1.1 Ghz P3 is on the Intel approved list for the MB, but ebay seems a pricey venue, more like I will look in some of the scrap computer places.

I might spend a bit more and get a replacement modern MB in the flex ATX format as another option.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: mikeford
I might spend a bit more and get a replacement modern MB in the flex ATX format as another option.

Well, if you go that route all your problems would be solved. Just get whichever mini-ITX VIA board/CPU combo (more powerful, or less power with no fans). Combine that with a notebook hard drive and a mini power supply, and you'll have a complete system that draws less power than the video card in your gaming rig and is whisper quiet (if you can hear it at all).