Tom's Energy Efficiency Guide

Generic Components (HDD, Graphics, PSU)

Hard Drives

We selected two terabyte hard drives, as these provide the best ratio of capacity to power consumption. The first choice is suitable for performance enthusiasts, while the second is the most energy efficient terabyte HDD available these days.

Samsung Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ (1 TB)

The Spinpoint F1 is one of the fastest 3.5” drives available, and also one of the most efficient 7,200 RPM models, thanks to its three-platter design.

Western Digital WD10EACS

WD’s Green Power series is more energy efficient than all the other terabyte drives, but it only runs at 5,400 RPM and hence is somewhat slower than the direct competitors. If you want a drive that stays entirely cool and has minimum power requirements, then the WD10EACS is your best choice.