Desktop with Core i5 consumes only 5.9 watts in idle mode

Dutch amateur engineer Emile 'Mux' Neyssen has been optimizing power consumption on motherboards for several years. For example, in 2010, he assembled a full-fledged MiniITX / Core 2 Duo computer, consuming only 20 watts, last year he made a Core i3 desktop with a consumption of 8.3 watts .

The new Fluffy2 project - Core i5-3570K with 16 GB of DDR3-1333 memory, WiFi module, 64 GB SSD, consumes only 5.9 watts instead of the original 11.6 watts. Neissen himself uses it as his main home computer.

Optimization plan (the motherboard is ready, you need to find the right monitor and case):


^{Note: an ordinary PC is in standby mode for about 95% of the time}

To achieve such a result, firstly, you need to competently approach the choice of components. Neussen publishes an indicative list of which components are preferable from which manufacturers, and which should be avoided for the sake of minimal power consumption. For example, he recommends a motherboard from Intel or MSI from the low-mid-price range, any memory can be.

Neissen considers each component in the electric circuit as a source of energy loss - and removes all that is superfluous from the motherboard: SATA ports, LEDs, unnecessary voltage regulator modules (VRM), and so on, minimizing energy loss without compromising functionality. As an illustrative example, two electrical circuits from his last project, Core i3, can be given.: original circuit and after removing unnecessary components.

Before:


... and after:


Here is the original circuit diagram of the Intel DQ77KB motherboard, which the engineer is working on now.



Neussen measured each circuit in the circuit with a voltmeter and compiled a diagram for himself how power is consumed for all components in sleep mode.



After optimization, the system consumes only 5.9 watts instead of the original 11.6 watts, that is, almost half as much. At maximum power, the computer consumes 74.5 watts instead of the original 99.6 watts.

Ideally, a compact, low-power computer can be attached to the back of the monitor - and carried with it by the handle. The system will look something like this (3D rendering by Neussen):



Home-made battery for him, made from laptop battery cells.



PS Fluffy2 is participating in an energy efficiency competition organized by ASN, a Dutch bank. If Fluffy2 wins the competition, the author promises to organize a commercial release of such computers. Maybe he will show up on Kickstarter.