NPVR server and 24/7 low power and logging temperature and energy in the house

[jasjol]

I am planning to log energy, water and temperature consumtion in my house using e.g. 1-wire sensors.

The computer logging/saving data will have to be on all the time.

One alternative is to use a RaspBerryPI which is low on Powerconsumption.


But since I should replace my present NPVR box I am curious if I can build a new PC that can be on 24/7 and still not use too much energy?


Every 100w Power consumption ends up in approx 900 kWh per year so it is noticeable cost.


I have 2 PCI cards from TechnoTrend with CI adapter so I would probably need an ATX board - not so many boards with PCI nowadays.


Anyone who has built a NPVR server for 24/7 with low Power consumption?

[martint123]

I use an HP Microserver (as do a few on here I think).
It consumes about 35W with discs spun down. Mine has an SSD for system (W7) and four 2tb drives.
I have 1 x DVB-T2 tuner, 1 x DVB-S2 tuner and 1 x PVR150usb tuner all USB tuners under npvr. I have a USB card reader for TV, but do not use it much.
I log home power consumption and solar PV generation.
It also runs Logitech media server for some squeezebox clones around the home and security camera motion detection and recording.
I think it does quite well for a low spec AMD cpu.

[jasjol]

Interesting I will check that product:


did you have to tweak having all harddiscs but OS HD to shut down separately ( if you are doing that) - I remember Reading about some general issue regarding spun down HD.

I did Quick check on HP site and there seems to be several versions
- what AMD processor do you have?
- Do you know your model number?

I saw one on sale called NL54 with AMD TURION II - I have no idea how good AMD processors are - I have to check that

I guess you use it as main server for NPVR and then using clients towards it? - any performance issues on NPVR?


do you have PCI or PCI-e ?

Do you log via 1-wire network or using some other Tech for logging home Power?

[martint123]

did you have to tweak having all harddiscs but OS HD to shut down separately ( if you are doing that) - I remember Reading about some general issue regarding spun down HD.

I just let the o/s powersave spin the drives down. O/S drive is an SSD - no issues so far.

I did Quick check on HP site and there seems to be several versions
- what AMD processor do you have?
- Do you know your model number?

CPU is an N54L @ 2.2gHz model is 704941

It eventually cost me UK pounds 75 with the £100 HP cashback. The offer has been on and off for a few years as I also have an old N36L from way back.

I guess you use it as main server for NPVR and then using clients towards it? - any performance issues on NPVR?

It's not my main NPVR server as that is an old P4/3gHz thing but with many PCI slots for tuners, but the HP is quite capable of supporting multiple clients and is about the only device where I can do network copies and fill the gigabit ethernet to almost 100% from my main PC.

do you have PCI or PCI-e ?

According to specs

Slot 1: PCI-Express Gen 2 x16 connector with x16 link
Slot 2: PCI-Express Gen 2 x1 connector with x1 Link
Slot 2-2: PCI-Express x4 slot for optional management card

Do you log via 1-wire network or using some other Tech for logging home Power?

I have a 'Current Cost' device supplied as a freebie from my utility supplier that has a USB interface to the HP.