Results
So
far, I have only tested two fully loaded boxes. If I can convince Oleg
to create yet another database, I’ll work on uploading more results, hopefully
some of them from you. So, if you feel comfortable messing about with volts and
amps, send me your numbers and system description.
System
Description
(Setup
#1)
Internals
| CPU
Spd | MB |
AGP |
PCI #1 |
PCI #2 |
PCI #3 |
PCI #4 |
PCI #5 |
|
Pentium 133Mhz |
Elpina 586 | |
1MB Video |
Sound | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| PCI
#6 | ISA
#1 | ISA
#2 | ISA
#3 | #
Of RAM Strips | Power
Supply | #
Of HD's | #
Of Fans (Total) |
| Modem | | | |
4 |
200W |
1 |
2 |
Peripherals
| 5-1/4
#1 | 5-1/4
#2 | 5-1/4
#3 | 5-1/4
#4 | 5-1/4
#5 | 5-1/4
#6 | 3-1/2
#1 | 3-1/2
#2 |
| 24X
CD-ROM | | | | | |
Floppy | |
System Description
(Setup
#2)
| | | | |
Internals | | | |
| CPU
Spd | MB |
AGP |
PCI #1 |
PCI #2 |
PCI #3 |
PCI #4 |
PCI #5 |
|
Celeron 550Mhz |
Abit BM6 |
32MB TNT2 | |
SB Live! |
Tekram SCSI-2 |
Lucent Modem | |
| | | | | | | | |
| PCI
#6 | ISA
#1 | ISA
#2 | ISA
#3 | #
Of RAM Strips | Power
Supply | #
Of HD's | #
Of Fans (Total) |
| | | | |
1 |
235W |
1 |
3 |
Peripherals
| 5-1/4
#1 | 5-1/4
#2 | 5-1/4
#3 | 5-1/4
#4 | 5-1/4
#5 | 5-1/4
#6 | 3-1/2
#1 | 3-1/2
#2 |
|
40X CD-ROM |
8X CD-R | | | | |
Floppy | |
System Description
(Setup #3)
| |
|
|
|
Internals
|
|
|
|
|
CPU Spd
|
MB
|
AGP
|
PCI #1
|
PCI #2
|
PCI #3
|
PCI #4
|
PCI #5
|
|
Pentium3 650Mhz
|
Abit BE6 Rev2
|
32MB TNT2U
|
|
Lucent Modem
|
|
SB Live!
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PCI #6
|
ISA #1
|
ISA #2
|
ISA #3
|
# Of RAM Strips
|
Power Supply
|
# Of HD's
|
# Of Fans
(Total)
|
| |
|
|
|
1
|
235W
|
1
|
3
|
Peripherals
|
5-1/4 #1
|
5-1/4 #2
|
5-1/4 #3
|
5-1/4 #4
|
5-1/4 #5
|
5-1/4 #6
|
3-1/2 #1
|
3-1/2 #2
|
|
48X CD-ROM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Floppy
|
|
While these setups represent the average home
user, "power users" can have dramatically different results. Some
of the newer high end SCSI drives can pull over 40 watts just spooling up;
so don’t let the above numbers fool you. All systems seem to have very little
overall power consumption. So why do I personally recommend larger supplies?
Switching units generate lots of hash; garbage that infiltrates your motherboard
and peripherals. In order to minimize peak power overload and system instabilities;
use a supply at least twice as large as what these measurements suggest. For
example, system #2 should have at least a 79x2=158 watt unit. For more info
on switching power supplies, click here.
Conclusion
It was slightly surprising that power usage for
home systems were well below the 100 watt level, but note that all configurations
are of a minimalist nature. The newer Coppermine computers actually use
less juice than the older P2/Celeron configurations. With 3 Hard Drives,
4 RAM strips, 2 CD-ROM’s, and six add-in cards, I could easily believe that
peak power could exceed 150-200 watts. Of course, those crazy overclockers
out there with 10, 3 watt fans and 2, 50 watt peltier coolers will experience
higher usage too.
