Erik Funkenbusch wrote:
> On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:31:44 +0000, Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>
>> There's also the powerful second-hand gear that won't be able to run
>> Vista and thus be passed to Linux folks (clusters?) for (vitually) zero
>> cost.
>
> This is the real red herring. While, indeed, a lot of people seem to like
> to use old hardware to play around with Linux, the fact of the matter is,
> if you're going to run such hardware, especially in clusters, it would be
> far more cost effective to build low voltage blade systems than to utilize
> all kinds of under-performing, but over-power consuming legacy PC's.
These cheaper PC's might be used for someone to update an older legacy one
with something newer. Most seem to be entry level grade that do not have
the resources to play the more intense games, multimedia applications
beyond the standard net videos, or heavy duty power user office automation
applications.
http://www.wyse.com/products/software/os/Wyse_ThinOS.pdf
For a corporation to consider blade type systems might make sense depending
on the application, going from fat client to thin client. Thin client
terminal uses something of the order of 6 Watts, coupled with an LCD
terminal of 42 Watts for 48 Watts total. Server will use around 700 Watts,
but can service multiple clients. A fat client system can consume from 200
to 300 Watts or higher.
For a home user, say computer (120 Watts), 17" CRT monitor (150 Watts) and
inkjet printer (5 Watts idle) consumes 275 Watts in use. Computer is used
5 hours per day during week days, 12 hours during weekends. Individual
heads out on weekends once a month, takes vacation and holidays totalling
30 days.
Weekday Usage = 5 hrs/day x 5 days/wk x 48 wks = 1,200 hrs.
Weekend Usage = 12 hrs/week x 37 wks = 407 hrs.
Total Usage/Year = 1,607 hours
0.275 kilo-Watts x 1,607 hours = 442 kilo-Watt hours (kWh)
New York Utilities are say, $0.12 per kWh. 442 x $0.12 = $53.04 per year.
Midwest at $.065 per kWh would net $28.73 annual utilities cost.
A New Yorker considering an LCD monitor using 50 Watts costing US $175, will
save US $19 annually, pay for itself in 9 years. Midwestern savings at $10
annually would have an ROI in 18 years.
An LCD monitor has other value added features such as easier reading and
less tiring on the eyes, so cost savings from utilities usage may not be a
factor.
However overall, utility savings on PC's are probably a home user's least
concerns.
NEXT WEEK: Linux thin client savings in a corporate world.
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HPT
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