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Energy Efficiency of Personal Computers: A Comparative Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Beatriz Prieto

    (Department of Computer Architecture and Technology, CITIC, University of Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Juan José Escobar

    (Department of Computer Architecture and Technology, CITIC, University of Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Juan Carlos Gómez-López

    (Department of Computer Architecture and Technology, CITIC, University of Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Antonio F. Díaz

    (Department of Computer Architecture and Technology, CITIC, University of Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Thomas Lampert

    (ICube, University of Strasbourg, F-67081 Strasbourg, France)

Abstract

The demand for electricity related to Information and Communications Technologies is constantly growing and significantly contributes to the increase in global greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce this harmful growth, it is necessary to address this problem from different perspectives. Among these is changing the computing scale, such as migrating, if possible, algorithms and processes to the most energy efficient resources. In this context, this paper explores the possibility of running scientific and engineering programs on personal computers and compares the obtained power efficiency on these systems with that of mainframe computers and even supercomputers. Anecdotally, this paper also shows how the power efficiency obtained for the same workloads on personal computers is similar to that obtained on supercomputers included in the Green500 ranking.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatriz Prieto & Juan José Escobar & Juan Carlos Gómez-López & Antonio F. Díaz & Thomas Lampert, 2022. "Energy Efficiency of Personal Computers: A Comparative Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12829-:d:936261
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jens Malmodin & Dag Lundén, 2018. "The Energy and Carbon Footprint of the Global ICT and E&M Sectors 2010–2015," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-31, August.
    2. Anders S. G. Andrae & Tomas Edler, 2015. "On Global Electricity Usage of Communication Technology: Trends to 2030," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-41, April.
    3. Matteo Manganelli & Alessandro Soldati & Luigi Martirano & Seeram Ramakrishna, 2021. "Strategies for Improving the Sustainability of Data Centers via Energy Mix, Energy Conservation, and Circular Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alberto Ortega & Abel Miguel Cano-Delgado & Beatriz Prieto & Jesús González, 2023. "Design of a Standard and Programmatically Accessible Interface for Smart Meters to Allow Monitoring Automation of the Energy Consumed by the Execution of Computer Software," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.

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