[kwlug-disc] Cost of ancient vs. current CPU ...

[Ronald Barnes]

Khalid Baheyeldin wrote on 2025-07-30 16:59:

> Let us compare the two 'ancient' CPUs that are mentioned in that
> other thread (AMD FX-8320 and Phenom II X6 1090T vs. a current
> desktop CPU, an <https://www.cpubenchmark.net/
> compare/1782vs393vs6029/AMD-FX-8320-Eight- Core-vs-AMD-Phenom-II-
> X6-1090T-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-PRO-8600G> AMD Ryzen 5 8600G <https://
> www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/1782vs393vs6029/ AMD-FX-8320-Eight-Core-
> vs-AMD-Phenom-II-X6-1090T-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-PRO-8600G>).
> 
> The TDP for the former two is 125W, and the latter is 65W.
> 
> If I plug in my cost for hydro ($0.11 before tax), and assume the 
> desktop is powered 24/7 at 25% load (say it is a home server for
> example), the difference per YEAR is ... wait for it ... a whopping
> $14.48!
> 
> That is $1.2 per month, which is really negligible if dollar cost
> was the only factor.
Thanks Khalid, for running these numbers.


Exactly my perspective here - electricity costs are negligible, the 
source is carbon free, and in the winter it saves on natural gas heating 
(a little bit).


Once the new Ryzen 5 9600x arrived, it's worthwhile to have the old 
machine running still just to provide server duties that don't reboot as 
often as a desktop.


That $15 / year is pretty eye-opening and reassuring.