Overclocking power consumption of my x3360 (kill-a-watt)

Got bored yesterday, so I ran checked out the power consumption of my X3360 system for shits and giggles with my kill-a-watt.


Powered Hardware Details:

Code:

Intel X3360 (C1 stepping) @ 8.5x400=3.40 GHz
 266/667 MHz Strap  CPU Vcc=1.12500
 NB Core=1.370      CPU VTT=1.310

DFI LT P35-TR2 (no modifications)

eVGA 8800 GTSG92 512 meg 
 (770/1,923/2,000 MHz : Core/Shader/Memory)

Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066 (TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF)
 2x 2Gb @ 5-5-5-15 (performance level 6) @ 1,000 MHz (4:5) @ 2.100V

Corsair HX620
2x HDs (seagates, one a 10th generation and the other an 11th)
1x DVDROM
4x120 mm Tricool fans (came with the p182 case) all on low
1x120 mm S-Flex SFF21F (1600 RPM) on the HS
1x40 mm silent fan on the NB

That's it... no other hardware (speakers, monitor, etc.) was in the loop.

Kill-a-Watt Readings
Idle in BIOS screens - 158 W
Idle in BIOS screens with both HDD's unplugged - 144 W

Idle (with speedstep active in XP x64) - 137 W
Load (prime95 v25.6 small FFT) - 213 W
Load (prime95 v25.6 large FFT) - 216 W
Load (prime95 v25.6 blend) - 210 W
Playing Crysis - 237-241 W
x264 encode - 197 W
Standby - 0 W

No real point to this post beyond just trivial information! It is interesting to me that the large FFTs consistently read 3-4 watts higher than the small ones did which is inline with the software's description of the large FFTs as generating the max heat/power consumption. Here is the similar analysis of my older Q6600-based system, but there are too many changes (MB, settings, video board, memory, etc.) for a "which processor is more power efficient" comparison.

What is little bit crazy is that both systems draw the same while idle, and even @ 3.4 GHz, and faster memory, the X3360-based system uses less wattage on p95.

 

You know, it's always good to see people post on more than one forum, especially a respected one like SPCR. I'm too lazy to register over there though.

Curiosity makes me wonder what the load would be like running prime95 alongside RTHDRIBL, and how it would compare to the load generated by Crysis.

 

I might give it a try and post back... currently priming though.

 

An important point is that very, very few people need the >500W PSUs made for the e-peen market.

 

The closer you get to the rating of the PSU the more the voltages will fluctuate as the PC changes it's power use like when going from idle to full load.

The more the voltages fluctuate the more chance of instability problems or damage to hardware.

 

True, but you will also get a much lower efficiency than when you've got <50% load on the system.

On a side-note, does anyone know where I can grab a cheap Kill-A-Watt? I've had a quick scour of eBay and google, but most are ~£25, which is a bit steep for what's basically a novelty toy.

 

This is the one I bought. It's worked fantastically, just needs to be plugged into the mains for about an hour to charge the internal battery, then it's all systems go.

 

I dropped on this one around half-price in a Maplin sale.

Less versatile but bay-mounting and doubles as a 4-channel fan controller, Zalman's MFC2, £30 @ Scan

My figures, E2180@2.9GHz, BIOS Vcore setting 1.4V; 2Gb DDR2-667@580MHz, 5-5-5-15 PL7, 1.8V; 7200GS graphics; Seasonic S12-430W

Idle - 75W (21C/21C core temps, ambient 16C)
Prime large FFTs - 124W (46C/46C)
Prime small FFTs - 123W (50C/50C)
Prime Blend - 117W (42C/43C)