Watt?

[RocKKer]

I just got a Kill-a-Watt watt meter. I decided to check how much my media server and other PC's and HD200 used. This is not scientific, but for a minimal control measurement I did check the Kill-a-Watt meter using a 27 Watt CF Bulb and it hovered between 26-27 watts, so it seems accurate enough for this type of testing.


First test is my media server. This is an E5200, 1X 160GB OS, 4X 1 TB WD Green - Raid 5, 2GB memory, running ubunto desktop 32 v9.10 (this is one in my sig)

Idle - 83 watts
Utilized - 95-100 watts

Idle = ubunto desktop with SageTV server running, no recording, no playback.
Utilized = 2 of my HD200 playing Live TV - each using a different tuner from the HDHR, third HD200 was playing a previously recorded HDTV program. CPU was around 50% used.


Next are the HD200s. I tested all 3 of mine, all use 8-10 watts. The higher wattage was while playing back HD recordings, one TV was HDTV and the others SD, no difference is watt usage.


Next is an Intel Atom 330 in a Foxconn barebones R10-S4 case, 2 GB memory, 2X WD green (Raid 0) running Arch 64 linux, used as a media tank (runs Samba).

Idle 45 watts
Utilized 48 watts

Utilized is copying files from the samba shares to a Windows client on my network.


Third is an old AMD 1900, 1X 160 GB, 784 MB memory, Gentoo Linux.
didn't get an idle measurement
Utilized 150 -190 watts

Utilized was running BOINC (Seti) so CPU was 99% utilized)


Next is E5200 OC 3.4 Ghz, 1X 160GB, 2GB memory, Nvidia 9400GT Video card, windows XP SP3, AVG antivirus running. This is my everyday desktop.

Idle 97 watts
Utilized 140 watts

In this case Utilized is playing one of the newer 3D video games, CPU was pegged at 100% (used both cores) and video card was working hard also.


Next is comparing the OC (wolfdale core) one above to a similar dual core non-OC (allendale core) CPU. Not an exact match but the CPU's are somewhat close, at least both are 65 watt cores. E2180 2.0 GHz, 1X 500GB, 2GB memory, NVidia 8400 GT video card Windows 7

Idle 82 watts
Utilized 135 watts

Utilized is playing the same 3D video game as above.


I realize this is not scientific and I didn't test all combinations of hardware but I thought it was interesting. I tried to get utilizations by using the hardware as it is purposed to get a somewhat accurate picture of power usage. The newer hardware does tend to use less power, even while a video game was played.

[stanger89]

This was mine:
http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthr...ght=case+study

[RocKKer]

Thanks stanger89 - I thought I was the first to do this (not really LOL!) - "missed it by that much"

A little later this evening I'm gonna try to get energy usage on my big screen and other SD TV's and AVR in the house just to keep this media related.

I'm also curious what standby usage (just a green light) is for the HD200.

[Fuzzy]

Others have checked, and it is near/around 8W standby, or active. no real difference.. once you get that low, it really doens't matter anyways.

[wrems]

In terms of killing watts, if all things remained the same in one’s system aside from replacing a non-energy efficient power supply with one that makes claims of say >90%, would there be a noticeable drop in watts used?

[Fuzzy]

Probably wouldn't save enough to pay for the new power supply. If buying a NEW one, a guess there's some point in buying a more efficient model, but not much. About the only advantage to buying a 'high efficiency' power supply, is it is also probably better/closer engineered to begin with, and may last a bit longer.

[wrems]

Yeah, when I actually got to thinking about the actual numbers it just didn’t make sense… Aside from being in the market for a new one rather than replacement, then maybe…

[RocKKer]

Yeah a green light HD200 is 8 watts as already confirmed.

I measured my HDHR and it uses between 4 -5 watts while not tuning anything, uses 6 while tuning one channel and 7 while tuning 2, didn't matter if the channels were HD content or low bitrate SD content.

MY tube TV (circa 80's) 31" Mitubishi SD uses between 85 and 110 in my test. Didn't test with white or black screen just watching whatever programming was on. The brighter screens consume more and darker screens less. I expect the same from by 50" plasma, but it's getting repaired so I can't test that right now, it is rated at 690W, so really curious what it's pulling in everyday viewing.

I imagine an LCD pulls less.