> modern desktop class hardware can do quite a bit better than [70W idle]
If a €1200 built-from-parts desktop from March 2020 counts as modern desktop class hardware... this system uses 85W idle. It has an AMD CPU+GPU, is Intel and/or Nvidia any better in this regard or are you talking about more low-end hardware?
It's also interesting that the maximum power consumption eked out of the Ryzen 7 Pro 6850U was a touch under 32W. Where did this 46W number of the parent comment come from? Or the 50-60W in the comment below? They must be thinking of a different CPU/APU.
My Ryzen Threadripper 2950X, which isn't a top-of-the-line system at this point, but is still a 16 core beast-ish machine, sucks down (much) less than 400W
> This is a very misleading statement. They primarily only used the 5950X in single-core tests, and in those tests it doesn't come remotely close to 105W.
That’s true but keep in mind this is the power going into the AMD CPU only. The power number measured for the mini was the entire system power pulled from the wall, so that 28W included memory, conversion inefficiencies and everything. That’s crazy.
> AMD and Intel chips usually max out at around 50-60w real-world power.
That's a sweepingly broad claim that's not at all well supported. AMD & Intel both make CPUs that top out far below 50-60w real-world power and also top out far, far above 50-60W real-world power.
From a different review of the same CPU (didn't check if same laptop, could be though)
"The Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U with the Linux 5.18 kernel had a 18.4 Watt average (or 16.6 Watt average with Linux 5.19 Git) while the Ryzen 7 PRO 5850U average on Linux 5.18 was up at 21.96 Watts."
https://www.phoronix.com/review/amd-ryzen7-6850u/8
So no, this isn't a 50-60W real-world power CPU. That's the non-U SKUs.
But if this AMD was a 50-60W CPU that'd exactly prove my point that TDP is a stupid number to compare and you always, always have to look at actual power consumption used (which this M2 vs. 6850U didn't do because as noted briefly in the intro power monitoring of the M2 doesn't work on Asahi yet)
> The most efficient x86 computer will consume 10W to 25W at idle
Totally untrue. I've got a box sitting in my closet right now that has a full system power of only ~4.5W measured by a kill-a-watt.
Its based around a Supermicro X11SBA-LN4F, a small SATA SSD, and a, 80 PLUS Gold power supply.
My personal laptop based around an AMD 3200U sitting idle right now is pulling ~6W at the wall with the 14" screen on. According to HWMonitor the CPU package is using 0.65-0.9W.
Both of these are x86 computers and they're well under even your 10W idle estimate.
> Desktop pcs requiring a ludicrous amount of power and cooling is absolutely problematic.
High-end PSUs now overlap with smaller space heaters on power output. My living room is usually 3-4 degrees hotter around my desk than it is by the dining table.I'm looking to upgrade my gaming PC, and getting the power budget under control is surprisingly challenging.
> So where do I find the actual maximum power consumption on recent desktop CPUs then?
Unfortunately you do this by putting it on a motherboard and and generally putting an amp meter on the 12v EPS rail. Either that or just power from wall. The CPU vendors have worked really hard to hide this. Mostly because for most people it's largely irrelevant these days as the CPU will scale to cooling and power delivery. There are some limits though.
Modern high-end NUCs use 100W CPU, this one: https://ark.intel.com/products/130409/Intel-Core-i7-8809G-Pr...
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