Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
According to http://users.erols.com/chare/elec.htm, P3 OLGA (aka secc2 aka slot 1) 500 MHz consumes 28 W whereas P3 FCPGA (aka socket 370) 500MHz consumes 13.2 W. I am not an expert in CPUs, so I might be wrong. On the other hand, I have a 2GHz athlon box and it takes 150W from mains and I have P3 667MHz Socket 370 and it takes just 30W (I measured this using clamp amp meter). 5 times difference !!! On Wednesday 16 March 2005 08:52, Nicholas McCoy wrote: > Whats wrong with P3 Slot CPUs? I've got a 500 Mhz one running in my > Myth box. The only problem is the fan. There is only room to mount a > 40mm fan and its old, so it is noisy. > > > On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 22:41:35 -0500, Alexander Varakin > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > It is a good idea to use older hardware, e.g. P3 667 or Celeron 533 > > are very good. They were designed before gigahertz wars and they > > consume very little power, about 15W. Just add PVR250 and you will get a > > very nice backend which consumes about 30W in total. Also get a cheap > > 300W PS and replace fan by low speed fan (or maybe without fan at all) > > and you will get almost silent server which can > > run 24x7. CPU plus mobo can be found for around $40 on ebay or for free > > in friend's basement. > > Be very careful with CPU selection though: P3 slot type CPUs are very > > bad, you > > need socket 370 type CPUs with Coppermine core if I remember correctly. > > P3 667 has enough power for playback so it can be used for low noise > > backend and frontend. > > I think this setup will also work as HDTV backend. > > > > You can see CPU power consumption here: > > http://users.erols.com/chare/elec.htm > > > > On Monday 14 March 2005 23:33, Justin Hunt wrote: > > > Your idea of using a pentium M is a good idea, my laptop draws about > > > 25 watts max with a lcd screen (1.4ghz) and if you clock it down it > > > drops to about 15ish, although the a/c adaptor draws quite a big load > > > to charge at about 40watts (says 1.5 amps at 120v) but if u used a > > > laptop based on p-M you wouldnt need to have continuous power to run > > > it, and if u get a system with decent sized battery can run for 10 > > > hours on a charge the ibm t40 (i think) does this nicely, i wouldnt > > > recommend the dell inspiron 600m for battery life i have 3 batteries > > > (1 main and 2 cdrom) and i can get about 5 hours out of it on a good > > > day. > > > > > > Hopefully that helps a bit? > > > Justin > > > > > > On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 18:19:07, colliepon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion > > > > (not b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth > > > > box since it can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very > > > > well be off grid - satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power > > > > use is critical but i'd prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few > > > > examples i'm thinking of: > > > > > > > > Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a > > > > normal block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly > > > > suspend all tasks like commercial flagging without screwing up data > > > > or not doing them during the week at all. This would let you use a > > > > standard analog or digital wall timer to turn on the computer and > > > > satellite receiver for a given block of time (for instance 6:30pm to > > > > 10pm if you mostly like the evening block, or 11pm to about 3am if > > > > you like Adult Swim) since I don't know any other way to tell a > > > > computer to turn on at a given time. :) (though if someone knows of > > > > a computer-programmable wakeup solution please tell me!) > > > > > > > > Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which > > > > can wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, > > > > and also to do things like commercial flagging or recompression. > > > > (which also might need to schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig > > > > drive on the C3 and 500gig on the P4 as primary storage) > > > > > > > > Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new > > > > Centrino motherboards for desktop use > > > > http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, > > > > laptops with a USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP > > > > http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone > > > > use anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth > > > > sharing?) I've no clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or > > > > mythTV or anything else, but it would be nice to let the cpu idle > > > > during daily recording and to speed up for flagging and transcoding. > > > > > > > > Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? > > > > > > > > > > > > Colliepon > > > > > > > > > > > > ___ > > > > mythtv-users mailing list > > > > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > > > > h
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
Whats wrong with P3 Slot CPUs? I've got a 500 Mhz one running in my Myth box. The only problem is the fan. There is only room to mount a 40mm fan and its old, so it is noisy. On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 22:41:35 -0500, Alexander Varakin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > It is a good idea to use older hardware, e.g. P3 667 or Celeron 533 are > very good. They were designed before gigahertz wars and they > consume very little power, about 15W. Just add PVR250 and you will get a very > nice backend which consumes about 30W in total. Also get a cheap 300W PS and > replace fan by low speed fan (or maybe without fan at all) and you will get > almost silent server which can > run 24x7. CPU plus mobo can be found for around $40 on ebay or for free > in friend's basement. > Be very careful with CPU selection though: P3 slot type CPUs are very bad, > you > need socket 370 type CPUs with Coppermine core if I remember correctly. > P3 667 has enough power for playback so it can be used for low noise backend > and frontend. > I think this setup will also work as HDTV backend. > > You can see CPU power consumption here: > http://users.erols.com/chare/elec.htm > > > On Monday 14 March 2005 23:33, Justin Hunt wrote: > > > > Your idea of using a pentium M is a good idea, my laptop draws about > > 25 watts max with a lcd screen (1.4ghz) and if you clock it down it > > drops to about 15ish, although the a/c adaptor draws quite a big load > > to charge at about 40watts (says 1.5 amps at 120v) but if u used a > > laptop based on p-M you wouldnt need to have continuous power to run > > it, and if u get a system with decent sized battery can run for 10 > > hours on a charge the ibm t40 (i think) does this nicely, i wouldnt > > recommend the dell inspiron 600m for battery life i have 3 batteries > > (1 main and 2 cdrom) and i can get about 5 hours out of it on a good > > day. > > > > Hopefully that helps a bit? > > Justin > > > > On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 18:19:07, colliepon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion > > > (not b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth box > > > since it can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very well be off > > > grid - satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power use is critical > > > but i'd prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few examples i'm thinking of: > > > > > > Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a normal > > > block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly suspend all > > > tasks like commercial flagging without screwing up data or not doing them > > > during the week at all. This would let you use a standard analog or > > > digital wall timer to turn on the computer and satellite receiver for a > > > given block of time (for instance 6:30pm to 10pm if you mostly like the > > > evening block, or 11pm to about 3am if you like Adult Swim) since I don't > > > know any other way to tell a computer to turn on at a given time. :) > > > (though if someone knows of a computer-programmable wakeup solution > > > please tell me!) > > > > > > Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which can > > > wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, and also > > > to do things like commercial flagging or recompression. (which also might > > > need to schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig drive on the C3 and > > > 500gig on the P4 as primary storage) > > > > > > Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new > > > Centrino motherboards for desktop use > > > http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, laptops > > > with a USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP > > > http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone use > > > anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth sharing?) > > > I've no clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or mythTV or > > > anything else, but it would be nice to let the cpu idle during daily > > > recording and to speed up for flagging and transcoding. > > > > > > Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? > > > > > > > > > Colliepon > > > > > > > > > ___ > > > mythtv-users mailing list > > > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > > > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users > ___ > mythtv-users mailing list > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users > ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
It is a good idea to use older hardware, e.g. P3 667 or Celeron 533 are very good. They were designed before gigahertz wars and they consume very little power, about 15W. Just add PVR250 and you will get a very nice backend which consumes about 30W in total. Also get a cheap 300W PS and replace fan by low speed fan (or maybe without fan at all) and you will get almost silent server which can run 24x7. CPU plus mobo can be found for around $40 on ebay or for free in friend's basement. Be very careful with CPU selection though: P3 slot type CPUs are very bad, you need socket 370 type CPUs with Coppermine core if I remember correctly. P3 667 has enough power for playback so it can be used for low noise backend and frontend. I think this setup will also work as HDTV backend. You can see CPU power consumption here: http://users.erols.com/chare/elec.htm On Monday 14 March 2005 23:33, Justin Hunt wrote: > > Your idea of using a pentium M is a good idea, my laptop draws about > 25 watts max with a lcd screen (1.4ghz) and if you clock it down it > drops to about 15ish, although the a/c adaptor draws quite a big load > to charge at about 40watts (says 1.5 amps at 120v) but if u used a > laptop based on p-M you wouldnt need to have continuous power to run > it, and if u get a system with decent sized battery can run for 10 > hours on a charge the ibm t40 (i think) does this nicely, i wouldnt > recommend the dell inspiron 600m for battery life i have 3 batteries > (1 main and 2 cdrom) and i can get about 5 hours out of it on a good > day. > > Hopefully that helps a bit? > Justin > > On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 18:19:07, colliepon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion > > (not b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth box > > since it can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very well be off > > grid - satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power use is critical > > but i'd prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few examples i'm thinking of: > > > > Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a normal > > block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly suspend all > > tasks like commercial flagging without screwing up data or not doing them > > during the week at all. This would let you use a standard analog or > > digital wall timer to turn on the computer and satellite receiver for a > > given block of time (for instance 6:30pm to 10pm if you mostly like the > > evening block, or 11pm to about 3am if you like Adult Swim) since I don't > > know any other way to tell a computer to turn on at a given time. :) > > (though if someone knows of a computer-programmable wakeup solution > > please tell me!) > > > > Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which can > > wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, and also > > to do things like commercial flagging or recompression. (which also might > > need to schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig drive on the C3 and > > 500gig on the P4 as primary storage) > > > > Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new > > Centrino motherboards for desktop use > > http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, laptops > > with a USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP > > http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone use > > anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth sharing?) > > I've no clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or mythTV or > > anything else, but it would be nice to let the cpu idle during daily > > recording and to speed up for flagging and transcoding. > > > > Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? > > > > > > Colliepon > > > > > > ___ > > mythtv-users mailing list > > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
On Tue, 2005-03-15 at 16:27 -0800, Jeffrey Kember wrote: > Consider a mini-itx based system for your backend. A fraction of the > power of a multi-GHz machine, on board firewire, support for up to two > pci cards, fanless processor option and can be used with a fanless > external power brick. You can go with laptop (2.5 in hard drives and > slim optical) for a compact build or with standard size components for > economy. > > Inexpensive, quiet and power friendly... Quiet, power friendly, but not inexpensive. Besides, they seem to have issues with PVR-350s. -- - Ron Johnson, Jr. Jefferson, LA USA PGP Key ID 8834C06B I prefer encrypted mail. "Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice." Baruch (Benedict de) Spinoza signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
You might want to check out this link: http://knoppmythwiki.homelinux.org/index.php?page=WakeupToRecord I havn't tried it myself, but it sounds like just what you are looking for. On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 18:19:07, colliepon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion (not > b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth box since it > can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very well be off grid - > satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power use is critical but i'd > prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few examples i'm thinking of: > > Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a normal > block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly suspend all tasks > like commercial flagging without screwing up data or not doing them during > the week at all. This would let you use a standard analog or digital wall > timer to turn on the computer and satellite receiver for a given block of > time (for instance 6:30pm to 10pm if you mostly like the evening block, or > 11pm to about 3am if you like Adult Swim) since I don't know any other way to > tell a computer to turn on at a given time. :) (though if someone knows of a > computer-programmable wakeup solution please tell me!) > > Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which can > wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, and also to do > things like commercial flagging or recompression. (which also might need to > schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig drive on the C3 and 500gig on the > P4 as primary storage) > > Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new Centrino > motherboards for desktop use > http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, laptops with a > USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP > http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone use > anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth sharing?) I've no > clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or mythTV or anything else, but > it would be nice to let the cpu idle during daily recording and to speed up > for flagging and transcoding. > > Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? > > > Colliepon > > > ___ > mythtv-users mailing list > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users > > > ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
Consider a mini-itx based system for your backend. A fraction of the power of a multi-GHz machine, on board firewire, support for up to two pci cards, fanless processor option and can be used with a fanless external power brick. You can go with laptop (2.5 in hard drives and slim optical) for a compact build or with standard size components for economy. Inexpensive, quiet and power friendly... On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 18:04:18 -0600, Robert Denier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Mon, 2005-03-14 at 18:19 +, colliepon wrote: > > Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion (not > > b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth box since > > it can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very well be off grid - > > satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power use is critical but i'd > > prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few examples i'm thinking of: > > > > Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a normal > > block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly suspend all > > tasks like commercial flagging without screwing up data or not doing them > > during the week at all. This would let you use a standard analog or > > digital wall timer to turn on the computer and satellite receiver for a > > given block of time (for instance 6:30pm to 10pm if you mostly like the > > evening block, or 11pm to about 3am if you like Adult Swim) since I don't > > know any other way to tell a computer to turn on at a given time. :) > > (though if someone knows of a computer-programmable wakeup solution please > > tell me!) > > > > Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which can > > wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, and also to > > do things like commercial flagging or recompression. (which also might need > > to schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig drive on the C3 and 500gig on > > the P4 as primary storage) > > > > Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new > > Centrino motherboards for desktop use > > http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, laptops with > > a USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP > > http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone use > > anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth sharing?) I've > > no clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or mythTV or anything > > else, but it would be nice to let the cpu idle during daily recording and > > to speed up for flagging and transcoding. > > > > Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? > > > > > > Colliepon > > > > ___ > > mythtv-users mailing list > > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users > > I rather doubt that anything you can build yourself will every be 100% > designed to be efficient on power. That being said I'd seriously look > at laptops. If there is some way to get myth working with a power > efficient laptop, perhaps with some kind of Video to Firewire bridge > then your power issues are solved. > > Of course that might not be possible, and I don't know of any laptops > that support pci cards, although some might have a docking bay. They > are about the only entire systems I can think of that Must be designed > to be low power, that is assuming they are any good. > > Of course you can design a PC from the ground up to save power, but it > will still likely be considerably higher than a laptop probably.. > > > ___ > mythtv-users mailing list > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users > > > ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
On Mon, 2005-03-14 at 18:19 +, colliepon wrote: > Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion (not > b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth box since it > can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very well be off grid - > satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power use is critical but i'd > prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few examples i'm thinking of: > > Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a normal > block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly suspend all tasks > like commercial flagging without screwing up data or not doing them during > the week at all. This would let you use a standard analog or digital wall > timer to turn on the computer and satellite receiver for a given block of > time (for instance 6:30pm to 10pm if you mostly like the evening block, or > 11pm to about 3am if you like Adult Swim) since I don't know any other way to > tell a computer to turn on at a given time. :) (though if someone knows of a > computer-programmable wakeup solution please tell me!) > > Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which can > wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, and also to do > things like commercial flagging or recompression. (which also might need to > schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig drive on the C3 and 500gig on the > P4 as primary storage) > > Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new Centrino > motherboards for desktop use > http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, laptops with a > USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP > http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone use > anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth sharing?) I've no > clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or mythTV or anything else, but > it would be nice to let the cpu idle during daily recording and to speed up > for flagging and transcoding. > > Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? > > > Colliepon > > ___ > mythtv-users mailing list > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users I rather doubt that anything you can build yourself will every be 100% designed to be efficient on power. That being said I'd seriously look at laptops. If there is some way to get myth working with a power efficient laptop, perhaps with some kind of Video to Firewire bridge then your power issues are solved. Of course that might not be possible, and I don't know of any laptops that support pci cards, although some might have a docking bay. They are about the only entire systems I can think of that Must be designed to be low power, that is assuming they are any good. Of course you can design a PC from the ground up to save power, but it will still likely be considerably higher than a laptop probably.. ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
Here you can get a double-win. A fanless power supply by necessity is very efficient (the less power you waste, the less heat you generate). They are kind of pricey but worth it, I think, if you can afford the extra $100 over the super- cheap ones. According to Johannes Becker, > In addition the power supply takes a lot power even if the CPU does > not need it. Those PSUs are so cheap made that they don't care about > reducing power if in idle. Also the losses of the PSUs are quite high > (30-40% of max power) > > > On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 11:02:54 -0500, David George <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On 3/14/2005 11:27 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > > >When the cpu is idle it's not eatting up power anyways. > > > > > Maybe some CPUs with power saving mode (or using cpuspeed). But the > > above is dangerous as a general statement. Just as an example: ok, your > > CPU is idling and not eating power. Is it safe to remove the CPU fan > > and heatsink from it? After all not "eatting" [sic] power should mean > > that it isn't generating heat. :-) > > > > > So if that's the > > >case then there's no problem with the way it is? > > > > > It isn't the case. While CPUs may not draw as much power when idling > > the higher-end desktop processors from AMD and Intel definitely draw a > > lot of power and make a lot of heat. > > > > -- > > David > > > > > > ___ > > mythtv-users mailing list > > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users > > > ___ > mythtv-users mailing list > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users -- -- Tony Godshall ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
Johannes Becker wrote: In addition the power supply takes a lot power even if the CPU does not need it. Those PSUs are so cheap made that they don't care about reducing power if in idle. Also the losses of the PSUs are quite high (30-40% of max power) Modern Switch Mode power supplies are up to 90% efficient. Because a power supply is rated at say 400W doesn't mean it will consume 400 watts continuously. If your setup uses 200 watts, that doesn't mean the other 200 watts are being wasted. It's power handling capacity, not power consumption. On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 11:02:54 -0500, David George <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On 3/14/2005 11:27 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: When the cpu is idle it's not eatting up power anyways. Maybe some CPUs with power saving mode (or using cpuspeed). But the above is dangerous as a general statement. Just as an example: ok, your CPU is idling and not eating power. Is it safe to remove the CPU fan and heatsink from it? After all not "eatting" [sic] power should mean that it isn't generating heat. :-) So if that's the case then there's no problem with the way it is? It isn't the case. While CPUs may not draw as much power when idling the higher-end desktop processors from AMD and Intel definitely draw a lot of power and make a lot of heat. -- David ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
HI, The solution I use (which BTW is the one that is suggested in the MythTV manual) is the nvram-wakeup utility. (http://sf.net/projects/nvram-wakeup/) I had an unsupported MB, but was able to get a working setup with the included guess-helper program. You can configure MythTV to use this program at shutown in mythsetup. The job handling of 0.17 is handled gracefully AFAIK using this option. /Fredrik ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
In addition the power supply takes a lot power even if the CPU does not need it. Those PSUs are so cheap made that they don't care about reducing power if in idle. Also the losses of the PSUs are quite high (30-40% of max power) On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 11:02:54 -0500, David George <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On 3/14/2005 11:27 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > >When the cpu is idle it's not eatting up power anyways. > > > Maybe some CPUs with power saving mode (or using cpuspeed). But the > above is dangerous as a general statement. Just as an example: ok, your > CPU is idling and not eating power. Is it safe to remove the CPU fan > and heatsink from it? After all not "eatting" [sic] power should mean > that it isn't generating heat. :-) > > > So if that's the > >case then there's no problem with the way it is? > > > It isn't the case. While CPUs may not draw as much power when idling > the higher-end desktop processors from AMD and Intel definitely draw a > lot of power and make a lot of heat. > > -- > David > > > ___ > mythtv-users mailing list > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users > ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
On 3/14/2005 11:27 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: When the cpu is idle it's not eatting up power anyways. Maybe some CPUs with power saving mode (or using cpuspeed). But the above is dangerous as a general statement. Just as an example: ok, your CPU is idling and not eating power. Is it safe to remove the CPU fan and heatsink from it? After all not "eatting" [sic] power should mean that it isn't generating heat. :-) So if that's the case then there's no problem with the way it is? It isn't the case. While CPUs may not draw as much power when idling the higher-end desktop processors from AMD and Intel definitely draw a lot of power and make a lot of heat. -- David ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
I am pretty sure I have seen instructions for how to interface Myth with software suspend, and a (primitive sounding) BIOS utility that allows it to set the wake timer automatically. Then it can sleep when idling and wake up to record shows. Sorry, couldn't find the URL just now. I have been meaning to experiment with this, but haven't gotten around to it yet. In the meantime, I found out a rather stunning revelation about Athlon systems. There appears to be a latent "power save" mode built into all of them (not just the mobile models) that works perfectly and without any performance hit that I can detect. Something to do with sending a special instruction during the idle cycle. It is disabled by default. I have no idea why. You can enable it with a utility like FVCool. Using sensors, I watched the CPU temp drop 14C when idling... it's really something. Maybe it will work for you too. On Mon, 14 Mar 2005, colliepon wrote: Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion (not b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth box since it can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very well be off grid - satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power use is critical but i'd prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few examples i'm thinking of: Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a normal block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly suspend all tasks like commercial flagging without screwing up data or not doing them during the week at all. This would let you use a standard analog or digital wall timer to turn on the computer and satellite receiver for a given block of time (for instance 6:30pm to 10pm if you mostly like the evening block, or 11pm to about 3am if you like Adult Swim) since I don't know any other way to tell a computer to turn on at a given time. :) (though if someone knows of a computer-programmable wakeup solution please tell me!) Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which can wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, and also to do things like commercial flagging or recompression. (which also might need to schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig drive on the C3 and 500gig on the P4 as primary storage) Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new Centrino motherboards for desktop use http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, laptops with a USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone use anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth sharing?) I've no clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or mythTV or anything else, but it would be nice to let the cpu idle during daily recording and to speed up for flagging and transcoding. Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? Colliepon ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
My solution may not be as effective as what you want todo, however im going to be moving from unlimited electricity to metered electricity in the summer and my plan to lower electrical costs is to first eliminate my server/backend computer and merge it with my desktop (a dual opteron 242 system), then have it use power now (havnt looked if this works in linux yet, heres hoping) and set it up to turn hd's off after only a couple minutes of inactivity and power the screen down. I know that many bios's allow you to specify the computer turn on at a certain time, with varying degrees of configureability, from hour x every day to picking days and such. after you figure that you its trivial to have the computer shut itself down. (cron) you can also have mythtv not run commercial flagging and just use cron to schedule it to run as you please, then have it shut the pc down ie this script: #!/bin/bash mythcommflag shutdown -h now (i dont remember if that shutdown command will power off or just leave it sitting at turn off pc now) Your idea of using a pentium M is a good idea, my laptop draws about 25 watts max with a lcd screen (1.4ghz) and if you clock it down it drops to about 15ish, although the a/c adaptor draws quite a big load to charge at about 40watts (says 1.5 amps at 120v) but if u used a laptop based on p-M you wouldnt need to have continuous power to run it, and if u get a system with decent sized battery can run for 10 hours on a charge the ibm t40 (i think) does this nicely, i wouldnt recommend the dell inspiron 600m for battery life i have 3 batteries (1 main and 2 cdrom) and i can get about 5 hours out of it on a good day. Hopefully that helps a bit? Justin On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 18:19:07, colliepon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion (not > b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth box since it > can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very well be off grid - > satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power use is critical but i'd > prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few examples i'm thinking of: > > Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a normal > block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly suspend all tasks > like commercial flagging without screwing up data or not doing them during > the week at all. This would let you use a standard analog or digital wall > timer to turn on the computer and satellite receiver for a given block of > time (for instance 6:30pm to 10pm if you mostly like the evening block, or > 11pm to about 3am if you like Adult Swim) since I don't know any other way to > tell a computer to turn on at a given time. :) (though if someone knows of a > computer-programmable wakeup solution please tell me!) > > Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which can > wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, and also to do > things like commercial flagging or recompression. (which also might need to > schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig drive on the C3 and 500gig on the > P4 as primary storage) > > Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new Centrino > motherboards for desktop use > http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, laptops with a > USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP > http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone use > anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth sharing?) I've no > clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or mythTV or anything else, but > it would be nice to let the cpu idle during daily recording and to speed up > for flagging and transcoding. > > Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? > > > Colliepon > > > ___ > mythtv-users mailing list > mythtv-users@mythtv.org > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users > > > -- Justin Hunt [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://bd.a.la Home: 416-926-1664 x 4238 Cell: 416-779-1201 ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
RE: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
When the cpu is idle it's not eatting up power anyways. So if that's the case then there's no problem with the way it is? You can however have the OS shut itself off at a certain time and have a remote machine wake it up with WOL (Wake On Lan). Just send the machine the magic packet to wake it up and make sure the machine's network card is configured to wake the machine up on magic packet and you should be fine. I do it all the time. I SSH to my linux box then I remote wakeup my winxp machine then I remote desktop into it. When I'm done I shut my pc off. Johnny Lee -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of colliepon Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 6:19 PM To: mythtv-users@mythtv.org Subject: [mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend) Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion (not b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth box since it can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very well be off grid - satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power use is critical but i'd prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few examples i'm thinking of: Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a normal block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly suspend all tasks like commercial flagging without screwing up data or not doing them during the week at all. This would let you use a standard analog or digital wall timer to turn on the computer and satellite receiver for a given block of time (for instance 6:30pm to 10pm if you mostly like the evening block, or 11pm to about 3am if you like Adult Swim) since I don't know any other way to tell a computer to turn on at a given time. :) (though if someone knows of a computer-programmable wakeup solution please tell me!) Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which can wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, and also to do things like commercial flagging or recompression. (which also might need to schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig drive on the C3 and 500gig on the P4 as primary storage) Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new Centrino motherboards for desktop use http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, laptops with a USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone use anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth sharing?) I've no clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or mythTV or anything else, but it would be nice to let the cpu idle during daily recording and to speed up for flagging and transcoding. Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? Colliepon ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
[mythtv-users] Lower power usage ideas? (for backend)
Just curious both what other people are doing, and feature discussion (not b*tching :) on other methods of reducing the power use of a myth box since it can build up over awhile. (and my next move may very well be off grid - satellite TV, running off solar or wind, so power use is critical but i'd prefer an alternative to the VCR) A few examples i'm thinking of: Could you schedule an expected time-on and time off to work with a normal block of programming? By shut down time I mean to properly suspend all tasks like commercial flagging without screwing up data or not doing them during the week at all. This would let you use a standard analog or digital wall timer to turn on the computer and satellite receiver for a given block of time (for instance 6:30pm to 10pm if you mostly like the evening block, or 11pm to about 3am if you like Adult Swim) since I don't know any other way to tell a computer to turn on at a given time. :) (though if someone knows of a computer-programmable wakeup solution please tell me!) Or perhaps having a C3 machine with a PVR500 for 24hr recording which can wake up a P4 with another card for overflow during peak hours, and also to do things like commercial flagging or recompression. (which also might need to schedule file moves, for instance a 120gig drive on the C3 and 500gig on the P4 as primary storage) Or maybe speed throttling certain cpu's might work - some of the new Centrino motherboards for desktop use http://www17.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20041224/index.html, laptops with a USB grabber, or even the underclocked Athlon XP http://www17.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041001/index.html - does anyone use anything like this? (or have any experience/insights worth sharing?) I've no clue how/if throttling is supported in linux, or mythTV or anything else, but it would be nice to let the cpu idle during daily recording and to speed up for flagging and transcoding. Is anyone else using a lower power design or strategy with Myth? Colliepon ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
