Power efficient yet powerful pc?

[oolon]

It can be pushed a bit when streaming HD content from the web, but that is more to do with how flash sucks. Its reasonable performance, and a nice little machine to be always available. The ION chipset is good not sure you want this thing for a HTPC as it will be on the edge of its abilities.

[DanceswithUnix]

Waw, that is impressive. Didn't think it would be that good.

Fairly typical TBH, hence I was asking you what your current quad core is exactly. If you measure the power draw of your current machine we may be able to reduce it. Perhaps there is a newer CPU that will fit in your motherboard that draws less power.

Years ago I used to build VIA chipset single core Athlon 64 Shuttle boxes that drew about 50W idle, and things have generally improved since then so the same energy usage will give a much better machine.

But get an energy meter though.

I think I have this one:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=38343

Though this one looks OK as a couple of quid cheaper:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223573

None of these units are completely accurate when measuring stuff like a PC, but they give a good idea and can be very educational. The worst item in our computer room is actually an audio amplifier which measures just over 100W idle.

[golwg]

Thanks. I will get one of those Meters

[matty-hodgson]

Those power meter's are actually very useful. I decided to dig mine out last night to see how much my computer uses.. 255w at full load, running Intel Burn Test and Furmark.

This is loads less than I was expecting tbh, I was expecting the graphics card to use about 200W on it's own. And I have my CPU highly overclocked. So yes, definitely get yourself a power meter because your PC might not be using as much as you think.

Thanks. I will get one of those Meters

Are you just spamming or are you "fo' real"?

[watercooled]

What about a PC like this - http://www.fit-pc.co.uk/ - it's very efficient and would be fine for most everyday tasks. Things like video/photo editing etc might be best left to the PC you have now. You could buy a KVM and use that to switch between your PCs and even mount the fit-pc to the back of your monitor so it doesn't take up any more space.

Oh and +1 for the power meter (I have the same one as DancewithUnix). Also if you change the way you use your PC it could considerably save money i.e. using standby when you're not using the PC.

[matty-hodgson]

What about a PC like this - http://www.fit-pc.co.uk/ - it's very efficient and would be fine for most everyday tasks. Things like video/photo editing etc might be best left to the PC you have now. You could buy a KVM and use that to switch between your PCs and even mount the fit-pc to the back of your monitor so it doesn't take up any more space.

Oh and +1 for the power meter. Also if you change the way you use your PC it could considerably save money i.e. using standby when you're not using the PC.

I wouldn't trust anything if they get HDMI and DVI mixed up tbh. They're totally different yet they've still got it wrong.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/182588 - I'd rather get one of these, it's cheaper, comes with a fairly nice keyboard and mouse and has an N-Series Atom processor instead of the Z.. And it's dual core with ION graphics so watching HD films and stuff is a possibility.

[watercooled]

For a start that site is only the UK distributor, this is the main site http://www.fit-pc.com/ and this PC uses a lot less energy than any other Atom PC I know of. This PC is capable of playing HD movies from what I know and even so that isn't what the OP wants it for. About the DVI/HDMI issue, I can't see where you've read it from but from what I know they use HDMI because of the size of the unit (DVI socket wouldn't fit) but you can use a HDMI-DVI adaptor to use a DVI monitor since they aren't totally different - HDMI is, in basic terms, DVI+audio...

[matty-hodgson]

For a start that site is only the UK distributor, this is the main site http://www.fit-pc.com/ and this PC uses a lot less energy than any other Atom PC I know of. This PC is capable of playing HD movies from what I know and even so that isn't what the OP wants it for. About the DVI/HDMI issue, I can't see where you've read it from but from what I know they use HDMI because of the size of the unit (DVI socket wouldn't fit) but you can use a HDMI-DVI adaptor to use a DVI monitor since they aren't totally different - HDMI is, in basic terms, DVI+audio...

Having owned a netbook that used a Z530, I can absolutely guarantee you that it cannot run HD movies. It can't even run SD. iPlayer is an absolute no-go, any kind of Flash adverts and it just crumbles into a molten mess of electronics.. (And you only get the Z530 if you pay more, you only get a Z510 1.1GHz as standard )

There's a bloody good reason it uses >10W, and that's because it's crap! It may well be very good at saving power, but you'll have to have your PC on for 3x longer to get the same amount done.

And OMFG, how ugly can you make a PC?



On there, they've labeled a HDMI slot as DVI.

[watercooled]

I think it looks good! Anyway the laptop you had may have had a bad/no graphics hardware - this has a proper Intel GMA chipset and while it may struggle with flash-based HD for example (not hardware acceleration compatible) it should play HD files just fine...

...it uses <10W

Corrected, > means greater than.

[watercooled]

HD playback proof if you need it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsijIVZ4MSk

[matty-hodgson]

I think it looks good! Anyway the laptop you had may have had a bad/no graphics hardware - this has a proper Intel GMA chipset and while it will struggle with flash-based HD for example (not hardware acceleration compatible) it should play HD files just fine...

Nope, it had Intel GMA graphics too, it was a Dell Inspiron Mini 10. Seriously, that thing is garbage! :\

[watercooled]

Labelling HDMI as DVI isn't exactly a product killer is it - they have different people to make the PC than those who design the website you know!! Look at my last post^ it can play HD just fine. "There's a bloody good reason it uses >10W, and that's because it's crap!" and "Seriously, that thing is garbage!" sounds like unjustifiable trolling IMO, you have no evidence to support what you said so it's just your opinion and shouldn't be posted as a fact. Also you can easily block flash ads with Firefox+AdBlock Plus - problem sorted! The Zxxx series CPUs are just as capable as other Atom CPUs, just more efficient.

Edit: Oh and here's more proof it can do full HD playback: http://www.roytanck.com/2009/07/29/f...st-desktop-pc/

[matty-hodgson]

"There's a bloody good reason it uses >10W, and that's because it's crap!" and "Seriously, that thing is garbage!" sounds like unjustifiable trolling IMO, you have no evidence to support what you said so it's just your opinion and shouldn't be posted as a fact.

I do have evidence. I've used a Z530 for quite a while myself, and it was truly awful! It even uses the same chipset as my netbook did, so I have a lot of REAL LIFE EVIDENCE to prove what I've said. Watching a Youtube video of some pigeons is never as good as actually using it.

The Zxxx series CPUs are just as capable as other Atom CPUs, just more efficient.

The N series have been proven to be about 20% faster than their Z series equivalents. 20% is a hell of a lot faster when you think about just how slow these CPUs are.

[watercooled]

I posted a link to a review too, just Google for reviews, all the ones I've read say 1080p plays fine. Also I'd like to see where you read there is a 20% difference in performance on an equivalent platform i.e. not comparing a phone to a PC or something...

[matty-hodgson]

I posted a link to a review too, just Google for reviews, all the ones I've read say 1080p plays fine. Also I'd like to see where you read there is a 20% difference in performance on an equivalent platform i.e. not comparing a phone to a PC or something...

The Dell Mini 10 vs Dell Mini 10v.

The Mini 10 uses a Z530 whereas the Mini 10v uses the N270 and the N270 is 15-20% faster.

[shaithis]

I posted a link to a review too, just Google for reviews, all the ones I've read say 1080p plays fine. Also I'd like to see where you read there is a 20% difference in performance on an equivalent platform i.e. not comparing a phone to a PC or something...

Depending on the source format, bitrate, gfx drivers and the player.....results could potentially vary from awesomely perfect to completely unwatchable.