Yeah, that software isn't really needed anymore on any recent Linux distribution, it ships with all that support by default.

Your SS-300SFD also has active PFC, so that isn't the issue. The issue is that the S12-380 just isn't as efficient as the SS-300, especially since the 20% load point of the S12-380 is 76w compared to to 60w and typically efficiency drops off rapidly below the 20% load level, even on 80plus certified...

Since this is SPCR, perhaps you mean software to take advantage of CnQ? If so, many recent distributions take care of this automatically, if not, you typically just need to make sure that either the right cpufreq module is loaded/compiled into the kernel or as a module or possibly start the cpuspeed...

One thing to keep in mind that with CnQ on, idle power of the various AMD processors doesn't vary by more than a couple watts. You didn't mention what software, how many and what type of capture cards you'll be running on your HTPC, either. With dual-core processors being very inexpensive these days...

Thanks, so I can basically get 2 tuners for the power draw of 1 with a PVR500 vs a PVR250.

I'd imagine if I also removed the PVR 500 (which I'm not ready to do) and replaced the 3.5" drive with a 2.5" one, I could shave off at least another 10W of power. Any chance you could measure the power draw of that PVR 500? I have 2 PVR 250s in one of my systems (MythTV) and each one draws about 1...

I would like to know if it's possible to keep it around 40W at max load. You can limit yourself to max 1G @ 0.9V, it's still a lot faster than P3 533. You would get power and energy with newer components at the same time. You have to also keep in mind that limiting maximum CPU speed typically resul...

I think you've summarized the situation well.

The idle power draw numbers listed on that Anandtech review seem very high to me, but their choice of graphics card and motherboard probably inflate those numbers a lot. For a better comparison where the motherboard choice is similar to what you're planning on doing, have a look at Tom's Hardware BE...

SPCR's recommended PSU list is a good place to start looking. I can find Enermax Liberty 400W for very good price, but it is not listed. Is it no good? If it's performs similarly to the higher powered units SPCR reviewed here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194002 it should...

I wouldn't call that system a "low load" system. Pretty much any 80plus certified PSU rated 300-350w should do the trick.

SPCR's recommended PSU list is a good place to start looking.

Let's see, 2 D-cell 12000 mAh batteries cost $20-25. To get this up to 12v wired in series you'll need 10 of them for a cost of $200-250. A deep cycle lead-acid battery might cost $100 and have 50 Ah of capacity. So the lead-acid battery is going to have 4-5x the capacity and half the cost giving yo...

This is all based on the assumption of a 3-yr usable life, which is typical. Lengthen the life, and the percentages obviously change. Good point, I have some computers which have been in service since 1996! My Linux firewall/fileserver/proxy/etc (AMD K6-2 450) at home started life as my primary des...

My MythTV system uses ACPI wakeup times to automatically wake itself up after shutting down. Here's a couple links with some more information: http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/ACPI_Wakeup http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Mythwelcome Suspend to ram or disk would be nice as that would reduce s...

An HTPC will need to be run 24/7 if it is doing DVR type stuff. No it doesn't, depending on the DVR software you are using. I am using MythTV and have configured my system to automatically shutdown at night when no recordings are scheduled. Now my system only runs 12-16 hours a day instead of 24 ho...

Bigg wrote:CnQ is a cool technology, but wouldn't you rather run F@H or Climate Prediction, which would make CnQ completely useless?

F@H or otherwise running your CPU at 100% is also not a good idea if you are at all interested in "Green Computing".

My current system is (in my opinion) a monster: Antec Neo HE430 Athlon X2 3800+ (the S939 89W one) Ati Radeon X1950XT 150GB Raptor HD gigabyte mobo, ram, other hard drives etc. etc. My little kill-a-watt here tells me it uses about 210W when "idle". Holy crap, that is a big power draw at idle! Are ...

Yeah, but the kit is only available with a 60w brick.

If they had kits available with the 80w and 100w bricks they also sell, that'd be more useful to me since I don't have any systems which peak at less than 60w.

The Samsung HDD was available at newegg 1 minute ago but sold out before I could post here... ETA:05/11/2007 The price has gone up $40. Looks like they have the 32GB model in stock now: $529 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=samsung+solid&x=0&y=0 Unfortuna...

klipkop -- Thank you very much for the links and for your helpful, knowledgeable comments. The info you provided is invaluable for SPCR -- I've already copied & pasted your post to my reference fan folder. :) +1. Looks like your tube could easily be modified to provide the exact test setup that kli...

mutiple anemometers -- impractical & costly. We don't WANT to vary the impedance of the box. But wouldn't testing the airflow of the fan under different loads/impedances also be informative? Very often a fan is installed in less than ideal conditions where impedance is high. AFA we can tell, both o...

A couple comments: Experimental design #2 could have been modified to include multiple anemometers to reduct airflow restriction for higher airflow fans. For example, had the test rig been modified to hold 4 anemometers, then you simply add the results of all 4 meters to get your airflow reading. Th...

The main benefit of an AMD system vs an Intel system these days is that the AMD system will have much lower idle power draw thanks to Cool'n'Quiet. Less power = less heat = less noise = lower electricity bills That hasn't been true for quite a while. Intel has SpeedStep or EIST (enhanced intel spee...

The main benefit of an AMD system vs an Intel system these days is that the AMD system will have much lower idle power draw thanks to Cool'n'Quiet.

Less power = less heat = less noise = lower electricity bills

If you can get by with onboard graphics (you're not planning on playing any games), they will have the lowest power consumption.

Worst case if the onboard stuff isn't good enough, disable it through the BIOS and get an add-on card.

My favorite stuff to use is RAAMmat + Ensolite foam.

http://www.raamaudio.com/

The RAAMmat BXT is a butyl based aluminum covered material.

Ensolite is a closed cell foam.

Apply the RAAMmat then glue on some Ensolite. Double up the RAAMmat or Ensolite for trouble areas.

But for my part, I think NiCad rechargeable batteries are the best we got for small electronics like these. NiMH batteries perform a lot better than NiCads and the latest generation of low-discharge (Eneloop, Hybrio, Acculoop, etc) batteries are really great since they nearly eliminate the issue of...

Anyone know how the idle power consumption varies with the X2 processors compared to the single core processors?

In my experience an EPIA 800mhz C3 system uses 10-15w less than a Sempron 3000 w/CnQ turned on and both systems idling using the same PSU (Seasonic Super Tornado 300w, not that efficient below 50w, either, but it was the best I knew of when I bought it). The Epia barebone system was around 25-30w wi...

IIRC, ~90% efficiency is fairly normal for a UPS running normally.

The extra power goes to regulating power, keeping the battery charged, etc.