From: mike 

On Thu, 04 Jan 2007 21:31:24 -0500, Randy  wrote:

>mike wrote:
>> As I ponder a MacMini for a media hub, I also wondered how much power it
>> and some other stuff used.
>>
>> I bought a power meter and measured...
>>
>> My new Windows desktop, about 140 watts.
>>  (Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.4GHz, 1GB RAM, two 250GB SATA drives)
>>
>> Old Windows desktop pulled, about 150 watts
>>  (Intel P4 2.4GHz, 512MB RAM, 2 160GB SATA drives)
>>
>> MacMini, about 30 watts
>>  (Core Duo 1.6GHz, 2GB RAM, 80GB drive)
>>
>> 26" Mitsubishi CRT television (circa 1988), about 150 watts,
seven watts
>> powered off but plugged in.
>>
>> Panasonic DVR powered on but not playing, about 30 watts.  2 watts
>> powered off.
>>
>>   /m
>>
>>
>
>I cobbled together a Linksys NSLU2, loaded unslung 6.8 and Twonkyvision
>4.0, with a WD 120 GB/5400 RPM drive as my storage for my audio media
>server.
>
>I don't have a wattmeter, but I'd be suprised if it pulls down more than
>20 watts with it on all the time.
>

I've been keeping an eye on the VIA C7 processors.

http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/processors/c7/


===
...Developed from the ground up for low power operation, the VIA C7
processor is based on the advanced VIA CoolStream™ Architecture and
manufactured using IBM's state-of-the-art 90nm Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI)
process, and delivers the greatest performance per watt in the business.

Capable of running up to 2.0GHz with ultra low power consumption of around
20 watts peak power and operating at an average power of less than 1 watt,
the VIA C7 processor is the embodiment of cool processing and sets the
standards for next generation of desktop, mobile and personal electronics
systems...
===

That plus a few notebook drives in a RAID 5 configuration, and I'll have a
nice media server ....

Here's a nice board with one of those C7 CPUs on it:
http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/cPath/78_93/products_id/544



  /m

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