Need something cheap to run on electric

[blakmumba]

Hi all, been awhile since i've visited this site. Basically need advice AGAIN .
At the moment im running the following - i7 920DO (stock with cool and quiet enabled where it downclocks and uses less electric), Asus Rampage II Extreme, GTX480, Corsair XMS3 1.65v etc. With losing my job (redundant) im hoping to sell this and get something much cheaper to run as I just about can afford the electric bills.

Please could someone advise me what to look for as in a good cheap processor, motherboard etc that is cheap to run on electric and preferably with on board graphics (just cannot afford to spend a lot but do need a pc for the kids).

All help would be much appreciated.

Thankyou all

 

[cmndr_andi]

Hi there,

Would you consider just selling the graphics card (which uses 250W at full load) to a low-power card like this HD 5450 (18W at full load)? This card is still DX11 and can decode 1080p video - it just isn't much good for playing modern games.

In contrast, the i7 920 only has a maximum draw of 130W - and it should only hit that when you are running the CPU at full whack, in normal use (internet browsing, video playing) it should be half that. So it may not be worth the hassle changing this CPU/mobo - since it performs rather nicely and the 2nd hand market is rather flooded with these parts - so the prices are artificially low. You may also want to consider underclocking/undervolting - to make your existing CPU even more power efficient.

Also, may I ask what PSU you are using?

 

[edscdk]

someone else will work out the figures, but electric is uber cheap you will save nothing.....

selling the PC to save on electric is a folly... unless you don't replace it

 

[cmndr_andi]

Here are some numbers, this review on Anandtech of the GTX 480 uses an i7 920@ 3.33Ghz, 6GB of RAM and a single SSD - so pretty much the same as the OPs system, minus the overclock. That said, their test is using a very large 1200W PSU, so their idle figures may be a bit higher than they would be running off a smaller/more efficient PSU due to low efficiency at such relatively low load levels.

According to that page the idle power usage is 190W and the gaming load power usage is 420W. If we assume that the PC is on 8 hours per day, 7 hours "idle" (low power usage - browsing internet etc.) and 1 hour gaming - so 219W average over a day.

This makes 1.75kWh per day due to the computer. Say your daytime rate of electricity is 15p per kWh, then that means each day the PC's power usage is 27p (or £8.10 per month). Changing your graphics card to a low power one may allow you to save half this outlay, but tbh selling the card would pay for your PC power usage for a couple of years.

 

[Schizo]

That is a very good review on the power his pc uses,hate to think what a high end pc use's


Op,how about being a bit more careful with you electric in terms of light's,tv,electric heaters if you have them,by being more carefull
I'm sure you could keep your pc the way it is and not downgrading it for a while longer.

Who knows,you might get another job next week and will regret downgrading your oc.

Give it a month or 2 to see how you get on.

 

[blakmumba]

Here are some numbers, this review on Anandtech of the GTX 480 uses an i7 920@ 3.33Ghz, 6GB of RAM and a single SSD - so pretty much the same as the OPs system, minus the overclock. That said, their test is using a very large 1200W PSU, so their idle figures may be a bit higher than they would be running off a smaller/more efficient PSU due to low efficiency at such relatively low load levels.

According to that page the idle power usage is 190W and the gaming load power usage is 420W. If we assume that the PC is on 8 hours per day, 7 hours "idle" (low power usage - browsing internet etc.) and 1 hour gaming - so 219W average over a day.

This makes 1.75kWh per day due to the computer. Say your daytime rate of electricity is 15p per kWh, then that means each day the PC's power usage is 27p (or £8.10 per month). Changing your graphics card to a low power one may allow you to save half this outlay, but tbh selling the card would pay for your PC power usage for a couple of years.

Many Many thanks for taking the time and responding. I've got a coolermaster 1000w power supply (just checked its the Real Power Pro M1000). From reading the review that you posted and your take on the electric usage, I think i'll just keep everything as it is. Honestly I really appreciate in you taking the time to post them figures. Just trying to cut down on things whilst looking for work and at the same time trying to keep my kids happy as really don't wanna deny them anything. THANKYOU

 

[blakmumba]

That is a very good review on the power his pc uses,hate to think what a high end pc use's


Op,how about being a bit more careful with you electric in terms of light's,tv,electric heaters if you have them,by being more carefull
I'm sure you could keep your pc the way it is and not downgrading it for a while longer.

Who knows,you might get another job next week and will regret downgrading your oc.

Give it a month or 2 to see how you get on.

Thankyou for taking the time in reading my post and replying. I totally agree with you regarding giving it a month or so. Just when times are hard you look at every option that is available to you to save but at the same time not disappointing others in the process. I defo will give it a month or so and see how it goes. Touchwood may find a job within the next couple of weeks as applied for anything. Fingers crossed but THANKYOU for posting as it was much appreciated

 

[Schizo]

Personally,my computer would be the last thing I would think of cutting out,there's nothing worse than being at home all the time without the Internet to keep in contact with friends and also looking for jobs.

 

[olivier renault]

If you really want to save money and just have a computer for general things with no power usage, then a cheap low-power laptop (I would probably go with a Fusion AMD E-350 / i3, around £350). But you'd have to be pretty desperate to get to that situation.