How much does it cost to keep a desktop on all year?

[voodooflux]

My Buffalo NAS doesn't spin down the drives, which is a bit poor for something that's sitting idle most of the time.

I think QNAP have had difficulty implementing it - the results vary depending on the specific drives installed. They've kept plugging away though and subsequent firmware releases add support for additional drive models.

[minestrone]

I have been considering for some time getting a microsoft home server and running all my assorted stuff on that. On some of them total power usage goes down to 24w.

This is the type of kit I am intersted in

http://www.tranquilpc-shop.co.uk/aca...-2000.html#a27

I am just unsure just now what it will be like to actually run all my servers and databases on it that I have going on my current XP box.

[JoJoGabor]

Finger in the air assuming average 100W power draw:

100W = 0.1kW

0.1kW *24 hours *365 = 876kWh

Price of kWh = ??? Maybe 12p? Check your electriciy bill for the price of a kWh

876 *0.12 = £105 per year.

Tell me if my maths or physics is wrong

[voodooflux]

Finger in the air assuming average 100W power draw:

100W = 0.1kW

0.1kW *24 hours *365 = 876kWh

Price of kWh = ??? Maybe 12p? Check your electriciy bill for the price of a kWh

876 *0.12 = £105 per year.

Tell me if my maths or physics is wrong

Looks good - possibly worth get a power meter to measure how much the box is actually drawing, then feeding that into the equation.

[Durbs]

876 *0.12 = £105 per year.

Ouch, my home server is suddenly looking less attractive.

[scooby]

Ouch, my home server is suddenly looking less attractive.

depends what you get out of the server? i'm planning to run exchange and sharepoint (sharepoint possibly for clients i'm working at) and then the obvious VPN and storage.

i can return more than the £105 instantly therefore isnt or shouldnt be an issue. I've not spoken to my accountant yet, but i'm hoping its something i can claim for...

[minestrone]

I am about to start charging my ltd for a home office and that is going to come under it I think.

It's just a charge I have to put up with I suppose as I am running a displaced team.

[JoJoGabor]

If you are using server class hardware, the power drain will be much higher as well

[voodooflux]

If you are using server class hardware, the power drain will be much higher as well

Not to mention the noise.

[lilelvis2000]

Must say that this thread has got me thinking. I've got four servers which I kept running 24/7 even though they are not used overnight and on weekends.

I was watching Andrew Marr on the weekend..Apparently they mentioned a newpaper article about research which suggested that for every two word search on Google enough power to boild three cups of water is used!

I'm now gonna switch off everything at night.