Mac mini tops power efficiency ratings
updated 04:10 pm EST, Fri November 27, 2009
Apple praised for eco efforts
Apple's Mac mini has taken the lead in a comparison of in-use power efficiency, according to data gathered by Sust-it. The survey includes over 100 systems, with the 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo-equipped Mini holding the top two positions with either a 120GB or 320GB hard drive.
The survey rated the 2.0GHz Minis at a power consumption level of 49.4 kWh per year. The 2.26GHz variant falls in right behind, beating out the Asus Eee Box and Fujitsu Futro S550 which integrate less powerful 1.6GHz and 1.0GHz CPUs, respectively.
Interestingly enough, Apple's Mac Pro desktops dominated the bottom end of the rankings. The configuration with two 2.66GHz Intel Quad Core Xeon CPUs was estimated to consume 770.8 kWh of power each year.
"There's a staggering difference between the energy consumption of computers in the marketplace; you could save nearly £150 per year on electricity in choosing the most efficient models," said Ross from Sust-it.
Things have changed
11/27, 05:27pm (1 reply) reply
I used to put bags of frozen peas on top of my G3 mini to keep it from melting. Now I warm my hands on my iMac. And I could cook my hands on last gen laptops in stores when they were idle. That's why I won't buy one.
Fill up the drives, run some graphics and we'll see the real efficiency ratings. These home iHeaters must use more than the specs.
Mr. Fartleberry
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2003
its the size
11/27, 06:50pm reply
They feel hot because they are so little and compact, there is no place for the heat to go. Put the guts of a Mac Mini in a mid size desktop and the computer will be cold.
Athens
Addicted to MacNN
Joined: Jan 2003
unibodies run cooler too
11/27, 07:39pm reply
my 17" 2.8ghz is rated 75% of the mini & runs much faster & cooler that my last gen 17" 2.4ghz - I am impressed...
bobolicious
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2002
G3 mini?
11/27, 07:41pm (1 reply) reply
Those never existed! They were G4's
The numbers can be a bit misleading too. iMacs use more power and generate more heat because of the built in display. Compare a mac mini with a display equal to that on an iMac and the power ratings will be much closer.
A mac Pro uses a ton more power because it's a ton more computer. Maybe a true comparison would be to have both machines render a huge file. The Mac Pro would finish many times faster than the mini would. Probably enough to offset the additional power used.
It's sort of like a comparison of comparing fuel economy of a compact car with that of a school bus. Empty, the car is more efficient, but when factoring in how many trips the car would need to move 80 people around, the bus suddenly becomes the more efficient vehicle.
bjojade
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
Core 2 vs Atom, too
11/28, 09:54am reply
Nearly all of the other machines on there are Atom- or AMD-based. The mini's C2D has far better performance. My guess is that the GPU also compares well.
gperks
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Oct 2003
What a great small computer
11/28, 03:39pm reply
Each day I'm more amazed of my Mini. And now it saves my money too! :D
I think the mini is the best consumer computer bar none.
Yiako
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2009
extreme power efficiency in one...
11/29, 03:01pm reply
… small unit is just about the last thing on my list of shopping parameters. if i were building a server room out of them, yeah. 1 computer? no.
but hey! kudos apple. some people care about the little feelgood bits that they think helps save the penguins or whatever.
rtbarry
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001