Author Topic: Switched to a new Weather PC  (Read 2981 times)

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Offline 92merc

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Switched to a new Weather PC
« on: November 29, 2014, 06:33:25 PM »
I just got done transferring my weather software over to a new PC.  Knock on wood, everything went fairly well.

I thought I would share my experiences and my considerations on why I chose what I did.  I work for a state government IT office.  In my normal duties, I can across a Dell Optiplex 3020 Micro PC.  These units are 6 inches by 7 inches by 1.5 inches.  Really small.  Basically a laptop hard drive and memory.  They can be bought with a i5 or i3 processor.  The Optiplex 9020 can do a i7 as well.  The kicker for me is this small unit can have an add on $20 card that adds are REAL serial port.  Out the back there is a dongle for 2 PS2 ports(I don't need), and a DB9 serial COM1 port.

I was going to wait for the new Intel NUC PC's to come out this spring.  But Dell had these 3020's on sale for 30% off.  Since VWS and the other software I'm running isn't truly multi-processor capable, an i5 is overkill.  i3 is a dual core with hyper-threading, so Windows sees 4 processors.  The i5 is 4 2.0 Ghz processors, and the i3 is dual 3.0 Ghz.  Since only one proc is really used at a time for VWS, a single 3.0 Ghz is better anyway.

The Intel NUC is sold no memory, no HD, no OS.  After I would buy all of those, and add a potentially problematic USB to serial converter, I decided to not wait and buy the Dell instead. 

The 3020 uses a 65 watt external power brick like a laptop.  The i3 is only 35w TDP for the processor, lower than my old Core 2 Duo of 65 watts.  The new PC has 4 Gig of RAM and a 500 Gig hybrid drive, with a copy of Windows 8 Standard for $500.  For me, it was the right deal.  My old PC only had a Futuremark processor score of 1647, new i3 is rated 4431 for the i3 4150t processor.  So 4x the processor.

I have to wait yet and find out what my Killawatt says, but I'm betting this new unit will be 1/4 the electricity of my old mini-tower PC.

Anyway, I just thought I would through this out as another option for the weather enthusiasts like myself as another option.  Oh, and BTW, they also have a slot inside to take the standard mini-PCIe card needed for Wifi, like a laptop.  Or you can buy it with on already in there.

Picture of the micro PC:
http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/OptiPlex-3020.png

Dell page on the PC:
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/optiplex-3020m-desktop/pd
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Offline floodcaster

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Re: Switched to a new Weather PC
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2014, 02:20:04 PM »
Thanks for the info. I've been using a desktop Optiplex for my wx pc for many years. It's a solid workhorse but getting long in the tooth. I'll have to check these out and would be interested in your kilowatt readings.
Bill


Offline 92merc

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Re: Switched to a new Weather PC
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2014, 05:08:10 PM »
I'm pulling .23 amps through my weather system.  That includes the Davis console, the PC, monitor OFF, and the 875 VA battery backup.

Next time I have to reboot it, I'll shut it down instead and put the Killawatt with the PC only and see what it pulls.
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Offline Bushman

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Re: Switched to a new Weather PC
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2014, 09:02:10 PM »
I checked the price.  600-800 CAD.  Ouch.
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Offline SlowModem

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Re: Switched to a new Weather PC
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2014, 10:13:02 PM »
I'm pulling .23 amps through my weather system.

I missed the decimal the first time I read it and thought WOW!!!!  23 amps?!?!?!?!   :shock:
Greg Whitehead
Ten Mile, TN USA

Offline 92merc

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Re: Switched to a new Weather PC
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2014, 04:53:23 PM »
I put my Killawatt on my old PC.  A Dell Vostro 220 mini tower.  It ran at .70 amps or 84 watts.  With just the new PC, it was .21 amps or 25 watts.

I'm surprised at how little power the battery backup actually takes.  I suppose the charging cycle only comes on periodically when needed.
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