Energy Consumption: Loading the Processor to the Maximum
by
Bert Toepelt
Things change quite a bit when the processor is loaded to its limit. The single core Sempron 64 processors now take the lead with up to 33 W; the BE processors have more computing power, and with up to 35.8 watts, are more efficient. The energy efficient CPUs’ energy intake goes to between 40.2 and 59.2 Watts, while the Athlon 64 processors hold the record high at 59.5 to 102.4 Watts.
The quad core Phenom models do better than the two core Athlon 64 processors. With programs that benefit from quad core processors, the Phenom is more efficient than the Athlon 64.
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my media centre based on a 3700+ (S939, single core san diego, 1MB, 2.2GHz) only uses 56-58W while running rosetta@home! That's including 1.25GB DDR (3 sticks), a freeview TV tuner, and a 2GB compactflash card on a Seasonic S12 330W PSU. It's undervolted as far as it'd go though...
What about performance per watt comparisons, which would have been the best comparison you could have made in such an article.
If you had a system that consumed 300W of power (forget about idle and full load differences for this question!!) with a 500W PSU, what would your power consumption be for the purpose of energy bill calculation?
Am I correct in believing that the rating of your PSU is the maximum power it can supply, and that it only actually draws what the system asks for? So in this case, your overall system power use would be 300W?
So, if you install a much more powerful PSU than you currently need (for the sake of future SLI upgrades) you wouldn't be wasting electricity?