Sage Server build question

[iammike]

I just wanted to update this thread with my results. I moved my server over to the old Dell P4 3GHz without any significant problems. There is no noticeable performance differences between it and the Q6600 based PC it had been running on the last 2 years. Many thanks to those who suggested it. You definitely saved me some money.

On the question of power. I'm not sure where the 155W number came from, but I borrowed a power meter from a friend and my P4 is running right at 100W. Most of the Celeron specs. I've seen say they pull about 65W. That works out to about 25KW hours per month. My power runs around 11 or 12 cents per KW hour, so I think I'd be looking at saving just under $3 per month with a celeron. If I were only buying the processor, it might be worth it to me but I don't think my old Dell motherboard can be upgraded. I could probably do a new build with a new low end mobo and reuse an old case, PSU, and memory I have for around $100 or so but that still makes the ROI 3 years. I'll probably change things again before 3 years are up so it doesn't really make sense.

The other interesting power issue is the total draw my Sage server environment takes. In playing with the power meter, I checked out the whole config (12 external hard drives, 2 Dish 211 receivers, HDHomerun, 2 powered hubs, pre-amp for the OTA antenna, HD-PVR, monitor, PC). It pulls about 400W which works out to about $1 per day or $365 per year. I don't know that I'll change anything based on those numbers, but it does make a guy think a little.

[Djc208]

Originally Posted by iammike

On the question of power. I'm not sure where the 155W number came from, but I borrowed a power meter from a friend and my P4 is running right at 100W. Most of the Celeron specs. I've seen say they pull about 65W.

Those numbers are the maximum load of the processor, but that's based on the CPU running at 100% load. So if you were running say comskip where the CPU load would be pushing 100% you might notice the difference in power consumption, all other components being equal.

The big difference of the newer chips is that they are better designed to power down. So the idle power of the C2D and especially the new i5/7 chips would be much lower than the idle power than your P4, even though the load power is probably close.

In my opinion your best option to reduce power consumption would probably be through the external HDDs. If they all have individual power supplies moving to some type of PC case with them sharing a more efficient computer PSU could save a few watts. Though a bigger savings would probably be to try and consolidate your HDDs down to a few larger capacity drives and reduce the HDD power draw.

But yes, a lot of these high efficiency components are for piece of mind more than saving money. My Sage system has just about always been built from hand-me down parts from my main system. Only the tuners and the HDDs were purchased just for Sage.

[iammike]

Originally Posted by Djc208

Those numbers are the maximum load of the processor, but that's based on the CPU running at 100% load. So if you were running say comskip where the CPU load would be pushing 100% you might notice the difference in power consumption, all other components being equal.

The big difference of the newer chips is that they are better designed to power down. So the idle power of the C2D and especially the new i5/7 chips would be much lower than the idle power than your P4, even though the load power is probably close.

In my opinion your best option to reduce power consumption would probably be through the external HDDs. If they all have individual power supplies moving to some type of PC case with them sharing a more efficient computer PSU could save a few watts. Though a bigger savings would probably be to try and consolidate your HDDs down to a few larger capacity drives and reduce the HDD power draw.

But yes, a lot of these high efficiency components are for piece of mind more than saving money. My Sage system has just about always been built from hand-me down parts from my main system. Only the tuners and the HDDs were purchased just for Sage.

Hey DJC,

Good to hear from another Virginian. I'll have to do some checking on the power draw of my external hard drives. Most of them are the Seagate Freeagent pro models. I think they normally spin down when not in use, so I wouldn't think there would be too much power drawn when idle. I do agree that higher capacity drives would help though. Most of these drives are sub 1TB. It's an interesting theoretical exercise, but I doubt I'll buy anything new until something else fails.