System Level Power Consumption
We compared the power consumption of our review sample with current AMD and Intel platforms. Our Intel system uses Gigabyte’s G33-based GA-G33-DS3R, while the AMD platform is built around the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H using the AMD 780G chipset.
Since both platform systems we used for comparison support dual-channel memory configurations, we used two identical A-Data Vitesta RAM modules. The Intel D210GLY2 board we used only comes with one DIMM slot, so we chose a 2 GB DDR2-800 module made by TakeMS, carrying the designation TMS2GB264D082-805AP instead.
The remaining components are identical across all platforms.
| Processor | Platform |
| Athlon Sempron | AMD 780G Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H |
| Pentium Dual-Core | Intel G33 Gigabyte GA-G33-DS3R |
| Celeron | SIS 662 Intel D201GLY2 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital 3200AAJS 320 GB, 7,200 RPM, SATA-300 |
As we can see in the chart, we shouldn’t expect huge power savings from Intel’s D201GLY2 mini-ITX board. When idle, it only consumes about 13 watts less than the G33-solution using the smallest Pentium dual core E2140 CPU. When compared to the AMD platform, the difference is even less pronounced. Paired up to the Sempron LE-1100, AMD’s processor/motherboard combo draws 1 watt less. Also, don’t forget that these systems also pack quite a bit more performance punch than the mini-ITX board.
Under load, the differences are much more pronounced. Equipped with a Pentium dual core E2140 (M0 stepping), the Intel G33-based system consumes 69.5 watts, while the Celeron 220 board gets by with only 55.4 watts. Meanwhile, the AMD System draws 70 watts under load even when only equipped with the Sempron LE-1100.
Latest Build Your Own News
Latest Build Your Own reviews
- 23/12 – System Builder Marathon, Dec. 2011: System Value Compared
- 21/12 – System Builder Marathon, Dec. 2011: $600 Gaming PC
- 20/12 – System Builder Marathon, Dec. 2011: $1200 Enthusiast PC
- 19/12 – System Builder Marathon, Dec. 2011: $2400 Performance PC
- 14/12 – Power Supply 101: A Reference Of Specifications
Good article... But dollars... Really?
Think I'll just follow most readers and just concentrate reading the US site of Tom's from now on.
I agree. This is a good article............but............
I cannot source this board in the UK (all are saying out of stock). Also, why bother to have a UK site when most articles relate to USA, ie dollars.
It is much better to just log in to the USA site
Wouldn't the Intel Little Falls (M-ITX) board with the Atom processor be a better choice? Same price (if not even lower?) and uses less power?
Ditch the serial & parallel ports, give me a gbit network card and I'm sold! Oh and like other people say, prices in £ ffs
I'm forever being asked to build fast computers, and this proves once again that unless you actually use that power (and wisely), you're not going to see a huge difference. Intel..AMD..doesn't matter; you just don't need to spend a fortune these days and both platforms offer great power thermal envelopes.
..if only AMD would market these features more.
One thing does stand out: no 'C1E Speedstep' support..you'd have thought with a system like this, that such a feature would be standard. Guess it's just an easy way of getting rid of old S-479 gear.