I'm looking for the absolute least power x86-based cpu + motherboard to use as a firewall/gateway/nas server. Also needs to be a standard format (mini-ITX or micro ATX) to go in a rackmount enclosure.
Right now I'm using a PCEngines Alix2d3 for this purpose. CPU is a 500 MHz AMD Geode LX800. I've measured this thing with my Kill-a-Watt, and it pulls about 5 Watts from the wall.
While it works wonderfully, I'd like a little bit more capability. For one, it uses its own proprietary format; I'd prefer to have this in a rackmount chassis. Second, the only "hard drives" I can use are CompactFlash cards, via the built-in CF adapter; I'd like to have a SATA port and use a small SSD. Third, its only output is through a serial cable, which works fine, but VGA (or IP KVM) is nicer.
I've done a little searching, and can't seem to find any AMD Geode-based boards that are in a standard form factor and have dual NICs. (Does AMD still manufacture the Geode CPUs?)
Feature-wise, this Supermicro X7SPA-HF-D525 meets all my needs, but I suspect the power consumption wouldn't be all that great. Between the Atom CPU (not really as energy-efficient as Intel's marketing would have us believe), ICH9 chipset, plus VGA and IPMI... I'm guessing that has to pull over 20 Watts AC, even with an efficient PSU like the PicoPSU. Does anyone have experience with this board, and if so, have you ever measured power consumption? (I have a hunch that I could probably build a Sandy Bridge Pentium/Celeron-based system that had similar idle power consumption (and for not a whole lot more money).)
It may not be possible to do what I want at under 10 Watts... but I thought I'd ask anyway!
Right now I'm using a PCEngines Alix2d3 for this purpose. CPU is a 500 MHz AMD Geode LX800. I've measured this thing with my Kill-a-Watt, and it pulls about 5 Watts from the wall.
While it works wonderfully, I'd like a little bit more capability. For one, it uses its own proprietary format; I'd prefer to have this in a rackmount chassis. Second, the only "hard drives" I can use are CompactFlash cards, via the built-in CF adapter; I'd like to have a SATA port and use a small SSD. Third, its only output is through a serial cable, which works fine, but VGA (or IP KVM) is nicer.
I've done a little searching, and can't seem to find any AMD Geode-based boards that are in a standard form factor and have dual NICs. (Does AMD still manufacture the Geode CPUs?)
Feature-wise, this Supermicro X7SPA-HF-D525 meets all my needs, but I suspect the power consumption wouldn't be all that great. Between the Atom CPU (not really as energy-efficient as Intel's marketing would have us believe), ICH9 chipset, plus VGA and IPMI... I'm guessing that has to pull over 20 Watts AC, even with an efficient PSU like the PicoPSU. Does anyone have experience with this board, and if so, have you ever measured power consumption? (I have a hunch that I could probably build a Sandy Bridge Pentium/Celeron-based system that had similar idle power consumption (and for not a whole lot more money).)
It may not be possible to do what I want at under 10 Watts... but I thought I'd ask anyway!