Building an efficient computer - Page 2

Daox · 01-07-09, 01:46 PM

Alright, new motherboard is in the computer now and everything is up and running as it should be. Hybrid sli is enabled and working amazingly well. I ended up changing some things and pulled out one of the two hard drives I had. All in all, idle consumption is down to 58W, and at the click of a button I can power up the video card to do any 3d stuff I need to.

There is still tweaking to be done. I didn't play with anything yet since I knew a new motherboard was going in and I might have to reinstall vista (which I did). So, now I'll start looking for ways to further tweak the system. Unfortunately, there arent any 64 bit vista drivers AMD's cool'n quiet. This technology dynamically steps down or up your CPU speed based upon how much processing power you need.

Daox · 01-14-09, 10:30 AM

Well, a little more digging revealed that vista has cool'n'quiet drivers imbedded in it already. So, it is working and it is stepping down the cpu speed and voltage. Yay. I'll probably still do some tweaking with power settings, but I'm not sure how much it'll effect things.

ftumsh · 02-02-09, 05:48 PM

It's a bit late...
The solid state drives have already been mentioned.
But for quiet and low energy consumption, have a look a water cooling. The radiator sits outside the box and can use a large (relatively speaking) fan with low rpm.

cholcombe · 10-29-09, 01:15 PM

Have you guys looked at the FitPC2 yet? That's a pretty neat mini computer. Uses roughly 10 watts and supports HD Video.

Daox · 10-29-09, 03:40 PM

Got a link cholcombe?

cholcombe · 10-29-09, 03:43 PM

Yep, right here Fit PC 2

From what I saw their computers are running an intel atom chip instead of an arm like most small systems do now.

NiHaoMike · 10-29-09, 05:25 PM

If you're looking for another PC to use for basic office work, web browsing, and multimedia, check out the Beagleboard.
BeagleBoard.org - default

Daox · 10-29-09, 05:41 PM

That fit pc 2 is quite a nice little package. It seems somewhat decently priced too.

The beagleboard is pretty cool too and quite cheap.

knowbodies · 10-29-09, 07:03 PM

I recentli bought a Mac mini and a 23inch LCD. Idle power usage is 30W (13W for the Mac and 17W for the monitor). I did look at laptops for even better usage but screens are just too small - besides, I already have a laptop. You can also install Windows or Linux via Bootcamp on the Mac if you really need to.

01-07-09, 01:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	Alright, new motherboard is in the computer now and everything is up and running as it should be. Hybrid sli is enabled and working amazingly well. I ended up changing some things and pulled out one of the two hard drives I had. All in all, idle consumption is down to 58W, and at the click of a button I can power up the video card to do any 3d stuff I need to. There is still tweaking to be done. I didn't play with anything yet since I knew a new motherboard was going in and I might have to reinstall vista (which I did). So, now I'll start looking for ways to further tweak the system. Unfortunately, there arent any 64 bit vista drivers AMD's cool'n quiet. This technology dynamically steps down or up your CPU speed based upon how much processing power you need. (Support EcoRenovator.org & get rid of these annoying ads!) __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-14-09, 10:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	Well, a little more digging revealed that vista has cool'n'quiet drivers imbedded in it already. So, it is working and it is stepping down the cpu speed and voltage. Yay. I'll probably still do some tweaking with power settings, but I'm not sure how much it'll effect things. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-29-09, 03:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	Got a link cholcombe? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-29-09, 05:25 PM	#17 (permalink)
NiHaoMike Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 175 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	If you're looking for another PC to use for basic office work, web browsing, and multimedia, check out the Beagleboard. BeagleBoard.org - default __________________ Allie Moore and I have a combined carbon footprint much smaller than that of one average American...

10-29-09, 05:41 PM	#18 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	That fit pc 2 is quite a nice little package. It seems somewhat decently priced too. The beagleboard is pretty cool too and quite cheap. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-02-09, 05:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
ftumsh Lurking Renovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Yorkshire, England Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It's a bit late... The solid state drives have already been mentioned. But for quiet and low energy consumption, have a look a water cooling. The radiator sits outside the box and can use a large (relatively speaking) fan with low rpm.

10-29-09, 01:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
cholcombe Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Have you guys looked at the FitPC2 yet? That's a pretty neat mini computer. Uses roughly 10 watts and supports HD Video.

10-29-09, 03:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
cholcombe Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yep, right here Fit PC 2 From what I saw their computers are running an intel atom chip instead of an arm like most small systems do now.

10-29-09, 07:03 PM	#19 (permalink)
knowbodies Home Improvement Goon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Moose Jaw, SK, CA Posts: 79 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I recentli bought a Mac mini and a 23inch LCD. Idle power usage is 30W (13W for the Mac and 17W for the monitor). I did look at laptops for even better usage but screens are just too small - besides, I already have a laptop. You can also install Windows or Linux via Bootcamp on the Mac if you really need to.

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