May 26 2008
a green pc for backups
I ordered a new computer today.
The fit-PC is a 500MHz computer with 256MB of RAM and 60GB of disk. It has two ethernet ports, a VGA port, audio in/out, and a serial port. It costs $325 (shipped), has Ubuntu 7.10 pre-installed (or optional Windows XP), and draws a maximum of 5W under load.
The fit-PC draws 5W under load.
To put that in perspective, my MacBook has a 65W power adapter. A typical desktop has a 200W power supply. The fit-PC draws less juice from the wall than an energy saving light bulb. It is fanless, so the computer is no louder than the hard drive… (which, in an aluminum case, is going to be very, very quiet). That, and it’s small. A CD jewel case is 142 mm × 125 mm × 10 mm. The fit-PC is 116mm x 120mm x 40mm. That means it is as tall as four CD cases, and has a footprint that is smaller than those CD cases.
This computer is slated to become the backup server for Untyped. I’ll plug in a USB hard drive (possibly two) and just let it back our dedicated host up. Once we get settled in our new home, I may find a use for another as either a firewall or as a media server. We’ll see… mostly, I’m just amazed to have found a fully-featured Linux computer that is so incredibly power efficient.
Links:
Schweet! I’ve been looking at similar things for home backup, but given my more limited requirements I think an external hard disk with an ethernet port will do the job. Like a Time Capsule, but without rounded corners or the £100 Apple markup.
Of course the crazy awesome thing about that PC is the low power draw. I wish my laptop had that!