I considered placing this in the CPU section. If appropriate, please consider moving this. Does relate to HTPC and SFF though. Anyway, thanks.
Dear Hexusians,
THE HOLY GRAIL OF COMPUTING? POWER AND POWER-SAVING!
Could we have just one system that is immensely powerful when necessary, but idles at a ridiculously low wattage (and quiet noise levels)?
My situation (feel free to skip):
For the last year or so, I've been using two PCs. My:
- Server: AMD E350. Low power, SLOW!!, mATX-based. 5 green HDDs (inc OS). TV Tuner attached;
- Desktop: i5/H55 ITX combo. Radeon 5750, Intel SSD, 1 WD Green HDD.
The mATX server is on 24/7 (HDDs spin down). The ITX desktop is turned on for productivity or gaming.
My ITX desktop system hasn't been turning on very well as of late, and I've spent about two weeks camping on my 'server'.
So I started thinking: and hence the power vs idle question above.
Intel and ATI/AMD boast about their latest components' gating tech' - so I'm hopeful.
Components considered:
MoBo:Would like Intel. Convince me otherwise by all means, but arguments need to be compelling. I like the Asus P8Z77-M-Pro (despite its name), for its PCIe 'awesomeness'. More below.
CPU:I've seen threads on other forums discuss safely getting 4.4 GHz Turbo out of an i7 3770k or i5 3570k on air. I've also seen threads about undervolting one's i7/i5 to get low voltages and power consumption at idle.
However, no threads have mentioned doing BOTH. Some discuss which motherboards allow the best flexibility in setting how low/high you can set multiplier settings, which is a start.
Would like a CPU that idles with only one core 'on' (rest gated) at about 1.6 Ghz (or below?). As required, it can intel-ligently (sorry) use up to 4 cores - at up to 4.2 Ghz (turbo/1 core).
Graphics:I've read (THG, Anand) that ALL 7-series Radeons have gating technology, such that they can reach 3w idle power consumption (screen off for 10 minutes+).
I'd therefore like the 7850. If I were to stay with ITX it'd be a SFF-friendly 7750, but I can't fit all the HDDs in a small case.
TV Tuner:Something PCIe from BlackGold, prob a HTPC-dreamer's BGT3600 (dual S2, dual T2). Needs a PCIe 1x slot. Don't know what this uses at idle.
Storage:SSD for Windows and Documents, maybe two (non raid). Some 3TB WD Green EVRS HDDs whilst they're cheapest low-RPM per terabyte.
I'd possibly use a Storage controller (maybe HPT 2720?), which is why I need the PCIe x16 (x8) slots. However, this would whack up idle power - wouldn't it?
Case:Cooler Master 334U-Like case on hand; with 6x 3.5, 4x 5.25. May get a Lian Li PC-A04b, if HD7850 and HDDs fit.
RAM:Quite like 8GB (DDR3 1.5V), because 8GB>4GB, but not if it increases power significantly. 1W more (at idle) would be accepted.
Your turn:
Having written an awful lot, I wish to know now whether what I want can be done - that is that the components specified can behave at 30w idle.
If not, what modifications, adjustments or compromises do I need to consider?
Many thanks - and I also hope I am not the only Hexusian that finds this subject interesting...