Folding Forum

Just as well here in NZ all our power is 240v (only 10amp though)

This is a graph I found earlier (when I was learning about PSUs, that displays the efficiency) that goes to show the different efficiencies of different voltages, even for big name PSU makers. It also shows how using a PSU appropriate to your system (load of 50-70% of PSU rating) can maximise efficiency. Note all those hardcore users who buy 1200W PSUs and only use 400W!

Cooler Master UCP 900W

[source:http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=3413]

k1wi wrote:Just as well here in NZ all our power is 240v (only 10amp though)

This is a graph I found earlier (when I was learning about PSUs, that displays the efficiency) that goes to show the different efficiencies of different voltages, even for big name PSU makers. It also shows how using a PSU appropriate to your system (load of 50-70% of PSU rating) can maximise efficiency. Note all those hardcore users who buy 1200W PSUs and only use 400W!

Cooler Master UCP 900W

i am thinking about this enermax REVOLUTION85+ 1250W SLI®:
http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/ ... lv1=7&no=6



even if this chart can be a bit exagerrated i have read very positive reviews on this one and 90% efficiency can be achieved

Orion602 wrote:

Ideally yes, but the reality is electricity costs money. I live in Southern California, and I can assure you the electricity cost is noticeable. ...

did you think about buying couple of solar pannels? Southern California.. just some five 200Watt pannels on the roof and you could run powerful folding rig with very small electricity cost.

i know it can't be done everywhere, but for some it can be good option.

Two things.

1. I have heard the upfront cost of setting up solar panels is VERY expensive, and takes many years to recoup.
2. I don't own the house. Also living in So. Cal, I can't see myself becoming a home-owner, and will likely be moving from place to place as needed.

If solar panels were cheap enough, and if they could be installed in a way that was somewhat portable, and if an apartment (likely my next move) would be ok with me setting it up on their room (doubtful), I would be more inclined to do it.

I'm in So Cal too and when I had 3+ 8 core systems running, my bill was over $300. I had to stop using the big screen TV's etc. If I had to questimate, I'd say it costs around $60 per month per system.

$0.082 per KWh here.
I run 3 boxes at about 1KW total for $60/mo.

Where I live it is $ 0.062 per KWh. I calculate a cost of $13.39 per month for a 300W system running 24x7. I have two overclocked quad core boxes (Q6600, Q9450) with two video cards each (2x 3870, 2x 9600GSO) and both fold very close to 300W each. I measured using a Killa-Watt meter but it was a while ago so I don't remember the exact numbers. I just round up and figure that I donate $30 per month to folding.

If necessary, I can hook up the meter again and give detailed HW list so people can have a precise analysis.

Just as a side note: These are high performance machines, way overclocked with dual 3d video cards and the power needs isn't even close to exceeding 500W. Think of that when people recommend 1000+ W power supplies. Unless you install the most extreme video cards, no one really needs that kind of power. It is far more important to get a quality power supply than a giant one.

Man, even if the rest of the house was dark and quiet, and I was being charged the lowest tier for electricity, it would be about double what you guys are paying.

There is a studio apartment nearby that I was thinking of moving into after I buy a newer car. The best part? All utilities (including electric) paid!

PlayLoud wrote:Man, even if the rest of the house was dark and quiet, and I was being charged the lowest tier for electricity, it would be about double what you guys are paying.

There is a studio apartment nearby that I was thinking of moving into after I buy a newer car. The best part? All utilities (including electric) paid!

I live in Oregon where the Columbia River is. It is a very large river system and heavily Damed producing large amounts of relatively inexpensive electricity.

Just because it isn't producing carbon and other pollutants, do not think that dams don't have a large scale environmental impact though.

Just because it isn't producing carbon and other pollutants, do not think that dams don't have a large scale environmental impact though.

What? no free lunch and pony included? meanwhile, after passing laws requiring "renewable" energy supplies, the Senator from California sets aside major portions of the Mojave dessert as National Landmark status: preventing the development of Solar power projects. Wait, you mean you need to actually use land for Solar power?
No, no, not in my back yard. I want my power to come from magic green renewable fairy dust.......

PlayLoud wrote:Man, even if the rest of the house was dark and quiet, and I was being charged the lowest tier for electricity, it would be about double what you guys are paying.

There is a studio apartment nearby that I was thinking of moving into after I buy a newer car. The best part? All utilities (including electric) paid!

i used to have an apartment like that... older building master metered. they had no way to charge people seperately

mdk777 wrote: Wait, you mean you need to actually use land for Solar power?
No, no, not in my back yard. I want my power to come from magic green renewable fairy dust.......

Same thing here on the east coast. They wanted to put some windmills out in the ocean because the wind is pretty steady there... but all the rich people who own expensive coastal property had a cow They even cited that the blades create subsonic waves that can give people migraines or some bs....WOW

i remeber that in massachusetts right by the kennedy compound. what could be more american than "not in my back yard"

If we will view it on a short term basis, that would not cost us so much, however if you will compute along with the years it will be costly but as P5-133XL said, it's like a donation for standford

you could do that with any extraneous expense. everyone throws away money here and there on things they can look back and add up. thats no way to live, you cant take it with you, although i do like to do that to smokers.if anyone looked back at the money they wasted on stuff it would be maddening. at least this expense is for something

I have found the electrical costs discussion very interesting. I have estimated that my nvidia machines are running about five times the efficiency of my ATI machines. So, I have added a single GTX260 to replace five 3850s and keep the same PPD here at home. I will spend around $250 instead of $1250 per year.
I was able to buy a $100 Dell GX280 with HD, OS, 512MB RAM, 2.8 GHz CPU. I added a $50 BFGTech 550W supply and a $200 GTX260 $20 more of RAM and for $370 I have a system that pays for itself in fewer than five months. In fact, I have my ATI machines set on pause when done right now.
David