i'm looking to get a pc/laptop with the lowest possible power usage, it will be always on and will be used to wake up other computers on the network remotly. as well as a download box. a file sharer would be a plus but not needed as i could wake another comp if i needed files. i was thinking something like an eeepc. does anyone have any other suggestions?
very low power machine
- Thread starter lopkinfop
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what about a mini itx board with a 1.6ghz atom chip for about £45 + vat
then need case, psu, hdd, & ram of course but they are low powered
what about a mini itx board with a 1.6ghz atom chip for about £45 + vat
then need case, psu, hdd, & ram of course but they are low powered
I didn't think you could buy atom processors yet? i'm in the same situation as the OP and wouldn't mind getting one at that price.
ive seen one but as its a competitor cant post the link, but i believe they are shipping as we speek
if you dont find anything send me a mail (in trust) and i can send the link tomorrow, its on my work pc
Being the impatient person i am i just bought some older bits off the bay yesterday, mobile sempron S754 at 25W running in a matx board should do the trick, plus i can underclock it and hopefully get some passive cooling, got the two for £30.
Man of Honour
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I was looking at getting one of these, do you mean you managed to get a torrent client running on it?
I am just in the process of building an ultra low power PC for a similar purpose.
The bits arrives today:
Intel Atom Intel D945GCLF mini itx. As already stated its about 45 quid.
1 gb ddr 2 667 ram
1 x Western Digital Caviar GP WD7500AACS 750GB 5400RPM SATA2
1 x WD Scorpio WD2500BEVS 250GB 5400RPM 8MB SATA 2,5"
(The hardrives are amongst the lowest power consumption ones available)
Morex Venus 669 case
Its designed for 24/7 operation. The OS and apps will be running on the 250gb drive, and the 750gb will be for file dumping and sharing.
It will be running without monitor, keyboard or mouse and remotely controlled with VNC.
I am guessing about it will consume 30 - 40 watts. 10-15 of which will be the inefficiency of the PSU in the case. I might upgrade the PSU to picopsu dc to dc convertor and use an external ac-dc power brick.
I could recommend a second hand g4 mac mini. I run one 24/7 and they use about 30w. You could add an external hardrive.
I also have an eee pc. I wouldnt trust running it 24/7. It gets a tad hot after a couple of hours. But you never know it might work.
Also from past experience what you need is a one box solution. Not laptops with bits of kit dangling via USB off them. Just untidy.
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I don't do BT but you can install them. I do usenet and have SABnzbd doing downloads and web controllable from anywhere in the world. Also hosts a website and a media server for PS3 streaming as well as all my Music, Video & Pix and central store for My Docs etc for all my PCs.
Much smaller and tidier than a PC. Lower power consumption than even Atom systems or G4 Macs
Thats exactly what my Linux fan boy mate said a few years ago when I bought a linksys slug. "You can install a BT client". Well FFS it took me hours and hours of hell and then I ended up with some cr*ppy command line driven BT client. Also its smb sharing was well slow. Just a dead loss IMO.
Beware of those how say you can. Believe only those who have!
My atom board is now running Azureus remotely controlled by AzsMrc, under XP. Its also sharing 1080p mkv,s to my HTPC at the same time. I have 1 TB of storage in a nice little box in the corner. And I am reading 20 watts on my power meter and its silent.
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MLdonkey with GUI, yeah MKV streaming isnt hard, transcoding yes but streaming not difficult. Web and FTP are easy. I'm reading 10W
Lower power consumption than even Atom systems or G4 Macs
I doubt that. Have you measured it? Whats the power drain? Lets say under load sharing an mkv?
I'm reading 10W
What Hardrive you got? Because most 3,5's use 10W alone. Your readings sound suspicious to me! Also there is no PSU out there, external or internal that doesnt waste a few watts eg: 5-10 watts. Also how have you measured the power consumption? I am dubious to say the least!
Samsung... most use 6W in the pages I've seen.... tell me tho about your G4 Mac... whats the speed like unRARing say a 4.5gb DVD? I'm wondering about a Mac mini for download box. The LS is great but it takes AGES and I mean IceAges to unpack a 10gb download!!
Soldato
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Take a look at Koolu/Linutop, there's also a cheaper version based on the older AMD geode GX2 going for £140 delivered (mpc-l).
There's a small kit (VIA Artigo), but it's pretty expensive.
edit: those Atom boards include the CPU??? for £45???? :O
There's a small kit (VIA Artigo), but it's pretty expensive.
edit: those Atom boards include the CPU??? for £45???? :O
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