I bought a Kill-O-watt meter, to find out how much power my computers use.
I have 16 computers running SETI. (called SETI farm)
I use 4 of them as a general computer. Internet...
My electric bill went up over $120/mo.
The computers are 1.6ghz to 2.5ghz, average 1.9xxghz.
The power varies from 93watts to 118watts. Not counting the monitor.
The motherboard seems to make the biggest difference in power. Outside CPU.
I use a KVM (keyboard mouse video switch), So, only have 5 monitors.
Every computer and monitor is backed up with a UPS. Run time 5 min.
I looked into more efficient power supplies. The cheap ones I'm using cost $25 as part of a case. The more efficient PS cost >$80. The standard PW is 65%, the expensive ones only 80%. The payback was years, so I'm stuck with what I have.
I use a low end video card, no CD, but the machines have everything else.
My 1.6ghz laptop draws 42watts. Compared to the 1.6ghz desktop computers it seems slow but, for SETI it's as fast as any another other computer. Nice low power. Also cost >12x as much. My SETI computers cost on average $120. Everything was bought on sale.
I have spent hours trying to figure out ways to reduce the power. I thought the Power factor would be a benefit. No. Meter only bills real power... Darn. But good:-)
Have fun.