Need help to check which option would be better for power consumption

[pegasus]

Nice discussion.
Just adding a few thoughts i had posted elsewhere.

If you want something just for downloading and are better of using just one main computer, i have seen some guys with powerful gaming rigs use netbooks for downloading instead of assembling rigs with Atom integrated motherboards.
eg. Samsung N128 (was 13.5K)

Some upgrade the internal HDD if they are unable to transfer downloaded data regularly.
Some transfer daily/regularly and some use external HDDs with existing config.

Pros-
- Very low on power consumption-
- efficient
- Very low on heat and noise
- compact and space-saving
- Battery backup
- Free LCD screen+KB+mouse

Cons-
- 1 year warranty
- not upgradeable

But if you want a download rig + media server, i guess the only option will be to get a full-on desktop computer.
But that may double up as your HTPC too.

*www.thinkdigit.com/forum/hardware-q/131117-pc-24x7.html#post1275756

That said, if your laptop is not too heavy on the specs, especially if it has no discrete graphics, you may easily use the same for downloading.
No need to get a netbook then, imho.
Even if you have to spend on a new power brick later, as you are scared it may conk out due to overheating, it may still cost you way less than what a new netbook costs.

We may think a low power desktop rig consumes almost as much power as a laptop does during idle.
But first of all, we need a very efficient PSU.
For an Atom-based rig, pico-psu is a brilliant option but it is not exactly cheap.
The main advantage that laptops enjoy when tuned to consume low power are
- the components are designed to operate at low TDP
- the power brick for the laptop is usually way more efficient than most good PSUs, even 80 plus certified units iirc.
- power management solutions for laptops are more comprehensive compared to usual desktop ones and also more ffective usually

 

[acewin]

another of nice threads.
I am using HP Elitebook 8440p, it comes with a power consumption meter, I have seen it as low as 18.1 when very less apps are open(wireless off), and right now it is showing 29.1 ( with firefox IE winscp adobe reader eclipse open and wireless on). I am amazed with the counts
This is a core i5 540 proccy based lappy.

netbooks consume lesser power because of atom, but rest(mobo and other components) are not that good(Sony netbooks come in 45K), intel U series procies are also low power consuming proccy series.

a HP dv6 with core i5 I am sure would consume one and half to double i.e 45-60W power.

samsung netbook model which has wi-fi has bluetooth also, and I would rate samsung netbooks to be the best, infact their laptops are also very good.