35 AMD CPUs Tested for Power Consumption

Features
By Bert Toepelt
published

Electrical Costs: the 24-Hour System

There are lots of users who leave their computers on all the time; this demographic can always find another task for their arithmetic servants: for example, vast amounts of data are downloaded overnight from the Internet, or videos are converted. Then during the day games are played or video continues to be converted. The computer may also be left on all the time so that access to it is more convenient, and it’s not necessary to wait for it to boot up.It is also interesting to see what costs are raised when the HTPC in the living room is never turned off, so that immediate access to the TV or to videos is possible. In this calculation, we assume that the computer is used for an average of 8 hours a day, for example, loading down the CPU by playing HDTV.

35 amd cpus

If the computer is equipped with the smallest BE Dual-Core processor, the per year costs are about $220.27 (143 Euros). The yearly costs of the “Energy Efficient” processors are between $220 and $245.10 (142.79 and 159.12 Euros).

At $308.07 (200 Euros), the Phenom processors have the highest electrical costs for an AMD system. When compared to the fastest Dual-Core processor in a 24 hour a day setting, though, the cost is only $23.10 (15 Euros) more per year.

Bert Toepelt
22 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Excellent article! It would be nice to see similar article for Intel processors because even if they are less power hungry, the Intel chipsets are not the "greenest". I am just considering a 24/7 home server and this information is very useful for me. Thank you!
    Reply
  • Good article! You have the wrong processor name listed for the 2.10 GHz G1 Brisbane as "Athlon 64 X2 4800+ EE". It should be 4000+. I was a bit confused when I read the performance charts and noticed two 4800+ listed until I realized the mistake.
    Reply
  • zenmaster
    I was glad to see you got some of the new 45w AMD Chips in there.
    Reply
  • xoham
    Intel is not the greenest if it is less power hungry? Do they not meet RoHS standard or something?
    Reply
  • zenmaster
    He said the "Intel Chipsets" are not the greenest.
    The are still built on the 90nm process.

    The P45 will introduce the 65nm process on the chipsets.
    The latest AMD Chipsets use the 55nm process.

    In regards to CPUs, The Intel CPUs generally use less than the AMD CPUs.
    He was simply pointing out that the CPUs lose some of the benefeit of their low power consumption due to the chipset.

    For lower-end chips sitting idle, the difference in power usage of the chipsets can be significant. If you are looking at a higher-end chip under load, the power usage of the chipset becomes nominal.
    Reply
  • einheriar
    besides that intel still has the memory controller as a separate chip on the motherboard, where as amd has that included on the chip.. therefor a higher chip power use might be offset by the absence of the external memory controller, which would become visible when idling ..
    Reply
  • so my x2 4000 ee (in tables interpreted as one of 4800's - due mistake) isn't so bad after all, I don't care about 2w/hour, when I have 24" lcd :-)
    Reply
  • Mathos
    The extra power consumption on the Phenom is due to the fact that the NB/IMC voltage stays at 1.250v even when the rest of the processor is running in standby. Kinda of annoying that they put it that high, since with a bios that still has the p-states section you can easily under volt the IMC without losing stability, especially at stock speeds. That will cut down on the idle and load power usages drastically.
    Reply
  • royalcrown
    I like how review site all push efficiency now since AMD can't really compete on performance. Yawn.
    Reply
  • jprevost
    Bravo for a great technical article. I can't tell you guys how nice it is to see some great charts. Charts are good, and you guys are good at charts, just don't stop adding to them!
    Reply