In comp.os.linux.misc Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_indigo@verizon.net> wrote:
> On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:12:13 -0600, ANTant wrote:

> > Hello,
> >
> > Electricity is sure getting expensive these days, especially during the summer time ($500 per month!). I would
> > like to see if I can keep my little 24 hours/7 days Linux desktop/workstation (also acts like a private server,
> > so I can ssh/VNC in from outside) from using a lot of power/electrcity when in idled mode. Currently, I told
> > xscreensaver (using xmatrix at slow rate -- loved the first two Matrix movies!) to put my monitor to sleep and
> > shut down after an hour and two hours. I do not use those 3D screen savers since they hog my 3D card and CPU, and
> > my room gets too warm easily.
> >
> > Is there anything else to cool down? Should I really spin my HDDs down (is that a good idea and is it slow to
> > spin up if I need it?). I heard about athcool utility, but it sounds scary since it can cause problems, data
> > losses, etc. I really don't have the time to mess with it and deal with any problems that it might cause.
> >
> > I think in my BIOS, I turned off ACPI(?) and APM. Do I need these enabled? How can I check if I have the required
> > components installed in my Debian and what do I need (apt-get install). FYI, here is my sensors -f during mostly
> > idled and using the box via SSH:

> I've dramatically cut down noise and heat in my 24/7 servers setup.
> The biggest think I did was move my 'archive' data ( pics, videos,
> old logs, etc... things I need but not need 24/7 ) to drives that
> only contain those things. Then I set then up to automount only
> when needed. When they are unmounted ( and the file systems are
> unmounted cleanly ) I use hdparm to spin them down. 90% of the
> time, my 2TB NAS box only had 200gig or so spinning, using
> electricity and generating heat.

> In addition, I enabled the AMD cool-n-quiet features of my CPUs
> ( had to do a BIOS update on my motherboard ) so my CPUs run at
> 41% of capacity unless they do something like a compile or
> video processing. They run cooler and the fan spins down to 40%
> of max. Generates less heat and noise... uses less electricity.

> Lastly... I got a $7 CPU fan contoller and put it on my one
> box that does not have the capability to reduce it's fan
> speed. I manually cranked that one down and monitor it's
> Temp via the sensors command. The lower fan speed seems to
> keep it plenty cool.

> Now... ( compared to what it used to be ) you can barely hear
> the 3 servers ( amd 4600+, 3800+, 3200+ and 3TB of drives )
> when you are in my office. The heat is GREATLY reduced too.
> I was planning on moving one server to a different part of
> the house to spread out the heat, but now it's no longer
> necessary.

> jack



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