Is smaller more energy efficient?

 

Connecting state and local government leaders

The Hewlett-Packard Compaq dc7600 Ultraslim desktop consumed the least amount of power when idle of any desktop we've tested, using only 83 watts. If your primary concern is power efficiency or space savings, the $947 dc7600 Ultraslim is a good choice.

In the last issue of GCN, we in the lab introduced power efficiency testing to our desktop workstation reviews [GCN, June 26]. Of the systems we collected for our inaugural tests, the Hewlett-Packard Compaq dc7600 Ultraslim was the odd man out. While this particular model was designed specifically to save space and consume less power, it wasn't in the same performance class as products such as the Dell OptiPlex GX620 and the Lenovo ThinkCentre A52.The dc7600 Ultraslim scored only 5,132 on our benchmark tests, despite its 3-GHz Pentium 4 630 processor with an 800-MHz front-size bus. Even the 1GB of PC2-4000 DDR2 SDRAM could not save it from what's the lowest mark we've seen with our upgraded GCN/Alterion tests (the OptiPlex GX620 was more than twice as fast). In fact, the dc7600 was slower than some dual-core notebooks we recently tested using the same application-based tests.The dc7600 Ultraslim resembles a laptop in other ways'and not just because of its form factor. To be sure, the dc7600 takes up almost no desktop space when lying flat. And it comes with a stand so it can be mounted vertically. It also has an integrated Trusted Platform Module 1.2 for securing this highly mobile desktop in the event someone walks off with it under their arm.To further reduce clutter, it has an internal speaker that sounds fairly good when combined with the Realtek High Definition Audio drivers. This eliminates the need for speakers for most applications and further reduces the dc7600's standard footprint. Moreover, our test system came with an 80GB SATA hard drive and a 48X/32X CDRW/DVD-ROM combo drive, which is a notebook-class optical unit.So it was no surprise to us that the dc7600 consumed the least amount of power when idle (though not by a lot) of any desktop we've tested, using only 83 watts. And when we measured its power consumption opening applications, the dc7600 needed an impressively low 312 watts (the Dell, by comparison, consumed 380 watts).So what we have here, with the low government price of $947, is the desktop equivalent of a Toyota Tercel. It doesn't cost much upfront and is energy-efficient. If your primary concern is power efficiency or space savings, the dc7600 Ultraslim is a good choice.But we can't get past the fact that our test system was a performance laggard. We'd rather pay a little more for superior application-crunching and similar, if not the same, efficiency. In fact, we'd rather a whole different Compaq dc7600 model. Last fall we reviewed a standard dc7600 workstation with a dual-core processor. That system earned a GCN Reviewer's Choice award [, GCN.com/602].

GCN Lab Review

Performance: C

Features: C+

Value: B-

Power efficiency: A

Price: $947


Reviewer's comments: Definitely an energy-efficient system, but not so energy-efficient that we can overlook its performance issues.


Contact: Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif.,(800) 888-0261, www.hp.com

Hewlett-Packard Compaq dc7600 Ultraslim













GCN.com

NEXT STORY: When you can't avoid the crash

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.