I replaced my old Intel Core i7 HP ProLiant server with an Odroid M1 (ARM Based) and it consumes 2 watts compared to 72 that the Intel Server did.

The only thing I can't do with it is my Minecraft server, it runs all else perfectly. Even the Lemmy instance of this account is powered by the same server! And what's more it basically runs for free, as solar generates enough power for the server to consume, even when it's cloudy.

Yes, I believe Intel should be afraid.

[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

You can't do the Minecraft server because of performance right?

[–] beefcat@beehaw.org 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

that must be the reason seeing as java is available for just about everything these days

modern arm socs are impressive but i seriously doubt that 2 watt chip is beating the 75 watt chip it replaced

[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Well, Java can call into native code. I'm pretty sure Mojang isn't doing that sort of thing, but I wasn't entirely sure they weren't depending on a subset of the JVM or a native library that is defacto standard in the x86 world.

[–] skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

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[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 2 points 8 months ago

I don't remember Minecraft server edition relyint on native binaries, but it's been a while since last ran it, maybe Mojang changed it.

Same, and it sounds like it doesn't... I just wasn't sure. You can also run into things like "I never realized this was using... glibc... which is on every x86 Linux computer." I don't think that's happened either though.

Programs like Box86 and Box64 csn efficiently make native calls work out if there are native equivalents available, and there's always qemu-static if that fails.

Interesting, good to know

[–] peter@lemmy.emerald.show 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The server was a second hand server that has 32GB RAM and 2 i7 CPU's, it was made in 2015 so quite old. The Odroid has only 8GB of RAM but for my purposes that's enough, and given the power it saves it's absolutely a bargain!

If I ever need this much memory again I can just temporarily spin up something more powerful, for all other 24/7 tasks I can keep up the efficient ARM server.

[–] beefcat@beehaw.org 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

it’s great that the new machine suits your needs with so little power. whatever gets the job done with the least energy and cost is almost always the best option.

we are just questioning whether its performance is truly comparable with the old one. because arm cannot replace x86 on performance per watt alone, many applications need more performance regardless of wattage. i think your old machine was overkill for your use case

[–] peter@lemmy.emerald.show 1 points 8 months ago

Yeah makes sense! It probably doesn't although I have no benchmarks to prove it, it just is enough for me. I know this much though: even if the x86 server had the same specs (ram, GHz) as the arm version it likely still draws more power

[–] peter@lemmy.emerald.show 2 points 8 months ago

Yeah it's mostly performance related. I have like 10 different websites running all at once, and while CPU and RAM aren't 100% all the time, with a heavy load I don't have enough free to do it

[–] jeremias@social.jears.at 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I run my lemmy instance on a pine64 quartz64 which uses an rk3566. It runs really well and power consumption is totally negligible. Didn’t notice any increase in my power bill since it’s been running.

[–] peter@lemmy.emerald.show 1 points 8 months ago

Nice, cool to see more people have an arm Lemmy instance

[–] ijeff@lemdro.id 1 points 8 months ago

Impressive!