Low Power Computer

[JHallas]

Hi,

I'm currently looking for the lowest power possible computer as cheap as possible. All it needs to do is be able to run Windows XP. I'm guessing AMD as I remember them having good energy saving under-clocking features. I could post this in MOBO/CPU, but I'd prefer a package if any of you seen one. I purchased a relatively low power system from Fry's electronics a couple years back that used some odd AMD processor that was designed for embedded applications. Any help would be appreciated.

Jhallas

 

[IlllI]

why lowest power possible?

 

[JHallas]

Well,

My dad wants a computer that's going to run a lot and be used occasionally for surfing but almost entirely for VOIP. He wants it to use the least power possible because he doesn't need anything fancy.

Thanks,
Jhallas

 

[xSauronx]

budget? you can look into the via nano setups, intel atom (if you can get them? theyre selling out fast, i understand) AMD geode stuff or maybe something intel thats a ULV mode but the first 3 are specifically made with low-power in mind, i believe...keep in mind none of those are made to be performance parts as much as low-power.

shuttle has a ~$230 SFF box with linux on it that has a celeron if you want cheapish, may be lower power than some other options. theres also a barebones version of the box, maybe you can put a ULV cpu in it?

im not sure how the prices may compare to other places, but newegg will have almost all of that.

you can search on slashdot, they have a few articles a year on low-power/sff units and you may find some useful info there.

 

[IlllI]

budget range would help narrow the field down by quite a bit

 

[TheStu]

Apparently you can take an A64 2000+, which runs at 1GHz and it will not only use less power than the Atom, but also can be run fanless.

You drop that into a modern AM2/AM2+ board and you have a pretty sweet rig whose processor uses 8W or less at load. The whole system can be run fanless and will use a very miniscule amount of power. The best part is that you can use COTS parts that are all modular (CPU is socketed, not soldered for example) with a great onboard graphics chip.

 

[boomhower]

MSI Atom barebones. $150+$37(2GB Kingston memory)+$25(burner of choice)+$70(WD GP 500GB)=less than $300 shipped for a very green system. Much better deal than an EEEPC.

 

[xSauronx]

aha!

2" linux box

draws 5w

very pricey though

but still cool, i think.

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: xSauronx
aha!

2" linux box

draws 5w

very pricey though

but still cool, i think.

that is pretty cool. it can also double as a paperweight when not in use ^_^