Please help me build a low power usage pc

morten · Post by **morten** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:52 pm

Hi all.
I need some help chosing the right hardware, primarely cpu and motherboard.
I have already chosen these products
case : http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/ ... 2&area=usa
harddisk : http://www.silentpcreview.com/article298-page1.html

The motherboard must be a mini itx and a low power usage one because the pc will be on almost 24/7. The pc will only be used to download movies/music and must be able to play them. I hope you can help chosing a motherboard and cpu, since i dont know much about them.
Morten.

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:19 am

I would consider returning the disk drive (if you have actually ordered it). The WD 500GB Green drive may be better for you and cheaper. This drive has been reviewed by SPCR.

Here is my complete build of a low power PC:
viewtopic.php?t=49610#4

However, this board does not have Firewre (1394) if you need that.

To save power, you should use different memory (the memory I have is set to 2.0 Volts in the bios), and I assume that 2GB of memory would be fine for your purposes. Usually "Value Select" memory can be run at default voltages.

Just make sure you have configured the bios for, and installed software driver for, AMD Cool and Quiet software (which powers down the CPU speed and voltage when not in use). It is easy to set up and you can get lots of help on this forum if you have any problems with setting it up.

On the motherboard bios, you can diable the audio if you don't need it (this will save you some power). You can even disable the on-board video in the bios, but I don't know if the OS will boot without video.

morten · Post by **morten** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:58 am

Thanks for the reply.
I do have an old cpu (amd athlon 64 3200+)
http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCP ... spx?id=119
Is it considerd an low power usage cpu? Could it be used.

Lawrence Lee · Post by **Lawrence Lee** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:11 am

There are no S939 mini-ITX mobos that I know of, so you can't re-use your CPU.

The Intel D945GCLF may be an option, but depending on the type of media you download, playing it back may require more horsepower. The video subsystem is quite weak and the Atom CPU is pretty slow by modern standards. It will handle DIVX/XVID and 720p H.264, but nothing more than that.

The Intel DG45FC should be a lot better, but a Core 2 will use at least 10W more power than a 45W X2 when idle.

There are some AM2 mini-ITX boards but I believe they are quite hard to get a hold of. Ideally you'd get one of those and pair it with a 45W X2. This would be the ideal solution (nVidia/AMD graphics are very strong). Otherwise I'd go a bit bigger and get a mATX. The Gigabyte 740G board's power consumption with a 45W CPU is excellent - basically on par with the Atom-based D945GCLF when idle.

KyleSTL · Post by **KyleSTL** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:32 pm

You need one of these motherboards for an excellent, low-power IGP.

Jetway 780G miniITX

J&W 780G miniITX

morten · Post by **morten** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:13 pm

Thanks for the info, there is a lot to consider. I like the jetway board and parring it with an 45W X2 should be a nice system from what i understand.

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:21 am

a Core 2 will use at least 10W more power than a 45W X2 when idle.

source/ref? unlikely as E4500 etc only use ~8W at idle.

Lawrence Lee · Post by **Lawrence Lee** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:15 am

jaganath wrote:
a Core 2 will use at least 10W more power than a 45W X2 when idle.
source/ref? unlikely as E4500 etc only use ~8W at idle.

Source is pretty much every Intel/AMD mATX motherboard we've ever reviewed... it may not be the CPU itself, but the power regulation. Also, to be fair we use a E6750 which may use a couple of watts more than the E4xxx series, though it has the same TDP.

I believe the lowest idle power consumption we've gotten from an Intel board with an E6750 was 52W.

For AMD (using a 4850e CPU) the lowest idle was 37W. And the latest board we've tested (740G - yet to be published) got it down to 31W.

morten · Post by **morten** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:05 am

I have been looking around some more. How about this board, with an embedded cpu. Will it do the trick.
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/j7f5m2g_vhe
On this page itÂ´s set at 20w, and they say the same at via.
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=2