The Notebook “Green” Myth

Posted on October 11th, 2006 in notebooks and laptops, energy, environment, computers and internet by Thomas

If you are low on energy working with a , I’m not surprised Notebooks are not ergonomic. The location of screen and keyboard strains, upper back, neck, eyes and shoulders. On top of that, they are usually not as well shielded as desktops, the electromagnetic exposure increases our overall “stress” levels. means here not necessarily stress out, but the stress on the bodies energy, with higher fatigue after the work is done.

The only way to use a notebook is to use a docking station with external monitor, and mouse, or a notebook stand to raise the screen off the desk and use external mouse and keyboard. And only occasionally “stand-alone”.

Heat: Many notebooks get really hot, i.e. that’s . Desktops can operate much cooler -> less wasted energy. If the notebook runs off the battery, you wasted probably about 40-50% of the energy you put in.

First, the loss in the power supply, usually they are 60 to 80% efficient
Second, the battery is about 80% to 90% efficient.
You might use less power in total, but not in performance per watt.

Unless the battery is charged by a solar panel. But who has that setup?

Somewhere around 80% of the total energy balance of a computer is used to manufacture the components and to built the computer.

Desktops have a much longer . For example a GreenMachineShop desktop is built to run stable for 5 years. Due to the higher heat and the way the electronic is designed and components used, most desktops and notebooks are built to run stable for only 2-3 years. There is also a higher failure rate for notebooks. They need to be shipped back and forth. Parts in a desktop, if they break down can be replaced by off-the-shelf parts, the whole system doesn’t need to be replaced.

I highly doubt that the energy and environmental balance of a notebook comes even close to compete with a good quality desktop system. Especially now that the new low wattage AMD and Intel CPUs are available.

Desktops are also easier to recycle. Easier to take apart, steel can be just recycled. Many notebooks have a lot more plastic parts and take more time to take apart.

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Energy Efficient Processors by AMD

Posted on June 7th, 2006 in energy, environment, computers and internet by Thomas

AMD announced the release of new energy efficient , May 16. The current processors available by AMD or Intel consume between 89W and 110W. The new processors are available in 35W and 65W versions.

A regular PC consumes about 150 to 200 Watts of electricity while in operation. A drop in power consumption by 40 to 50 Watts, cuts our computer electricity bill by 20 to 30%.

These versions are slightly more expensive than the regular CPUs but the advantages by far outweigh the cost. There is much less heat that needs to be vented out of the computer case, a case the same size is much cooler inside, i.e. the components age much slower and the computer runs more stable and lasts longer.

The lower heat allows to build much smaller cases that don’t need “turbines” to stay cool.
From an AMD press release, May 16, 2006


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