Folding @ Home costs

[LVCapo]

I knew that running your system adds to costs, although it is very little over the long haul. I didn't realize that running Folding @ home 24/7 almost doubles the electricity used by your system though. I found this out reading another sites Power supply roundup, which includes the Antec NeoPower 480W PSU that I will be posting a review on very shortly.... the blurb is a very small part of the overall article, which by the way is a good read.

For example, using a $0.07/kilowatt hour cost for electricity (the 2002 US national average) and a system that consumes 130W at idle, you're looking at about $80/year to have the system on 24/7. Of course, if you're running Folding@Home, playing games, or happen to have a Prescott-core Pentium 4 under the hood, system power consumption can easily eclipse 250W, costing upwards of $150 in electricity per year. Over the course of a year, even a 10% improvement in power supply efficiency can save you enough for a case or two of your favorite brew.

Eight power supplies compared - The Tech Report - Page 1
http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q4/psus/index.x?pg=1[/quote]

[infinitevalence]

break that down and its still a small amount per month. but the lesson is a good one dont try to run 4 3.6ghz prescotts with 500w power supplys that only cost $15 each. spend the money on a good efficent PSU, one with active PFC and high efficency. (if your wondering check out seasonic, and swiching power supplys with out active pfc are only about 60-70% efficent.)