Power Cost Question

shadowake · 17 Apr 2008 at 12:07

OK well I used to have all my music etc all stored on a network hard drive until one day it decided to self combust. Lucky Apple let me redownload all my music for free, which was nice of them

Anyway, since then work had the option of buying some brand new Dell desktop servers for £100 each. I said I'd have one and had it sitting at home not doing much since (well I did install a Geforce 6200 PCI and a sound blaster card & uped the memory to 3GB).

I've removed server 2003 and instaled XP, I've hooked it up to my TV in the living room. It's got 4 HDD's totaling around 760GB in storage so it would be ideal for all my music etc.

The only thing that worries me is how much it would cost to run it 24/7? It's only got a 350w PSU and obviously no monitor would be on. Is there any way you can work out how many KW/H it would use?

MAllen · 17 Apr 2008 at 16:47

It ain't gonna cost you much. I have at least 4 PCs running 24/7 and don't have a huge leccy bill....

A 3Ghz Intel Server (Mainly for my music),
A 100Mhz Linux Router,
A 2.4Ghz Intel PC (for TV recordings).

Then add to that various test bench PCs. And I haven't even reached my main gaming and work rigs.....

I own my own house. Two bedroom terrace. Water is heated by (economy 7) emertion heater. Add in a TV, Stereo, Washing Machine, Fridge, lights, kettle, etc. i.e. normal household stuff for a single bloke. And my total leccy bill is less than £30 per month.

If you are really paranoid about the cost - you could always setup the PC to go to sleep at the end of the day, and use the BIOS to wake it up when you are likely to need it.

Ethics · 17 Apr 2008 at 16:49

Less than a kettle

daz · 17 Apr 2008 at 18:00

It probably uses about 250W, so that's 1 unit every 4 hours.

6 units a day... how much does your electricity supplier charge per unit?

shadowake · 17 Apr 2008 at 20:16

MAllen said:
If you are really paranoid about the cost - you could always setup the PC to go to sleep at the end of the day, and use the BIOS to wake it up when you are likely to need it.

I could but the BIOS on the Dells are so locked down it isn't even funny, you can barely change the boot order let alone anything else lol

daz said:
It probably uses about 250W, so that's 1 unit every 4 hours.

6 units a day... how much does your electricity supplier charge per unit?

Hmm I shall go and have a look! I'm on scotish power online saver or something I think...

shadowake · 17 Apr 2008 at 20:22

If anyone can make sense of this:

http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/pricing_pdfs/ole/olesaver4.pdf

I'm in area 13 (Manweb) but don't know wether its domestic or the other one...

Flareon · 17 Apr 2008 at 20:29

Constants:
250W load = 0.25 units/hour
1 unit = (roughly) 10 pence

Running Costs:
1 hour = 2.5p
1 day = 60p
1 week = £4.20
1 month = £18

Good enough?

fobose · 17 Apr 2008 at 20:34

Dont forget once its up and running you could remove the graphics card to reduce power and heat and just connect via remote desktop when needed.

Nick644622 · 17 Apr 2008 at 20:44

If you don't need it to act as a PC it'd be cheaper to buy a Network Drive in the long run. If you do need it as a PC it'd be cheaper to buy a Network Drive & turn the Dell PC when you required it.

oli collett · 17 Apr 2008 at 20:58

daz said:
It probably uses about 250W, so that's 1 unit every 4 hours.

6 units a day... how much does your electricity supplier charge per unit?

250W?? That's a bit ott i think! I would have thought an average of 175W, probably a lot less, assuming it's not getting run hard 24hrs a day?

shadowake · 17 Apr 2008 at 22:30

So around a tenner a month if I manage to work it somehow so it sleeps over night...

Not to bad.

Dont want another network drive, dont trust them after my last one set on fire... lucky I was sitting next to it when it happened and not at work or in bed!

At least with a PC I can put in better cooling.