Recently I swapped my QNAP NAS server for a latest 2011 Mac Mini Server. For specifications I refer to the Apple’s web page.
I selected a Mac Mini Server because it can act as a NAS server, because that’s what it needed to replace, and do much more. The NAS servers also have a range of easy to setup appliances, but for some more specific server side programs like java based server applications it doesn’t seem so appropriate.
And it needed to be low on power usage. I do care about the environment and … about the energy bills.
2011 Mac Mini Server up & running
So far the small box does fine, it’s fast (see other sites for benchmarks, e.g. at Barefeats), it’s integrates better in a Mac environment. Spotlight searches work on it’s shared file folders. Something that never seems to work on the old (Unix based) QNAP NAS.
For a machine that remains always up & running, I took the low power consumption as a requirement. The QNAP was performing very well. So even though the official specifications show low power consumption, I want to benchmark the power consumption myself.
The mac is still in it’s standard configuration; without any build-to-order modifications (4Gb memory; 2x500Gb Hard disks; i7 2.0 GHz Quad core CPU)
Here are the results measured with a cheap power meter:
Booting up increases the power consumption to up to 22 WATT. Adding “some” load to the machine, like adding large amount of data, brings the power usage over 20 WATT.
Idle power consumption drops towards below 13 WATT, typically around 10 and sometimes measure 8 WATT.
Mac Mini Idle Power Usage
The idle energy consumption is currently quite relevant; because in a SOHO LAN setup it’s most of the time running idle. It just needs to be available for the occasional file retrieval or print job.
Other Mac Minis were also low on power usage.
Note also, the Mac Mini can be scheduled to go into Sleep mode e.g. at night, or have it shutdown during the night, via the System Preferences.
I don’t claim this as an official benchmark of power usage. I’m not an expert in this matter, but provides me enough confidence to leave the machine always on.
With energy bills rising every year, this should be relevant.