Estimate your server's idle power consumption by selecting components. Plan your build before you buy.
The main processor affects idle power significantly
Intel N100
Ultra low power, 6W TDP
4W idle
6W peak
Intel N305
Low power, 15W TDP
6W idle
15W peak
Intel Core i3 (12th Gen)
Desktop efficiency core
8W idle
60W peak
Intel Core i5 (12th Gen)
Mid-range desktop
12W idle
117W peak
Intel Core i7 (12th Gen)
High-performance desktop
15W idle
180W peak
Intel Xeon E-2300
Entry server CPU
20W idle
95W peak
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
Efficient desktop APU
10W idle
65W peak
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Performance desktop APU
Raspberry Pi 5
ARM SBC
2.5W idle
12W peak
Apple M1
Efficient ARM desktop
3W idle
20W peak
Apple M2
22W peak
* Single selection - click again to deselect
Each RAM stick adds small but consistent power draw
HDDs use more power than SSDs; NVMe is most efficient
Discrete GPUs add significant idle power
NICs and add-in cards contribute to power draw
Fans and cooling solutions use power
USB devices and peripherals add up
Idle Power
3.0W
Includes ~3W base overhead
Peak Power
6W
Efficiency Rating
Everything you need to know about building a low-power N100-based server
Build an energy-efficient NAS for 24/7 file storage