Upgrading my computer - faster & more efficient

[Daox]

This is a 'next step' deal, but I am considering getting a new power supply for the computer. There doesn't seem to be a great selection of power supplies for a low power system like this. PC parts picker estimates my max power consumption at ~130W. I kind of doubt it'll even get that high. I'm obviously looking for something as efficient as possible as well. Any suggestions?

[freebeard]

Curiously enough, NextStep was where I bought the Mini. The last one they had at that price, and they currently don't have any Macs at all. NextStep Recycling

Powering an Intel Mac Mini from 12V using a Kensington 33196 Universal Laptop Adapter

Sitting idle at the finder, the Intel Mac Mini draws about 19W. Running multiple processes, Xbench, and anything else we could think of, we couldn't get the power to go over 38W. (This was a 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo Mac Mini.)

[Xist]

I am not sure why I have an SSD sitting in front of me at my desk, but it is a refurbished Crucial. I do not know what the first one that I bought was. Shall we give Samsung the benefit of the doubt?

My Galaxy S6 works great after 2.5 years.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Daox

This is a 'next step' deal, but I am considering getting a new power supply for the computer. There doesn't seem to be a great selection of power supplies for a low power system like this. PC parts picker estimates my max power consumption at ~130W. I kind of doubt it'll even get that high. I'm obviously looking for something as efficient as possible as well. Any suggestions?

I consider Seasonic to be one of the best PSU manufacturers, and this 400w budget unit has been very highly reviewed:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...anandtech01-20

I personally have a platinum rated 400w unit by Sparkle (OEM = FSP), which I snagged for $25 a few years back. Looks like you can't get anything above bronze these days for less than maybe $75.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

It also depends on which brand / model you use. The newer Samsung models are rated much better than older SSD's.

And I've got news for you: spinning hard drives break down all the time.

I've dealt with hundreds of failed mechanical hard drives in the course of my IT career, and perhaps half a dozen personal drive failures. Fortunately my drive failures have always occurred as part of a RAID array, so I have never lost data.

It would still be foolish to store important data on a RAID array alone, as a fire, theft or ransomware could render it unrecoverable.

Originally Posted by Daox

This is a 'next step' deal, but I am considering getting a new power supply for the computer. There doesn't seem to be a great selection of power supplies for a low power system like this. PC parts picker estimates my max power consumption at ~130W. I kind of doubt it'll even get that high. I'm obviously looking for something as efficient as possible as well. Any suggestions?

I'd get something to measure power consumption and go from there. PSU efficiency has a lot to do with buying one rated near the actual loads it will be supplying. Buying a 1000W PSU with 85% efficiency rating will not get 85% efficiency if the load is 50 watts.

These days, for casual home use, I just recommend people use a laptop since it's low power by design, small footprint, quiet, and has built in battery backup. Decent new ones can be had for $300. Better used ones can be had for $200. I give away serviceable used ones frequently (I've got 2 sitting next to me needing a little work before I find a home for them).

[Ecky]

You might also look into getting an Intel NUC.

[freebeard]

The Mini is a Intel NUC, has laptop parts and specs; and has a separable display and keyboard. I paid $249 for the last one.

The only thing it doesn't have is a battery.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I'd get something to measure power consumption and go from there. PSU efficiency has a lot to do with buying one rated near the actual loads it will be supplying. Buying a 1000W PSU with 85% efficiency rating will not get 85% efficiency if the load is 50 watts.

I agree, and I have a couple kill a watts. I'll definitely be measuring the load once I get the new system up and running.

[Ecky]

I really enjoy my Kill-A-Watt.

I have a 5 year old (mostly) PC with the following specs:

Core i5 3570K
Zotac Z77ITX-AE motherboard
2x 4GB G.Skill low voltage DDR3 1600
Samsung PM871 250GB SSD
Western Digital Green 1.5TB HDD
MSI GTX 1050 Ti
Sparkle 400w Platinum-rated PSU

Torture testing the CPU, I have a total system power consumption (at the wall) of approximately 130w. I've played with undervolting and brought that 130w figure down to 107w, but by adjusting the voltage, some of Intel's power saving features break and idle power consumption increases from ~28w to ~38w. Since my PC is mostly idle most of the time when it's on, it doesn't seem productive, so I've left it stock.

Adding in video card adds about 70w when running a "power virus" like Furmark. So, worst-case power usage is something like 200w at the wall, or probably close to 170-180w before conversion losses. Typical "desktop" usage will have power consumption bouncing in the 30-50w range, while gaming is more typically in the 125-150w range.

I see new CPUs with much lower TDPs, and I'm guessing you can get greater performance within a slightly smaller power envelope.

[NeilBlanchard]

Originally Posted by Daox

This is a 'next step' deal, but I am considering getting a new power supply for the computer. There doesn't seem to be a great selection of power supplies for a low power system like this. PC parts picker estimates my max power consumption at ~130W. I kind of doubt it'll even get that high. I'm obviously looking for something as efficient as possible as well. Any suggestions?

The best fit is this unit, I think:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16817151086

Or, you could get this one:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16817151097