power reduction

[AgrFan]

I got new rates with my electric bill this week ... looks like a 2% increase across the board ... looking for some advice on ways to save power and still get similar production.

Here's what I'm running right now ...

FAH SMP - notfred (via USB) 1250-1350 PPD

• Stock Dell Dimension E521 A64x2 3800+

WCG - Boinc 1000-1250 PPD

• Stock Dell Inspiron 530s E2160
• Stock Dell Dimension 4550 P4 2.53
• AMD Sempron 2800+ (S754)
• AMD Sempron 2500+ (Socket-A)

All of the boxes have 1 hard drive, 1 optical drive and integrated video (no video cards).

Would it make sense power-wise to consolidate the single core boxes into one quad box?

The last time I checked with a kill-a-watt meter each single core box draws 125-150watts under full load.

 

[Zero82z]

It would definitely save power to consolidate your boxes. If you were to replace your A64 rig with a PC using a more modern dual-core CPU like a Core 2/Pentium Dual-Core or Phenom II X2/Athlon II X2, you'd get much more production with less power consumption. And by replacing your three single-core machines with a single quad-core box using a Phenom II or Core 2 Quad, you'd get better production from the new CPU's significantly better IPC while saving power from only having to run one system as well as the fact that newer CPUs are much more power-efficient than older Athlon and P4 CPUs.

Basically, if you have the cash to replace your rigs, you could significantly increase your production while significantly lowering your power usage.

 

[AgrFan]

This may sound silly but I have a E5200 CPU+MB+RAM combo sitting in a box unused at the moment. I probably should replace one of the semprons with it, turn the P4 off and plan on upgrading the remaining sempron to a dual or quad in the future.

 

[Zero82z]

This may sound silly but I have a E5200 MB+CPU+RAM combo sitting in a box unused at the moment. I probably should replace one of the semprons with it, turn the P4 off and plan on upgrading the remaining sempron to a dual or quad in the future.

Yeah, that would be a good idea .

 

[sirmonkey1985]

This may sound silly but I have a E5200 CPU+MB+RAM combo sitting in a box unused at the moment. I probably should replace one of the semprons with it, turn the P4 off and plan on upgrading the remaining sempron to a dual or quad in the future.

or you could send me the sempron 2500+ for free and ill take it off your hands.. lol.. honestly id just shut the semprons down.. the amount of PPD per watt.. they really arent worth it..

i use to run a sempron 3000+ (s754) @ 2.8ghz for while and it just wasnt worth it to keep running F@H or BOINC on it.. when a single core on my phenom II could do twice the work at 1/3 of the amount of electricity..

 

[EvilAlchemist]

There are two very simple ways to lower your power bill:

1) Change the locations of your DC systems. Having all of them in one area causes more heat.
Think about moving them around your residence to lower the heat output which will lower your heating / cooling energy usage.

2) Change all yuor house lighting to more energy efficient bulbs - CF Bulbs
(This lowered my energy bill last year a whole lot)
There is a cost involved since you are buying new bulbs, but it def pays for it self with the first bill.
(Home Depot has packs of 12 for $15.00 - shop around for good deals)

Going from 100 watt bulbs to 13 watt bulbs make a huge difference when you go around your residence and look at all the lights in your house. Also check the outside lights if you have any and get CF bulbs for those as well.
Keep in mind, there are three levels / brightness of bulbs - dayligt , soft white, and cool white.
I use all "Daylight" in all my bathrooms because it is like a "white" light.
I use "Soft White" in my living room which is like a standard bulb - slightly yellow
I have not had a use for Cool White but most ppl say these are good for kitchens and such.

Over the last 1 1/2 years, not a single one has burned out with constant usage and turning on and off.

If you have done all that, then you can look at giving up computers and doing more expensive stuff , but start with the basics

 

[DriveEuro]

Start looking at parts from a PPD/watt view. Cards like the GTX 285 put out a ton of points at a significantly lower wattage than say a 9800GX2. Granted, the GX2 still puts out roughly 2k more a day, but the 285 saves a lot of wattage.

Try keeping your rigs in the basement (if you have one). That will make a big difference in cooling.

 

[osrk]

Start looking at parts from a PPD/watt view. Cards like the GTX 285 put out a ton of points at a significantly lower wattage than say a 9800GX2. Granted, the GX2 still puts out roughly 2k more a day, but the 285 saves a lot of wattage.

Try keeping your rigs in the basement (if you have one). That will make a big difference in cooling.

^This

A garage would work just as well. Mainly just get them out of a space that you live in and would want to cool. A folding rig does not need air conditioning.

 

[Pylon]

or you could send me the sempron 2500+ for free and ill take it off your hands.. lol.. honestly id just shut the semprons down.. the amount of PPD per watt.. they really arent worth it..

i use to run a sempron 3000+ (s754) @ 2.8ghz for while and it just wasnt worth it to keep running F@H or BOINC on it.. when a single core on my phenom II could do twice the work at 1/3 of the amount of electricity..

You think that doesn't make enough PPD/watt...I fold on my P4 2Ghz, getting about 50PPD(I don't run it 24/7, about 5 hours a day at most), since it's the only thing I own that actually folds at a good enough pace. I do BORG on a Pentium D machine, and a C2D laptop though, and there's an Athlon II machine coming later in the year.

 

[Zero82z]

Start looking at parts from a PPD/watt view. Cards like the GTX 285 put out a ton of points at a significantly lower wattage than say a 9800GX2. Granted, the GX2 still puts out roughly 2k more a day, but the 285 saves a lot of wattage.

The GTX275 is an even better choice since it puts out about the same as a GTX285 and uses 10W less at load.

 

[Chaoticon]

You think that doesn't make enough PPD/watt...I fold on my P4 2Ghz, getting about 50PPD(I don't run it 24/7, about 5 hours a day at most), since it's the only thing I own that actually folds at a good enough pace. I do BORG on a Pentium D machine, and a C2D laptop though, and there's an Athlon II machine coming later in the year.

Why even bother with the p4. Let someone else grab those work units you are keeping tied up with outdated equipment so we aren't wasting time and money(your money).

 

[EvilAlchemist]

I find it funny most of you are telling him to spend 200+ dollars to save on his energy bill ...

Kinda defeats the point .......

 

[osrk]

I find it funny most of you are telling him to spend 200+ dollars to save on his energy bill ...

Kinda defeats the point .......

It's more from a ppd/w standpoint. While he would have to spend money initially it's not like that money is just wasted capital it still retains it's value while slowly depreciating but at the same time saving him money while pumping out more ppd. Not to mention he hasn't given us how much running those rigs cost per month along with the cost of cooling them assuming he's operating them from within inside his dwelling area.

 

[Zero82z]

I find it funny most of you are telling him to spend 200+ dollars to save on his energy bill ...

Kinda defeats the point .......

He's the one who suggested it in the first place so...

I'm just confirming that if he does replace some of his boxen with newer multi-core systems, he can greatly increase his production while significantly reducing his power consumption as well.

 

[AgrFan]

I find it funny most of you are telling him to spend 200+ dollars to save on his energy bill ...

Kinda defeats the point .......

Exactly ... I'm looking for advice on how to reduce my power usage and maintain my current production at the same time ... not spend money to increase production ... consolidating two of my WCG single-core boxes seems to be the answer since I already have a E5200 combo sitting on the shelf.

I have no interest in building any GPU2 folders ... my focus at the moment is primarily WCG ... I recently cut back to 1 FAH SMP folder after getting tired of the problems with the A2 units.

I've already replaced as many light bulbs as possible.
4 boxes are in the basement and do not add to my cooling bill.

The cost to run them is minimal. I'm expecting more rate increases in the future. I've been getting information in my bill about a savings plan with a 6% interest rate designed to help customers transition to market-based rates in 2011 (PECO in SE PA).

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS202899+07-May-2009+BW20090507

Just trying to be prepared for when the worst comes ...

Thanks everyone for the responses so far ....

 

[sirmonkey1985]

Exactly ... I'm looking for advice on how to reduce my power usage and maintain my current production at the same time ... not spend money to increase production ... consolidating two of my WCG single-core boxes seems to be the answer since I already have a E5200 combo sitting on the shelf.

I have no interest in building any GPU2 folders ... my focus at the moment is primarily WCG ... I recently cut back to 1 FAH SMP folder after getting tired of the problems with the A2 units.

I've already replaced as many light bulbs as possible.
4 boxes are in the basement and do not add to my cooling bill.

The cost to run them is minimal. I'm expecting more rate increases in the future. I've been getting information in my bill about a savings plan with a 6% interest rate designed to help customers transition to market-based rates in 2011 (PECO in SE PA).

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS202899+07-May-2009+BW20090507

Just trying to be prepared for when the worst comes ...

Thanks everyone for the responses so far ....

getting rid of the semprons will help the most.. really wont make to much of an effect PPD wise..

also make sure that you are using your highest efficient PSU on what ever system is pulling the most load.. so if you have an 80% psu on a system only pulling 150w but a 75% psu on a system pulling 250-300w.. move the 80% psu to that one..

honestly the easiest way to drop your power bill is replacing all your psu's with 80 plus silver or gold psu's but they arent cheap.. but they pay for themselves within a year..

OR

start researching into home made solar power..

 

[Zero82z]

honestly the easiest way to drop your power bill is replacing all your psu's with 80 plus silver or gold psu's but they arent cheap.. but they pay for themselves within a year..

The cheapest way would be to switch out components for more power-efficient ones. The few percent more efficiency offered by 80Plus Silver or Gold PSUs won't make that much of a dent in the power bill compared to reducing the actual power consumption of the components. For example, the X2 3800+ has a TDP of 89W, but it could be replaced with a 65W Core 2-based CPU, or a 95W quad-core could even replace that CPU and both Semprons while producing much more.

 

[Kendrak]

I'd Ebay the single core procs and then buy the best (lower powered) chips that you can get with the money that you have raised.

I would think that if you sold 2 or 3 single cores you should be able to get a faster duel core with out too much of a problem. Your ppd would be about the same and your power consumption would drop like a rock.