| Desktop Energy Consumption ; A Comparison of Thin Clients and PCs
Prepared For Wyse Technology Inc., September 2001
Overview
Over the past ten years, PCs have become an essential part of business. People need computers to do their jobs, plain and simple. However, computing has evolved since the creation of the personal computer, and businesses now have the option of turning to PC-alternative devices such as thin clients to deliver business-class computing at a fraction of the cost. Thin-client devices provide businesses with cost saving opportunities that are difficult or impossible to measure in the traditional PC environment. The purpose of this paper is to quantify one such cost: the cost of energy consumption of business desktop devices. Energy consumption is a major concern for businesses and the global population as a whole, and an important part of a bigger IT concern called total cost of ownership. This paper will illustrate the significant cost difference between personal computers and thin clients, and the possible financial benefits for businesses.
This study covers: - Power consumption and total cost of ownership
- Server-based computing and thin clients
- PCs versus thin clients: power consumption results
- Implications for power savings
Conclusion
Based on the results of this study, it is clear that thin-client devices are more energy-efficient than personal computers, with some models using 85 percent less power than their PC rivals in real world environments. This energy efficiency translates into significant, measurable cost savings for businesses both in the short term and the long term, whether an organization is using dozens, hundreds or thousands of desktop devices. Finally, the ability to deploy desktop devices with integrated liquid crystal displays (LCDs) affords businesses an even greater opportunity to reduce the energy consumption of their IT environment.
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