power consumption, p4 vs atom

[Lithium381]

I'm attempting to build a closet system to serve up files, print, download torrents and other random tasks. Ive found two platforms that i'm considering.
Intel P4 @ 2.4Ghz
Intel Atom 330 @ 1.6(dual core)


this system will be on 24/7..... how much more power will the p4 use as opposed to the atom.....i'm assuming over 90% idle time. what is the yearly energy cost diifference? I know the atom is toted as a power saver, but it's more expensive than the p4 that i'm looking at. will the lower power consumption outweigh the original cost?

 

[JMapleton]

You could save money by using the P4 to heat your house.

 

[evolucion8]

A typical Atom system idling will consume usually less than 4W of power, and will never go higher than 11W in full load, but a typical 2.4GHz Pentium 4 will idle sipping 40W of power easily and it could go as high as 86W on full load, definitively the lower power consumption will outweight the total original cost and will make you coffee!!

 

[Lonyo]

http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=3321&p=5
Asus Eee Box 20w under load.

Some assorted P4 systems:
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2275&p=13
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2353&p=4
FROM 100w idle (Yes, Prescotts in the 110~120w range for the most part but take a ~90w number for a P4 system based on the 3.4EE beinng 100w)


http://www.anandtech.com/casecoolingpsus/showdoc.aspx?i=3458&p=2
An article covering power consumption comparisons.
A 90w system will use ~$72/yr idle.
A 160w system will use ~128/yr idle. (cheapest energy prices).
That's a 70w difference giving >$50 in electricity/yr costs.

Now if you assume a 70w difference between the Atom and a P4, then the Atom will cost at least $50 less over the course of a year assuming 24/7 running.
The more expensive your electricity is, the greater the savings, but $50 is an approximate minimum.

 

[21stHermit]

will the lower power consumption outweigh the original cost?

Highly unlikely you will ever recover your initial cost in power savings.

Having said that, if power saving is your goal, go Atom Pine Trail, not the older 230/330. A PT D510 (dual core) soldered to a MB is $75 and uses half the power of N330.

A typical Atom system idling will consume usually less than 4W of power, and will never go higher than 11W in full load, but a typical 2.4GHz Pentium 4 will idle sipping 40W of power easily and it could go as high as 86W on full load, definitively the lower power consumption will outweight the total original cost and will make you coffee!!

Nonsense, that 4W is the TDP not the power at the wall. I have an Atom 330 I'm typing this on, it idles at 37 watts. The Atom itself is a fraction of the load. Add the 945 IGP, HDD, ODD, PSU loses, MB overhead, etc. A typical PSU takes over 4W with nothing connected. Your numbers for the P4 are closer to the mark.

 

[Lorne]

I would assume there is more functionallity and control over the Atom then the P4 not to mention future expantion.

CPU consumption is not your only watt verible, Motherboard size, Addon GPU or IGPU (AGP cards are powerhogs all around)

Even a super low end Core2 system would be better then anything P4 as a closetserver.

 

[Lithium381]

based on your caclulations, the p4 is the better way to go. the atom system would be $220 where i can get the p4 system for $55. that's three years of power i'd have to make up, and in those three years i can enjoy much more power.

 

[evolucion8]

Highly unlikely you will ever recover your initial cost in power savings.

Having said that, if power saving is your goal, go Atom Pine Trail, not the older 230/330. A PT D510 (dual core) soldered to a MB is $75 and uses half the power of N330.

Nonsense, that 4W is the TDP not the power at the wall. I have an Atom 330 I'm typing this on, it idles at 37 watts. The Atom itself is a fraction of the load. Add the 945 IGP, HDD, ODD, PSU loses, MB overhead, etc. A typical PSU takes over 4W with nothing connected. Your numbers for the P4 are closer to the mark.

For your information, I was talking about the TDP, not at the power at the wall. A Pentium 4 can suck by itself 86W just for fun, an atom will never get that close, plus if you buy an Atom that runs at 1.60GHz or higher, it might outperform slighly the Pentium 4 at 2.40GHz, but in terms of overall performance, the Pentium 4 is simply better, but horribly inefficient in terms of performance/power ratio.

 

[Auric]

Choose the power supply carefully too so that the average draw is within its most effficient range.

 

[Hacp]

Highly unlikely you will ever recover your initial cost in power savings.

Having said that, if power saving is your goal, go Atom Pine Trail, not the older 230/330. A PT D510 (dual core) soldered to a MB is $75 and uses half the power of N330.

Nonsense, that 4W is the TDP not the power at the wall. I have an Atom 330 I'm typing this on, it idles at 37 watts. The Atom itself is a fraction of the load. Add the 945 IGP, HDD, ODD, PSU loses, MB overhead, etc. A typical PSU takes over 4W with nothing connected. Your numbers for the P4 are closer to the mark.

How could that be? When my laptop is disconencted from power, it usually consumes 10-15watts idle with wifi on and the LCD on. Thats using a Core 2 duo.

 

[Farfrumhumpn]

Honestly, I saw the title and was like. . . How are they different? P4 and atom splitting both give off the same heat don't they?

Honestly, it's the difference between walking in the cool night then suddenly falling down a deep hole and going * OMGOMGOMG !!! THE HELLFIRES ARE BURNING ME !!! *

It's the differences between a failed attempt at lighting a fart then suceeding only to have the fiery ball of gas sucked back into your lower intestines while yelling * OOHHHHH MY GOOOODDDD !!!!! *

 

[Auric]

Dunno about the numbers, but that old chipset actually consumed more power than Atom itself, hence the importance to go with the purposely designed Pine Trail platform.

 

[lyssword]

Honestly, I saw the title and was like. . . How are they different? P4 and atom splitting both give off the same heat don't they?

Honestly, it's the difference between walking in the cool night then suddenly falling down a deep hole and going * OMGOMGOMG !!! THE HELLFIRES ARE BURNING ME !!! *

It's the differences between a failed attempt at lighting a fart then suceeding only to have the fiery ball of gas sucked back into your lower intestines while yelling * OOHHHHH MY GOOOODDDD !!!!! *

Funniest thing I've read today

 

[coolVariable]

Definitely go with the P4 ... as others have said, you won't be able to recover the higher upfront costs for the atom.
and you can maybe underclock the P4???
For your needs you might be fine with a P4 at 1GHz.