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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Failure on January 08, 2007, 03:23:30 PM

Title: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Failure on January 08, 2007, 03:23:30 PM
I recently obtained a "Kill-a-watt" device that is used to measure various aspects of power consumption.  I have been plugging it into various things just to see what kind of draw they had, I found the results kind of interesting so I thought I would share the relevant ones here :-)

A4000T w/CSPPC, 2xDVD-ROM, 1xSCSI HD, 1xIDE HD, Prometheus + Voodoo3, X-Surf:

113W Starstruck demo running
110W idle
112W 68K distributed.net
113W PPC distributed.net
115W 68K + PPC distributed.net

The above doesn't include the load of the old Sun 21" Trinitron monitor used to run the demo (ouch!).

A3000UX 25MHz + 16MB, A2065, 1xSCSI HD

71W powerup
67W idle
69W compiling

And for comparison, my workhorse server:

kos-mos "The Beast" 2xOpteron 242, 4GB, 13xIDE/SATA HD, 3xDVD-RW, Debian AMD64

290W "idle" (as idle as it gets)
340-350W dual LCDs powered on, active use

It seems like the Amigas are downright miserly in comparison :-)  If my CD32 wasn't in such a basket case of wires in the living room I would see how much juice it was using, too.  Since it has one of those external power bricks I guess it has some drain even when powered off.
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Chain on January 08, 2007, 03:42:15 PM
Post more measuintg please, its very interesting!!!

 115w with maxed a4000 sounds good
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: djbase on January 08, 2007, 03:43:09 PM
My A4000T (see profile) needs 85W (idle), my iMac (G5, 20" TFT) needs 90W (idle).

Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Colani1200 on January 08, 2007, 03:52:46 PM
A600 HD anyone?
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: djbase on January 08, 2007, 04:11:48 PM
Forgot my old A1200 Desktop with HDD and Apollo1260 was at 24W (idle).

Pegasos G4 (Radeon9250, HDD, DVD-RW) with 60W (idle) and EFIKA (Radeon7000, HDD) with 12W (idle).
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Tenacious on January 08, 2007, 04:28:14 PM
This is very cool information.  In a post-apocalyptic world (or out in the sticks), you could power our fav machine with a 12 volt battery and a DC-to-DC converter.

A nice display that slowly sips the power is the hard part.
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: cv643d on January 08, 2007, 04:47:38 PM
This is very interesting.

-A2000, 030-25 4 MB with very old pre-IDE harddrive: Iddle 60W

-A1200, with floppy only: Iddle 22W

-A1200 with DCE scandoubler, floppy, 4port IDE adapter, CD-rom, KB-adapter, harddrive: Iddle ~30W

-P4 2.4 GHz, Shuttle, Radeon 9600, 120GB, 512MB: Iddle 65W

Wow, I am actually very surprised your A4000T consumes over 100W! Can someone measure their A4000 with a PPC board and without one, those must suck lots of watt (and probably the Voodoo 3 card to)!
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Failure on January 08, 2007, 05:07:32 PM
Eh, I am starting to think my A4000T is the fat kid in the room or something :-)  I wonder why it uses so much power?  Precisely what I have in it:

CSPPC 060@50/PPC@180 w/128MB
16MB on mobo + 2MB chip
X-surf
Prometheus PCI + Voodoo 3 3000
Slot cooler (a fan)
Front, stock case fan
Kickflash
Picasso IV

My machine still has the original PS in it, perhaps it is not as efficient?  That or the Voodoo 3 must really be hungry.
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Doppie1200 on January 08, 2007, 07:00:46 PM
I measures an A1200;

68EC020 4MB Ram 4GB harddisk + Dynalink L10c NIC.

Idle ~14W
Webserving ~17W
Disk drive Access ~23W!!!!!

Pretty good for a 15 years old machine.
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: cv643d on January 09, 2007, 12:09:02 PM
Either the PPC card is always running 100% even in iddle or the Voodoo 3 card consumes 40W.
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: cv643d on February 22, 2007, 09:46:57 PM
Wow, I am thinking about getting a Mediator, could someone measure the difference with and without a Mediator + PCI cards (Voodoo 3 most interesting).

Thanks!
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: amiga4001 on February 22, 2007, 10:00:50 PM
amiga1200 internal cdrom, 4xide splitter,blizzard MK3 32MBsimm,DCE internal scandoubler,amiga4000 Hd diskdrive,pcmcia ethernetcard.

Using about 35W on idle.
With cdrom reading a 5W more.
Same with diskdrive.

powered by a AT powersupply(200W?).

measured with a ELRO measuring thing.

My amplifier uses more (around 45W)then this setup I discovered.

 
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Tomas on February 22, 2007, 10:49:56 PM
Swap the hard drive with a flash based drive and you will save even more on your electrical bill..
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: AMC258 on February 23, 2007, 12:22:42 AM
I don't know the exact current draw of my A3000UX (CSPPC, Meditator, etc).  But, with just the computer and all 12 hard drives spinning, the UPS of course running, and all sitting idle, it makes the 'lectric meter spin faster than 2 Sparcstation 20's with an equal number of hard drives.  My A3000UX is also a source of heat.  It keeps my office warm on the coldest days, honestly!
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Hyperspeed on February 23, 2007, 06:03:50 AM
Can you buy these Kill-a-watt devices in the UK?
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: keropi on February 23, 2007, 06:22:15 AM
very handy info! cool!  :-D  :-D  :-D
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: kevh100 on February 23, 2007, 08:08:52 AM
You can get them from lots of places. Maplin has them in. (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=38343&source=2001&doy=23m2)

Kev
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: cv643d on February 23, 2007, 08:56:56 AM
Keep the reports comming! :)

My A1200/DCE FF-SS/4GB IDE HD/Apollo1260/IDEx4/CD-rom sits at 35 Watt iddle, 47 Watt startup.

Without HD and CD it is at 30 Watt.

That is very low I think. Perhaps if I could undervolt the A1260?
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Hyperspeed on February 23, 2007, 11:27:11 AM
Oh Wow... I had sketched something like that a few months ago. I thought it would be cool if the device could work out the Kilowatt/Hr after putting in your provider's rate and it would display (in currency) the cost so far used since the appliance has been switched on (i.e £0.23).

They're cheap at under £20 GBP incl. P&P. I'm going to buy loads.

If they're 13-Amp I suppose you could put a whole multi-socket onto that one plug to see what your combined printer, scanner, monitor & Amiga setup uses!

Somehow I don't think a Cyberstorm PPC would be a good companion to a solar powered house in the UK.

;-)
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: Dennis on February 23, 2007, 11:29:26 AM
Minimig standalone:

0.5W

Minimig with optical mouse connected:

1.0W !!!!!

Dennis
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: ChaosLord on February 23, 2007, 01:05:03 PM
@Dennis

How many watts for a Minimig with a PAR: (or a built-in 4 player adapter in its place) ?

Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: stopthegop on February 23, 2007, 02:24:51 PM
I'm afraid to even know what the drag of my system is on the local power grid .  :) haha    When I turn on my Amiga (fans, periphs, drives, etc..), I think the lights dim in the library across the street.  And thats not even counting the stereo!  ConEdison has us on the "platinum" plan.   :lol:    I have no idea how much the Amiga draws, but if its too much I can always turn off my PC!  
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: twizzle on February 23, 2007, 04:52:54 PM
Quote

kevh100 wrote:
You can get them from lots of places. Maplin has them in. (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=38343&source=2001&doy=23m2)

Kev


at the moment maplin`s has a problem with there site    security certificate`s.
i have just had to phone there head office to place my order, tel 0870 4296000 option 2 customer service.

mike
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: cv643d on February 23, 2007, 05:04:50 PM
@Dennis:

Wow,,  so if someone makes a Quad Minimig it will only consume 4w!  :-o
Title: Re: Amiga power consumption
Post by: AMC258 on February 24, 2007, 02:52:59 AM
2W.  (.002kW).