From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 2024-06-16, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:

I think you're a bit behind the times there. PCs (as in x86_64 based)
can now be found, even second hand, that consume only four or five
watts.

Correct, but you have to look hard to find that information before buying.

My always-on machine which does mail server / monitoring / mqtt and lots of other light stuff together with a desktop for when I don't need the big
machine is an Intel NUC D34010 - 16GB RAM, SATA SSD, uses about 5W when
sitting idle at the desktop (measured).

I configured fancontrol so that the fan is stopped as long as the CPU is
below 60°C (which is normally is).

The i3 is fast enough for normal use (I use debian with XFCE). I have a Pi
5, which feels sluggish on the desktop in comparison.

cu
Michael
--
Some people have no respect of age unless it is bottled.
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Michael Schwingen wrote:

Correct, but you have to look hard to find that information before buying.

My always-on machine which does mail server / monitoring / mqtt and lots
of other light stuff together with a desktop for when I don't need the big machine is an Intel NUC D34010 - 16GB RAM, SATA SSD, uses about 5W when sitting idle at the desktop (measured).

And you are also behind times - the west is gone - long live
Alibaba/AliExpres (joking).

I bought Acresser devices in 2007/2008 right before the financial melt down. They cost 250 US and were kind of picky to set up. Last year one of them
died (well the ide-to-CF controller gave up). The cool thing about those
were that they used max.12W. I started looking everywhere (in the west). I couldn't find anything useful. Min. power consumption >60W and costs >600,-
... and then I went to Alibaba/AliExpres ... it felt like I found a
treasury.
BTW the NUC and the kind of are not bad - but non had more than one LAN port
+ power consumption + price.
It is a disappointment what happened after 2008 ... but not going into
politics and economics. Just have a look at Alibaba/AliExpres.



--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

On 2024-07-14, Deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> wrote:

BTW the NUC and the kind of are not bad - but non had more than one LAN port + power consumption + price.

I paid 100€ for the D34010. Yes, if you need more than 1 lan port you need
to look elsewhere (in some use cases, a USB3 ethernet adapter might work).

There are current (Intel gen-12 and newer) machines that are in the ~5W idle ballpark, but these tend to cost a lot more.

It is a disappointment what happened after 2008 ... but not going into politics and economics. Just have a look at Alibaba/AliExpres.

I regularly buy chips and breakout boards there. Getting reliable
information about power consumption before you buy is a big problem, and warranty/back-shipment costs is another.

Also, I am quite wary of chinese equipment using mains voltage.

I just bought a JBC-compatible soldering station from aliexpress. It works fine, but electrical safety is less than marginal: less than 1mm creepage distance from mains to the non-grounded metal case is definitely not OK.

I had to build a new housing (and used a different, safe power supply). In this case it was worth the effort and I had considered this before buying,
but for a mini-PC, I would rather buy something that can be used out of the
box without danger of electrocution.

cu
Michael
--
Some people have no respect of age unless it is bottled.
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.raspberry-pi

Deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> wrote:

I bought Acresser devices in 2007/2008 right before the financial melt down. They cost 250 US and were kind of picky to set up. Last year one of them
died (well the ide-to-CF controller gave up). The cool thing about those
were that they used max.12W. I started looking everywhere (in the west). I couldn't find anything useful. Min. power consumption >60W and costs >600,- ... and then I went to Alibaba/AliExpres ... it felt like I found a
treasury.

Ah but will they last so long? A SBC at half the price costs you more
if you have to buy three replacements over the lifespan of the
expensive one. Then there's the many hours wasted working around the
failure and re-ordering, after which you'll be inclined to buy a
second one as a spare anyway.

Many years ago I experimented with buying computer-related devices
off AliExpress and Chinese Ebay sellers. Most failed much sooner
than I expect from such gear, if they worked at all. When looking
for a saving now my preference has turned to buying second-hand
models from a good brand off Ebay or similar websites. Even used
devices have proven more reliable than AliExpress standard stuff,
plus the used sellers aren't so busy trying to trick you into
thinking you're buying something you're not (and sometimes not
sending your order if you pick a good deal that they listed by
accident!) like on AliExpress. Often it's actually cheaper too,
if you have the patience to wait for the right listing to come
along.

For things without electronics in them like cables and connectors,
I use AliExpress a lot though. I just don't trust them with a
transistor. Though I did buy some allegedly (and authentic looking)
second-hand known-brand RAM from China on Ebay and that has lasted
well.

BTW the NUC and the kind of are not bad - but non had more than one LAN port + power consumption + price.

Yeah I ruled out the NUCs on power consumption, but now I see from
the mentioned spreadsheet that the idle power can be far below the
PSU specs, they're back as an option.
--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#
--- Synchronet 3.20a-Linux NewsLink 1.114