how to save electricity while downloading

[d_unbeliever]

i want to download big files while im sleeping. What parts of my computer could i turn off except from the monitor to save up energy consumption? how to make my pc setup not to cause fire accident, is cheap avr safe?

[guns1inger]

All modern computers have power-saving functions built-in, mostly controlled via the power options in Control Panel. Anything else that isn't can usually be done through the BIOS. Just set the system to go into low power mode after a few minutes, and it will close down or reduce use of anything it doesn't need.

[redwudz]

If you are running XP or Vista or probably most all newer OSs, they have those functions built in. Even the monitor should go to a low power state after a period, depending how you have it set. Hard drives will spin down when not in use. Optical drives also mostly shut down when not in use. In XP, go to the 'Control Panel' page, then to 'Power Options'. You can't put the computer to sleep if you are downloading, but it can shut down the monitor and unused drives. Energy saving is almost automatic with the right power settings. SATA hard drives are also more energy efficient than PATA (IDE) drives.

Some motherboards and CPUs also have low power modes where they cut back the CPU speed when it's not needed. AMD calls it 'Cool and Quiet' and Intel has a similar program. Reducing your CPU speed reduces power consumption and heat. Many newer motherboards and other peripherals are Energy Star certified to show they can save energy.

Some sites to look at:
http://www.climatesaverscomputing.org/3-steps-to-go-green/
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power_management

BTW, screen savers do not save energy, they still run the monitor at close to full power settings. The best way with a computer monitor is to let your software blank the screen and place it in sleep mode or shut if off yourself with the power switch. LCD monitors also use much less power, even in sleep mode, than a CRT monitor. If you are purchasing or building a new computer, there are also lower wattage CPUs available. A 45 Watt CPU could use one half the power of a 125 Watt CPU, in all modes.

EDIT: You also might look into purchasing a watt meter. An example from Supermediastore in the US: http://www.supermediastore.com/kilwateldet1.html?WT.mc_id=adwordsACCKillawatt&utm_sour...FQ4yGgodyVlCgw You could use this or similar with any of your appliances to see how much power they use and how much you can save. You may be able to save enough power on other appliances and equipment to offset the cost of the computer running 24/7.

[AlanHK]

If you want to spend a little money, look at "Bittorrent routers".

These are routers with hard disks and a simple OS (or in other words, a miniature PC) that can download independently. Very small and low power consumption.

[jman98]

If your PC gets too hot, it will shut itself down. It won't catch fire.

I work in IT for a living. I run 2 PCs at home ALL THE TIME. They don't get shut off. We run all of our PCs and servers at work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I have NEVER seen a computer related fire or even heard of one happening.

I suppose there is some 1 in a million or more chance that a PC might catch fire, but this is not a realistic worry.

[RabidDog]

Another way would be to turn off your monitor ?? (your asleep right?). And maybe get a big usb stick and designate that as the destination drive for your torrents, allowing your main hard drives to spin down. Increase your system RAm. Asus EE pc probably doesn't use much leccy and is as cheap as the Bittorrent routers, and far more flexible..and quieter

N.B. The whole of FreeDonia was razed to the ground in the Edwardian era due to the great P4 fire of 1862. Somebody overclocked it to play UT3..

[Faustus]

If you want to spend a little money, look at "Bittorrent routers".

These are routers with hard disks and a simple OS (or in other words, a miniature PC) that can download independently. Very small and low power consumption.

Came to post this. No clue how good they are though.

[d_unbeliever]

Yes Im on XP SP3. I will download torrents and installers while sleeping.
Im using a cheap AVR. Though there's a fuse inside, Im worrying it might cause fire.

[thecoalman]

Another way would be to turn off your monitor ?? (your asleep right?).

Off completely... I read an article about how this is becoming an issue. A lot of electronics and apllinces are now all consuming power 24/7. If I walk into my kitchen at night there is enough damn clocks to make it glow green. None of them have a off switch either. DVD players, TV's... most of them are using a low power mode or have the extra's like clocks consuming electricity instead of going off completely.

Might not add up too much for single device but over year its going to add up, then you have a couple billion people worldwide... Lots of wasted energy.

[Video Head]

My kitchen has a red glow at night. Is that bad?

With so many people driving vehicles that need a zip code rather than a registration # it's no wonder that power costs are so high. But bigger is better, so keep on truck'n...

Have you considered a boot profile that only enables the devices that you require?