Search found 97 matches

by MtnHermit
Sat Sep 04, 2010 7:55 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Power meter recomendations
Replies: 3
Views: 1850

The newer Kill-A-Watt's can accept your $/KWH and give you $ figure for a period of time. Older units (like the one I have) only report the instantaneous watts. I suspect both Newegg and Amazon have good users reviews to help you decide.
by MtnHermit
Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:30 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Gigabyte H55N-USB3 with i3 540 - has anyone undervolted?
Replies: 17
Views: 13678

Setup: -0.225 Dynamic Vcore reduction (~.85V in BIOS), CPU @ 2GHz w/ hyper threading enabled to support undervolt. 1.1V for the GPU (stock speed) 1.3V for the ram (stock speed) That implies you underclocked the i3-540 by ~30% Idle power draw = 27W from the wall Max power draw (furmark + prime95) = ...
by MtnHermit
Fri Aug 13, 2010 8:09 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Gigabyte H55N-USB3 with i3 540 - has anyone undervolted?
Replies: 17
Views: 13678

I am looking for the lowest max power usage and need advice. I have a Gigabyte H55 MB with a i3-530. Great MB and CPU but forget undervolting. Turns out the CPU dynamically undervolts as required using its 1-million transistor power manager unit. I got down to 1.0V with zero power difference. Below...
by MtnHermit
Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:15 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Antec ISK-300 Mini-ITX Case
Replies: 86
Views: 84634

Trav1s wrote:You beat me to it. I am going to older another one...
So how good is the 65W PSU?

I have no interest in the case, slim DVD. But I have a Foxconn mini-ITX/Atom 330 with a 5.25 and 3.5 bay with a dreadful ~200W PSU. $43 for a 65W PSU is a good deal.
by MtnHermit
Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:41 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Antec ISK-300 Mini-ITX Case
Replies: 86
Views: 84634

by MtnHermit
Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:25 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: PSU for a basic needs system...
Replies: 8
Views: 4512

Earthwatts

The only thing I'm really not to sure on is the power supply. I originally thought of a 120watt Pico, but was having second thoughts, and considering an Antec Earthwatts 380. What do you guys think? I have a couple of the Earthwatts 380's, great PSU. Quiet, efficient, and low cost. If your case wil...
by MtnHermit
Sat May 22, 2010 5:08 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: i5/i3 IGP - user experiences?
Replies: 7
Views: 6187

I have an i3-530 on a Gigabyte MB, my only video experience was watching the Avatar DVD, far as I was concerned, it was flawless. That was on XP SP2, never used any Linux OS. If you plan to go discrete, no sense getting any of the Clarkdale CPU's. I wanted the power savings: 28W idle using a Dell RM...
by MtnHermit
Tue May 11, 2010 2:55 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Current best options for low power NAS/download box
Replies: 15
Views: 15239

ilovejedd wrote:
MtnHermit wrote:My i3-530 + 2-HDD idles at 28W, but that's with a modded Dell RM112 (not for the faint of heart). With a EA-380 it used 34W.
What HDDs were you using?
My primary HDD is a Toshiba 500GB 2.5" and my storage HDD is a WD 1.5TB EARS, they are set to go off after 3-min in WinXP.
by MtnHermit
Tue May 11, 2010 7:16 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Current best options for low power NAS/download box
Replies: 15
Views: 15239

- Intel i3 530 @ 32 w idle* My i3-530 + 2-HDD idles at 28W, but that's with a modded Dell RM112 (not for the faint of heart). With a EA-380 it used 34W. I have a Gigabyte MB, reviews I've read suggest either a MSI or Intel MB would drop the idle another 5W. FWIW: Toms published a Atom vs i3 review ...
by MtnHermit
Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:21 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Gigabyte D510UD power consumption
Replies: 2
Views: 3116

Set those HDD's to go off at 3-min and check again. I'm not familiar with the Truepower. A quick check, short the green to black with the PSU completely disconnected from all devices and measure the power to run itself. The Dell RM112 does 4W, a cheap 200W can use 9W, I've seen as high as 14W. I hav...
by MtnHermit
Thu Apr 01, 2010 7:00 pm
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: Xeon L3406: 30W TDP Clarkdale
Replies: 26
Views: 25467

So unless you're building a server, the lack of the IGP at 8-10W makes this chip very limited. But of course servers are exactly the intended market. I know you can overclock the IGP, perhaps also underclock, maybe to the point of turning it off or at least to 1W. For me the IGP made Clarkdale, meet...
by MtnHermit
Thu Apr 01, 2010 1:55 pm
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: The H57 consumes 20% of electricity more than the H55
Replies: 5
Views: 5768

Methinks the chipset itself isn't the culprit but rather the implementation? I agree. H57 goes into higher end MBs which begets more VRM's which consume more power. Also, the default settings could very well be different. None the less a good find because it reminds us to dot the i's and cross the ...
by MtnHermit
Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:47 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Core i3/i5 undervolting: how long can we go?
Replies: 7
Views: 15205

I tried undervolting my i3-530 on a Gigabyte H55 MB. I could only get to 1.0V before it refused to POST AND their was NO power savings. I subsequently learned all the Core iX CPU's have a million transistor power manager on chip to dynamically control power and clock. Basically, Intel has taken all ...
by MtnHermit
Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:41 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Pico PSU for dummies
Replies: 14
Views: 5950

Re: Pico PSU for dummies

I was thinking I could power my configuration using two "picoPSU-150-XT + 102W Adapter Power Kits". One for the video card and one for the motherboard. Does this seem feasible? Bad idea, cost and misapplication. You don't indicate what form factor PSU your mini-ITX case requires. Get a 80+ PSU of ~...
by MtnHermit
Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:14 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: 200-250W 80+ mAXT PSU ?
Replies: 3
Views: 2154

Re: 200-250W 80+ mAXT PSU ?

MB Gigabyte H55M-UD2H CPU Intel Core i3 530 Unless you need the many video output options of the Gigabyte MB, it is not the best option for a low power always on PC. Undervolting/underclocking do nothing with the i3-530. Suggest you consider the Intel or MSI H55 MB's, many reviews to read. As to yo...
by MtnHermit
Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:57 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Modding a 20 pin PSU for 24 pin mobo? Dangerous?
Replies: 3
Views: 1926

The main plug is only 20 instead of 24 pins (I think). So the mobo will not even post. Not posting is almost always because you don't have the 4-pin CPU power plug connected. 20/24 pins is relatively unimportant. If your existing PSU does not have a 4-pin CPU connector then it's incredibly old and ...
by MtnHermit
Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:21 am
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: LED backlit LCD monitors: CCFL obsolete?
Replies: 12
Views: 9913

Thanks for the post, unfortunately the benq v2210 eco is not available in the US. Tis a shame. A comparable product are the Dell G2x10 LED backlite monitors.
by MtnHermit
Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:17 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: i5 6xx stock fan noise
Replies: 12
Views: 7045

akirarat wrote:That's a good point. I actually checked newegg for i5 5xx but they only stock 600 series.
That's because the 5xx's are i3's. I got my i3-530 from Newegg in Jan.

Core i3 link
by MtnHermit
Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:57 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: i5 6xx stock fan noise
Replies: 12
Views: 7045

Triple Post :P
by MtnHermit
Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:47 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: i5 6xx stock fan noise
Replies: 12
Views: 7045

Triple Post :P
by MtnHermit
Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:45 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: i5 6xx stock fan noise
Replies: 12
Views: 7045

I believe that the 530 does not have turbo. Is that correct? Correct. But TB is only one multiplier step. So if stock was 22X, then TB would be 23X. To me that was marketing hype with almost no benefit. With a good MB I should be able to get the 530 to the equivalent of ~35X by upping the FSB. I wo...
by MtnHermit
Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:56 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: i5 6xx stock fan noise
Replies: 12
Views: 7045

I have an i3 530 w/ a stock HSF. I've never heard it. It's in a mATX case on the bottom shelf of a coffee table. Since the whole rig idles at 34W, not much reason for any of the 3 fans to spin fast.

Curious, what feature does a i5 66x offer to warrant paying double over the 530?
by MtnHermit
Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:18 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Best brick for PicoPsu (or other efficient and silent DC-DC)
Replies: 15
Views: 7651

NM
by MtnHermit
Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:08 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Best brick for PicoPsu (or other efficient and silent DC-DC)
Replies: 15
Views: 7651

Can you elaborate on the above. All can be verified, simply read the Dell R112 thread on this forum, what are your questions? What kind of system do you use. What kind of energy usage. I seem to remember that you live off of solar or wind energy. PSU FF No Load Idle Comments Seasonic 180W SFX 7W 44...
by MtnHermit
Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:21 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Best brick for PicoPsu (or other efficient and silent DC-DC)
Replies: 15
Views: 7651

I would love to get a hold of a Dell R112 since that seems the most efficient. But the shipping to EU is way, way to much. It's like 30$ for the PSU and close to 50$ shipping.. :( Can't you find the Dell on something like eBay in the EU? As I understand these come out of damaged Optiplex's. Their m...
by MtnHermit
Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:16 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Best brick for PicoPsu (or other efficient and silent DC-DC)
Replies: 15
Views: 7651

Just wondering what is the best deals these days for a silent and low power PSU. 1) Which brick do people get these days? 2) Is the PicoPSU DC-DC converter still the best thing around? There seem to be alternatives (like electrodacus's supply) In terms of efficiency the order is like this: Dell R11...
by MtnHermit
Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:05 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Best brick for PicoPsu (or other efficient and silent DC-DC)
Replies: 15
Views: 7651

For the life of me I can't figure out on what basis SPRC gave the Pico a better rating. Well the PicoPSU with the right brick is more efficient than the Winmate, precisely because of the 12V regulation you mention. It's questionable if modern MB's need that regulation since they have many stage VRM...
by MtnHermit
Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:55 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Silent high efficiency ~100W PSU?
Replies: 9
Views: 6639

Jay_S wrote: I was using an old Zalman 300W ATX PSU. With a 2.5" notebook drive and a 80mm 0.09A fan my Kill-a-Watt read 32W idle. With the PicoPSU & 60W brick it dropped to 15W idle.
I'll bet that Zalman took at least 10W just to run itself. Quick test to find out (green to black). But 15W is impressive.