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| Thread ID: 120917 | 2011-10-02 18:40:00 | Ban on power hungry PCs | nedkelly (9059) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1235103 | 2011-10-03 00:05:00 | Looks like a good idea to me. Until you try to build a new PC and find you can only get a 400W max PSU for it. Anything grater is verboten. So sayith nanny state.... |
paulw (1826) | ||
| 1235104 | 2011-10-03 00:43:00 | Similar Gobe1. The article says " which will be based on current Energy Star standards and set maximum energy use limits for different categories of computers and laptops ". However, a fridge has a constant speed motor that draws a constant flow of power, so thats easy to work out. A computers PSU is designed to supply power as it is required, it is not a constant. A computers only constant would be how much power it draws when under maximum use/load. For example, my computer has a 680W PSU (or might be 650 - cant quite remember), but it doesnt draw that much all the time, most times like browsing, emails etc, its only drawing 182W, with a few games I have, I've monitored it and it draws about 520W. But does that mean I could put a smaller, say 550W PSU in and get a better energy rating, probably be ok 80% of the time but I wouldnt like to chance it. And what happens if you have a 1500W PSU, but at max performance it only draws 700W, so rating it at PSU output is not really a suitable benchmark either as its only using what it requires. Thats how I understand it anyway. It will be interesting to see how they are going to rate computers with an energy rating, are they going to develop some bench test software that can measure the max power usage and allow all pc builders to download and use it go get and issue a rating, or is this going to mean an end to building custom pc's? Their statement "Computers and laptops that did not meet the standards would not be able to be legally sold, leased or hired in New Zealand." appears that if I cant get a rating for any computers I build for clients needs, then I cant sell them and therefore can no longer build them. Then that will be a sad day for the computer industry from pc builders and distributers to component suppliers such as Ingram Micro & Dove Electronics and even component manufacturers. Interesting times ahead !! |
Iantech (16386) | ||
| 1235105 | 2011-10-03 01:20:00 | Until you try to build a new PC and find you can only get a 400W max PSU for it. Anything grater is verboten. So sayith nanny state.... Awesome, That means fitting 2 400w PSU's.... |
Metla (12) | ||
| 1235106 | 2011-10-03 01:21:00 | From my interpretation of it, just means you need a 80+ Silver certified PSU or better. That may indeed cut out a lot of the cheap Chinese junk PSUs like Hyenas. Then again, they'll probably just shove a fake 80+ rating on (as they do with their already load-of-lies wattage ratings) |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1235107 | 2011-10-03 01:23:00 | I foresee computers being built with minimum spec PSUs in order to get max score on the green rating. Then expect to see computers that regularly struggle to keep going whenever a USB drive without its own PSU is plugged in. This might even result in an aftermarket for a higher grade of PSU to be routinely fitted. Having a system adjust its speed / number of cores / voltages / fan speeds as per system need is sensible, and systems enabled in such a way should be eligible for a green star. But to simply awared a green star based solely on the draw of the PSU is overly simplistic and myopic. It would be more sense to enforce a software policy whereby the system hibernates after some period of inactivity - this would probably guarantee the greatest energy savings. |
Paul.Cov (425) | ||
| 1235108 | 2011-10-03 01:49:00 | I foresee computers being built with minimum spec PSUs in order to get max score on the green rating. Then expect to see computers that regularly struggle to keep going whenever a USB drive without its own PSU is plugged in. This might even result in an aftermarket for a higher grade of PSU to be routinely fitted. Having a system adjust its speed / number of cores / voltages / fan speeds as per system need is sensible, and systems enabled in such a way should be eligible for a green star. But to simply awared a green star based solely on the draw of the PSU is overly simplistic and myopic. It would be more sense to enforce a software policy whereby the system hibernates after some period of inactivity - this would probably guarantee the greatest energy savings. Hmmm, then all the manufacturer would have to do is sell it with the power option on Power Saver mode instead of Balanced or Performance and obtain a green rating.... You might as well give every computer a green rating as they all save power when they are turned off/sleeping/un-plugged etc. Gee, advertise that it can only be used for an hour a day and say its more efficient than the same item running 2 hours a day. Nope, wont work sorry. |
Iantech (16386) | ||
| 1235109 | 2011-10-03 03:14:00 | Yeah and it's unlikely to effect those of us who build our own from parts. Yes? ........pictures self gaming away, sucking immense quantities of power from the grid and PSU police knock on door to confiscate equipment.............. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1235110 | 2011-10-03 03:52:00 | I wouldn't even trust the Gov't as far as I would trust M$ to make this sort of decision. They've already encouraged the price of power to go into warp drive, that should be quite enough of a disincentive. Naturally, any power used in an Apple product should be considered a total waste, banning is far too good for that situation ;) |
R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 1235111 | 2011-10-03 08:08:00 | I think that Energy Star Rating would be only one consideration when buying a new computer. People would be able to select the more energy efficient computers or components if that is what they want. The star rating would be a guide only as now seen on fridges, washing machines and other electrical appliances. | Bobh (5192) | ||
| 1235112 | 2011-10-03 18:37:00 | I assume this is mostly aimed at businesses and schools since homeowners generally buy off the shelf. Stuff bought from stores tends to be pretty efficient. Not great but it often meets requirements, that and putting a big green eco sticker on it often gets the public scrambling for one. Schools and businesses however have hundreds to thousands of PC's running all day and depending on the circumstances, some of the night. Most of them are bulk buys under contract from dell and are built with enterprise components that are designed as low cost, relatively reliable machines that fit into an office work space. Not a lot goes into power saving or new designs as far as the hardware goes. So if its aimed at the business sector, good idea but for the general public? it will cause more rage than good since most people buying powerful computers are buying them since they want/need them. Not because they like using power. |
The Error Guy (14052) | ||
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