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Building a Green PC

Posted by kdawson on from the in-time-for-st.-patrick's dept.

Kermit writes "Ars Technica has put together a green DIY system building guide. The idea is to build a PC offering decent energy efficiency as well as solid performance. The 'Green Gaming Box' draws about 125W at full load (not including a monitor); the minimalist 'Extreme Green Box' uses a mini-ITX case and a VIA CPU-motherboard combo for about 30W at typical load. If you want to mix and match components, or modify your current system so that it uses less energy, there are plenty of options for swapping out individual components."

9 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. Paint it green! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or black.

  2. Nothing is easier by Bin+Naden · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nothing is easier than building a green PC, just take out the can of green spray paint.

    --
    There should be a "-1:Groupthink"
  3. Re:"Green Computing" by funny+money · · Score: 2, Funny

    C'mon!! Any "attempt" to make the earth greener should be lauded. Personally, I have a little plant atop my monitor.

    --
    If MIX where a ternary (base three) computer, how many tits would there be per byte.
  4. Kermit writes by MT628496 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Am I the only one that chuckled at this?

  5. Re:"Green Computing" by Muad'Dave · · Score: 2, Funny
    This reminded me of the Prius problem mentioned on slashdot last year.


    Aren't you supposed to seek medical attention if it goes on for more than 4 hours?

    --
    Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  6. Re:Energy Efficiency by demon+driver · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am not a big fan of VIA As far as I understood TFA, the low-consumption VIA CPUs actually don't need big fans.
  7. Notes from the Thinkpad manual by GameboyRMH · · Score: 5, Funny

    And you can beat a burglar to death with it. 12-c: Using your Thinkpad as a Weapon

    Your Thinkpad can be used in self defense, should the situation arise. If your model is not equipped with a solid-state disk, or a conventional hard disk with a safety accelerometer, the computer should be put into standy or hibernation mode, or ideally powered off before use as a weapon.

    Technique

    Grasp the Thinkpad firmly with both hands at the front corners, and swing down on your target, striking with the underside and rear corners. Do not swing the Thinkpad by any cords or dongles. Advanced users may hold the unit by the front with one hand for fast melee attacks.

    After Battle

    Open the unit and ensure that all internal components are seated properly, as some may have come loose during battle. Clean any spills with a slightly damp cloth and dry immediately. If bodily fluids should find their way inside the laptop, hold it upside-down and let the fluids drain out, remove the battery and send it to the nearest Certified Repair Center.

    Refer to section 5-a on installation and removal of internal components.

    *Note that battle damage is only covered under the Extended Service Warranty.
    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    1. Re:Notes from the Thinkpad manual by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Glad you asked. Although IBM/Lenovo has been a little hush-hush about this, pending the development of a standardized test, the Thinkpad can also be used quite effectively as a small shield.

      While it can take a limited number of straight-on thrusts sacrificially (operability is not guaranteed after the attack), the optimal method of wielding a Thinkpad as a shield is to angle it at approximately the tip angle of the lance or projectile being attacked with. This maxmimizes the contact area, significantly reducing risk of penetration. It also provides a component of force perpendicular the direction of thrust, thereby making possible a deflection scenario in which the attacker is ill-positioned to defend against a counterattack.

      As the Thinkpad can transition rapidly between defensive and attacking modes, this deflect-and-counterattack strategy can be highly effective. IBM HelpCenter (accessible via the blue button) includes a handy illustrated tutorial further explaining this tactic.

      On a related note, Dell is working on two similar weaponization concepts for their XPS laptops. The first is fairly primitive and relies soley on mass. The second causes severe burns to an attacker on contact with the underside of the laptop and is switched on by default. Both are expected to be included in upcoming releases, although speculation is that currently shipping laptops already have both features, but they are undocumented.

  8. Cryptonomicon by demon+driver · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, I've seen the idea of an organ-pipe based computing machine detailed in Neal Stephenson's 'Cryptonomicon'. The fictitious machine was not exactly what we'd call low-noise, though.