[stonogo]

It's perfectly viable in the UK. The Optiplex 7050 is available for under a hundred pounds and the PSU tops out at 65W. It idles under eight watts. This is comparable with any other router capable of handling gigabit traffic.

I think the misunderstanding is the assumption about form factor. The 7050 series is available in a case the size of a paperback book.

[alias_neo]

I'm willing to accept your point if you or they, can confirm that they are in fact talking about an optiplex that idles at 8W, which I doubt, for 43 dollars.

Despite DELLs willingness to slap the same series number on everything from an ATX tower to a "paperback book", they are far from the same thing.

I'm willing to accept I may be wrong, so let's see.

[stonogo]

Here you go. https://i.dell.com/sites/csdocuments/Shared-Content_data-She...

First page, the one on the right. I don't see why you'd doubt an 8-watt idle, since it's basically a laptop processor and chipset. Please note that these models are available with both 35W and 65W TDP processors; I'm talking about the (generally cheaper) 35W models, of course.

[alias_neo]

I hear you. But we're crossing wires here.

I doubt the original poster is talking about the small "book" sides micro form factor at ~$40.

I expect that one to cost at least double, if not more (a quick eBay search outs the micro form factor at closer to a £200 average), and the tower form factor, with it's 240W PSU is likely to be drawing much more than ~8W in a typical configuration.

My point stands; if you want to spend £35 on an x86 machine, youll pay in electricity costs, spend ~£200+ and overall youll likely save money overall if it lasts a decent period.

[abwizz]

power consumption is a strong point. there are a lot of old desktops that idle >10W but there also are some (not as old typically) that go below.

if you want to be sure, use an old (skylake and above) laptop and give it a usb3-eth plug. my latitude e7470 idles at around 3W (powertop)

[ccmcarey]

Where do you see those being available for under 100gbp!?

[stonogo]

Available in plenty of second hand computer vendors: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225601831181