[mythtv-users] Power recording rule for night time preference

[Johan]

Michael T. Dean wrote:
> On 02/09/2010 03:08 PM, Ronald Frazier wrote:
>>> My PC is using 290W permanently (if not recording and throttled 
>>> down) 290*24
>>>
>>> This means that I would pay around 500$ per year to run my FE/BE if 
>>> night
>>> time power was not at 60% of the daytime price.
>>>      
>> If powering it down and scheduling for night time doesn't improve
>> things for you significantly, you may want to look at the possibility
>> of building a PC based on something more energy efficient. My
>> diskless, basic core2 duo systems are about 35 watts at idle, and 65
>> at full load. Add another 6-10 watts per hard drive, a couple extra
>> watts if you have a lot of memory (mine is 2GB). A GeForce G210 idles
>> about 11 watts, or a G220 is about 20-30 watts (I think). It shouldn't
>> be at all unreasonable to build a system with about a third of your
>> system's power consumption. It could easily pay for itself in a year
>> or 2 at the prices you are talking about.
>>    
>
> Agreed with everything--especially the suggestion that Atom/ION is not 
> the only way to get a power-efficient system!  (And using a Core 2 Duo 
> or similar, you actually have a "real" CPU that's actually useful when 
> you need it.)
>
> Only thing I have to add is to make sure you get a power-efficient 
> power supply (go 80 PLUS).  
> http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/393806#393806
>
I think it's very well possible, but I was looking for quick wins. Use 
of the RTC wake up works terrific.

I also have 3 receiver cards in the BE/FE (2 DVB-S and one PVR500 analog 
card). Would be interesting to know if someone runs a low power BE with 
3 receiver cards. (not firewire or USB external receivers).
Specially which MB is used.
Too bad that my savings can't go in to new stuff. Need the funds 
elsewhere.... (advantage: no worries about WAF anymore)

Johan