Spooky . . .

yeah, Christopher is the ultimate mind bender...

Turn Alexa off

@@ExplainingComputers Yes, the reason I was thinking about it is, I want to set up a machine with low power consumption to use for running SteamCMD under Linux for dedicated Steam game servers. Games that I regularly play with my friends, such as Left4Dead2, CS:GO, etc. I'm currently running it on Ubuntu Server 20.10 in a virtual machine using Oracle VirtualBox. Of course, this server is only operational when I have my main PC on, which I don't want to leave running 24/7. I dare say that one of the Intel based SBCs might do the trick; perhaps the Latte Panda Delta?

​@@JTThumpington I don't know about SteamCMD, but I run Open Media Vault as a host on a J5005 based Intel Nuc with 8GB Ram. (I have 8x 5TB portable USB hard drives with quite aggressive turn-off times initially programmed while using Seagate software on Windows, and a 1TB Samsung SSD inside the Nuc). On that nuc I run tons of containers, including Plex for example (which you could do on a Pi even). Idle, the OMV System Overview displays about 1%, 2% etc. I don't measure the system draw of that separately, but the hard drives even when idle/sleeping probably draw more than the Nuc I suspect. -- I do measure my total system draw for: Aforementioned J5005 with 8x 5TB drives. 4x monitors (1x 22"=>24" ish old that uses more power than I like, 1080p, 1x wide-screen I use in portrait mode - more than 1080p, taller than 24" prob., 1 decent Dell 25" and one USBC power 13" touch screen) (Connected to a NUC10i7FNH ... 6-cores, 64GB Ram, 2x 1TB SSDs including an nvme one) running Windows 10 Pro A Facebook Portal (can play plex on that too) Another NUC10i7FNH ... same spec, except Pro-SSDs, but for ESXI 7, on which I run several VMs including my main one for work - another Win10, with 32GB allocated memory for that one VM... lots of compiling etc. (coding) 1x Pi4 4GB with an USB SSD 2x Smart Switches (networking, 8-way GBit) 1x WiFi Access Point (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 1x Network Camera for CCTV streaming to cloud. (I actually bolt Nucs into stuff I then screw into the floor but obviously I take precautions with so much expensive gear!) 1x Echo Dot (2nd gen). Another Pi3 based (large) Lithium Iron Phosphate battery project I'm working on (when I get back to it) with other microprocessors and gubbins, (It will eventually be in charge of managing all the power for my systems in this room). An APC 700W UPS that all the power goes through currently for these things (but it draws power anyway), Various bits and bobs ... e.g. multiple USB power supplies (for general use). Speakers etc. Dongles ... e.g. for Zigbee and other stuff. I have all that going through a TP-Link energy monitoring plug but with the switch soldered closed (I like these plugs as easy to read the values in Python). With monitors on and VMs up etc. but fairly idle use, I'm looking at about 200W. With very long working days and if I neglect to risk putting my main Win10 Nuc to sleep because I have so much stuff open I'm scared to loose, or I'm just being lazy (tired/fatigued) then all that uses about 4kWh / day. Which is a LOT ... BUT ... less than my dehumidifier in the cellar that uses about 5kWh / day to stay below 60% relative humidity (I measure a bunch of stuff around the house). I have a separate system for pfSense in the utility cupboard downstairs ... a SuperMicro server board ... because of the built-in remote control stuff though there are now Pi solutions for KVM over IP etc.!, and another J1900 little computer that I used to use for pfSense that I now run ESXI on too though I want to increase the RAM on the SuperMicro and virtualise pfSense and turn off the J1900). By virtualising pfSense ... depending on the demands of something like this SteamCmd thingy, maybe that could also run on the same machine as the router software, saving energy there? Over time I'm trying to reduce my power use ... and heat generation, but it is complicated by loving so much tech! I'm very aware of energy and quite ashamed. Loved this video ... it was informative. Don't know if that helps. With perspective. So for me, selecting highlights from the main "computers": 12x quite powerful CPU cores, 4x less powerful but fairly efficient cores (J5005), then the Pi4 Arm Cores, and whatever's in the Facebook Portal ... over 140GB of RAM ... 200W. Including 4x monitors. 4kWh / day. If 15p / kWh then about 60p / day. Or £219/year. A lot of love for Tech. :) And a good reason to try to reduce it a bit. It amazes me how efficient things are becoming, but I also get frustrated at the lack of commercial power management solutions and especially lack of long life (e.g. 20-years+) affordable UPS's. I hate having to throw away Lead Acids all the time (they get recycled obviously). And even something as ubiquitous as NUT ... I'm finding I'm having to write my own (Windows service) (I do use Linux a lot too obviously - but both) for NUT to do the things I want. Very very frustrated I get, lol ... not being able to get the things I want. But, yeah ... very pleased with the NUCs. Very expensive ... but very capable. With VMs and containers especially, and with the wide power envelopes of the 10th Gen CPUs on the posher ones, I can run many many servers and services that idle at very low power. Great for experiments (home lab).

No need because it is a bridged system. You can test both sides separately at full load and just add them up. It is not much different from a bridgeboarded Amiga in how it works (68xxx x86), it is in size and speed though and not by a little bit as an original Amiga can hold a 286 Bridgeboard and 68000 as a bare minimum and a 486 Bridgeboard and 68040 at absolute maximum for the magic to happen. In practice this means I can play Command&Conquer DOS version native on my Amiga A2000 with Windows '95 as OS while AmigaOS 3.1.4 is also running real-time at the same time. Yes the Amiga was the first real multi tasking computer and it was very good at it. It also was extremely expensive to build such a system in that time. Even today it is still expensive to run genuine Amiga hardware. Mainly because they are becoming rare and there is a huge fanbase.

"Pitch Black" quote?

Years back someone gave me their old floorstanding dell poweredge as part of a job, i was going to use it till i saw it draw like 350w just sitting there and it warmed up the spare room i put it in. Haha

@@volvo09 It could double as a heater in the winter. I have a few of those.

Depends on what you use as a server. I use (and don't laugh) some Pi Zeros in metal cases. They don't get particularly hot but each run several 2.5" hard drives and drive SAMBA4 quite well for me as single user. They can deliver HD video too, so all in all, not bad considering what is inside these things (512K of memory) for example.

@@marcdraco2189 - Nah, I'd never laugh at someone with the smarts to opt to use PI Zeros or similar SBC's for servers, if that is all that is needed. If anything, you should be applauded for a smart and economic approach to smaller servers.

@@marcdraco2189 Well all my servers are SBCs. 2 Panda Delta, 1 Udoo x86, 1 odroid xu4 and 1 raspi 4. So, this video heals my doubts. Many services running continuously. Power consumption is indeed an issue.

Great to have you aboard. You are one of the people who took the channel past 700K subs in the past few days. Thanks. :)

Glad you enjoyed it

@@ExplainingComputers Paul McCartney had a live stream with Chris yesterday? Awesome!

@@DallasMike424 No not Paul McCartney 😂. It was Paul McWhorter's channel.

@@sarvagnyapurohit9719 Thanks! I love Paul McWhorter's poetry, especially The Hobbit.

!

opps...

@@ExplainingComputers I had issue with usb not working so I tried and re-work it with a hot station. I let it cool down and had it on a usb charger that reads Volts and amps. The USB cable gave out before it had time to melt. The rpi0 w seems to have issue with usb going out IDK if it is because there is no protection like the 3 and 4 has.

@@Hex-Mas I find the Pis have a tendency to blow up even when not heavily stressed. People who know more about this stuff than I do don't speak highly of the design.

@@marcdraco2189 Hmm, I never heard of that problem. My 3 raspberry pies have worked flawlessly (although a few as cards have been consumed, most likely due to all the random writes). That being said it’s a way to small sample size to say anything.

Thanks Tom

Much appreciated!

Best of luck with it -- this is great to hear.

@@ExplainingComputers thanks 🙂

@Joe Monk Just don't connect to the Internet!

@Joe Monk Take a look at www.techradar.com/uk/news/best-linux-distro-privacy-security TAILS looks like a reasonable compromise between anonymity and usability.

@Joe Monk I'd be less worried about the NSA and start worrying more about google, apple, facebook, and Amazon. Also tiktok. And twitter. And Instagram. ...and spotify. And Reddit. At least NSA isn't using your info against you on an individual level. Can't say the same for the others here.

You may like my first video in May 2021 -- which includes extensive tests running SBCs from batteries. :)

An older PC I had put out a fair amount of heat so I used some drain-piping sections & joints and a few 80mm fans to redirect the heat. It's common sense to make good use of excess heat generated

Not very power hungry but producing enough heat to keep a room modestly warm? That breaks the laws of thermodynamics.

I can only agreed. Soon I hope. I'll be posting my December 2020 update two weeks today, and my current and future production situation will become clearer!

Greetings Perry.

Something that is used for TV production? Like Lightwave 3D?

Hi Steve.

Yes, very good point.

Rendered the Blender BMW on my pi2 in 9 hours 3,5w*9h=31,5wh Did the same on my laptop with GPU in 4 minutes (4min/60)*70w=4.67wh

A solar powered PC is on my production slate!

@@ExplainingComputers Can't wait! Thermonuclear powered Raspberry Pi. Jolly exciting!

@@prawnmikus I also have notes for a steam powered Pi, and a clockwork Pi. :)

@@ExplainingComputers I feel like 3PO crying, "Wonderful! Wonderful!" I used to build steam engines as a kid with my grandfather! As for the other one, how about a Clockwork Orange Pi?

Of course its possible to compute on solar. I've been doing it on a small 1kW system for three years - completely off grid. I use a Dell laptop and Samsung monitor but am always looking for ways to save the amps. It's about time I transitioned to a pi, particularly now the 'pc replacement' theme actually has some substance.

Intel Atoms and other low power cpu's are in many notebooks and mini laptops

@@JesusSaves86AB I had an Azulle Byte Plus, which uses an Intel “Cherry Trail” Atom x5-Z8300 processor. It had four cores running at 1.44GHz, with a Burst speed up to 1.84GHz. However, it was a bit underwhelming, especially with only 4GB of RAM & only 32GB of internal storage. I did use it happily for several years as my primary computer, but I mostly just did browsing, which often crashed Chrome when I opened too many tabs. I finally had to upgrade when I could not install the Windows "required" upgrade [ca. fall, 2019) on my 32GB C: drive [which I had cleared of everything not Windows-related]. I added a 512GB external USB SSD, but it was not configurable as my C: drive. At the end of 2019, I upgraded to my current primary PC: ASUS PN50-4500U PC w/Ryzen 5 CPU. It has six cores running at 2.3GHz with Turbo Boost Upto 4GHz, and 6 threads. I installed it with 32GB of G.Skill memory and 512 GB of Patriot NVMe M.2 storage. Now this is an impressive system, especially as it only draws 1.2W in standby [sleep], and "idles" at 8-12W. I've seen "stress tests" that push it to 28W, but I never get anywhere near that. I never even hear the fan come on and it remains fairly cool to the touch. Sure, it was a bit more expensive, but still reasonable. Currently, the [now antiquated] Azulle Byte Plus is $127 on Amazon [I think it was closer to $200 back when I got it in 2016]. The ASUS PN50-4500U PC is currently $589.99 on Amazon [I got it for $471.99 from Newegg a year & a half ago]. Plus, I paid $107 for the RAM & $120 for the SSD, so the "system" was almost $700, but what a fantastic upgrade! Anyway, my point was that I appreciate power consumption figures from Chris & wish more UKposts reviewers provided them.

Thanks for watching!

Same to you!

Thank you! You too!

Probably because that word doesn't exist.

I appreciate that.

Thanks for watching to the end! :) I make an EC video on a Raspberry Pi -- normal editing and rendering, plus some compositing -- in this video: ukposts.info/have/v-deo/oWOVmKBwloJ-yIk.html

I have been very pleased indeed with my (passively cooled) 2GB GT 1030 in my video editing rig. I thought it might not be powerful enough, but it allows HD and 4K editing in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve with no issues, as least for the kind of work I do. Timeline scrubbing is very smooth. It probably helps that I have 32GB of RAM and mainly edit ProRes, but working with 4K mp4 files is OK too. I monitored performance quite a bit in the first few weeks I used it, but never maxed out the GPU or its RAM.

@@ExplainingComputers It is quite amazing how the GT 1030 is able to render 4K videos with a better value per watt compared to more powerful cards from the same architecture. I honestly thought that more GPU power would be needed for rendering 4K videos to be honest. I only wonder if there will ever be an equivalent Turing or Ampere card in the works.

It is on my list -- and I agree, a great board.

I will need to run on my LattePanda Alpha. The one I barely turn on because of how hot its Titan case becomes. Excellent info. Thank you very much.