I'm locked into the current set of computers for a five-year amortization
term. Just finished configuring the software applications on the last of
them and all are now fully productive.
But for future reference, what kind of CPUs do these ITX computers use? The
sort of stuff I do is very computationally-intensive and needs the fastest
processing money can buy, not mention disk space. We now have over a
terabyte of RAID 0 arrays serving uncompressed NTSC and now Hi Def video
streams for editing. I have a difficult time comprehending that a computer
that draws only 40W would be capable of handling the volume of data that my
servers crunch through in a day.
--
Take care,
Mark & Mary Ann Weiss
VIDEO PRODUCTION . FILM SCANNING . AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
-
> Look at ITX based computers, and skip the dc - ac - dc transformation.
These
> little guys use miniscule amounts of electric, especially when combined
with
> a single lcd monitor and a kvm switch. I built one last week as a linux
> based mail/web server. 40 watt power draw. Perfect for solar power.
> --
> Steve Spence
> Renewable energy and sustainable living
> http://www.green-trust.org
> Donate $0 or more to Green Trust, and receive
> a copy of Joshua Tickell's "From the Fryer to
> the Fuel Tank", the premier documentary of
> biodiesel and vegetable oil powered diesels.
> > I'm looking at $00/mo electric bills on average, even though I have
> stopped
> > using many heavy-draw appliances.
> >
> > I am down to just my four PC computer servers that must be on 24/7.
> >
> > We emptied shut down our chest freezer last November.
> >
> > All heating is oil-fired, including hot water.
> >
> > We're saving to replace our 1962-vintage HotPoint refrigerator (which is
> > still working fine) with a new Energy Star rated fridge.
> >
> > I've converted a lot of the incandescent lighting to fluorescent.
> >
> > I've stopped using space heaters.
> >
> > I've stopped using the big sound system for background and monitoring
> > applications in my studio, replacing it with a small mag-field amplifier
> > that has a low quiescent power draw.
> >
> > The way I see it, the biggest continuous draw are my computers and
musical
> > instruments (synthesizers). In the past, I have looked into solar cell
> > panels and found the costs to be prohibitive, requiring a mortgage to
pay
> > for. I would like to do something on a smaller scale.
> >
> > If I could power even one computer by storage batteries and a solid
state
> > sine wave inverter, charged by solar cells during the day, with enough
> > reserve to run the whole night throught til sun up, I would consider
that
> a
> > great start. Because of budget limits ($00-500) this will be a DIY
> project.
> >
> > What are the most efficient solar cells made today and can enough of
them
> be
> > purchased within the constraints of my budget to power an AC sine wave
> > inverter to operate on PC server?
> >
> >
> > I'm looking for a variety of alternative energy source ideas, even wind
> > power to charge batteries.
> > Perhaps it makes more sense to have one big 3kVA inverter and three
times
> > the battery capacity and more cells charging by day and wind-driven
> > generators charging by night? What I'd like to do is create a hybrid
> system
> > that is scaleable as my needs/budget grow.
> >
> > Is anyone on this discussion group doing serious alternative electric
> energy
> > generation? Would love to discuss some ideas and expand my awareness of
> > what's available in terms of hardware.
> >
> > --
> > Take care,
> >
> > Mark & Mary Ann Weiss
> >
> > VIDEO PRODUCTION . FILM SCANNING . AUDIO RESTORATION
> > Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
> > Business sites at:
> > www.dv-clips.com
> > www.mwcomms.com
> > www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
> > -
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>sort of stuff I do is very computationally-intensive and needs the fastest
>processing money can buy, not mention disk space. We now have over a
>terabyte of RAID 0 arrays serving uncompressed NTSC and now Hi Def video
You're not going to be able to do "low power" computing with those
needs. You might be able to do lower power than you are now, but
that'd be expensive. If you are living on the bleeding edge, why is
your replacement cycle 5 years? I'd think after 3 (if not 1) years
you'd be so far behind the "state of the art" that you'd need to
upgrade...
--
William Smith
ComputerSmiths Consulting, Inc. www.compusmiths.com
XML site map
These
> little guys use miniscule amounts of electric, especially when combined
with
> a single lcd monitor and a kvm switch. I built one last week as a linux
> based mail/web server. 40 watt power draw. Perfect for solar power.
> --
> Steve Spence
> Renewable energy and sustainable living
> http://www.green-trust.org
> Donate $0 or more to Green Trust, and receive
> a copy of Joshua Tickell's "From the Fryer to
> the Fuel Tank", the premier documentary of
> biodiesel and vegetable oil powered diesels.
> > I'm looking at $00/mo electric bills on average, even though I have
> stopped
> > using many heavy-draw appliances.
> >
> > I am down to just my four PC computer servers that must be on 24/7.
> >
> > We emptied shut down our chest freezer last November.
> >
> > All heating is oil-fired, including hot water.
> >
> > We're saving to replace our 1962-vintage HotPoint refrigerator (which is
> > still working fine) with a new Energy Star rated fridge.
> >
> > I've converted a lot of the incandescent lighting to fluorescent.
> >
> > I've stopped using space heaters.
> >
> > I've stopped using the big sound system for background and monitoring
> > applications in my studio, replacing it with a small mag-field amplifier
> > that has a low quiescent power draw.
> >
> > The way I see it, the biggest continuous draw are my computers and