This is probably a stupid question, since 2 > 1, but here goes…

I have a home server. It’s a ComputerLINK 1U rack server I bought off eBay some years back. It has 2 CPUs, Intel Xeon E5645 2.4Ghz(https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/48768/intel-xeon-processor-e5645-12m-cache-2-40-ghz-5-86-gt-s-intel-qpi.html). It also has two 750W power supplies, but I have one unplugged. It also has RAM and 5 HDDs.

I also have the guts of my old desktop PC. The CPU is an AMD FX8350 4Ghz(https://www.amd.com/en/products/cpu/fx-8350). The motherboard is some ASUS model, I forget and don’t want to check right now. A potential PSU would be 500-600W range.

My question: I am considering moving to use my old PC parts as a new home server. One benefit is to cut down on the noise (rack mount PC fans are LOUD). But the real gain I would want is on power savings. So, if RAM and the multiple HDDs all stay the same, but I moved them to the AMD/ASUS CPU/motherboard, can anyone definitively say this will be more power-efficient?

I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to electrics or power consumption, and am just looking for someone to confirm for me. I am aware that the AMD CPU still isn’t an excellent choice for an always-on machine, but it could be an improvement.

  • fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    8 months ago

    While actual power consumption won’t be much apparent power (VA) will be a measurable amount. If you’re connected to a UPS and it’s not a super modern server then it’s apparent power will be a decent amount. As a normal end user you don’t pay for this, but if you’re trying to spec out a UPS you’d want to calculate it and factor it in.

    The FX 8350 isn’t a very power efficient CPU, but two E5645 in a server is going to use a lot more power at idle (and load) than the FX. Servers actually have pretty manageable power usage, but idle consumption of a dual CPU system will always be more than a single CPU system.