Quite true, as my 'net power cost' for my 19 systems is $36.78 CAD per month (= $35.62 USD per month, at today's exchange rate). This is my 'electricity cost' (= $209.03 CAD per month) minus my 'savings on Natural Gas heating costs' (= $172.25 CAD per month). I live in a relatively cool (some would say cold) climate, so our main cost is Natural Gas for heating in the Winter. Nobody here (at least, nobody that I know or have heard of) has air conditioning for cooling in the Summer, because it is not necessary.Wrish wrote:I tried to GPU fold, but I realized it was a huge power draw. The hardware outlay expenses might be lower than for a CPU system, but over the year following, electric costs far outweigh that. Of course, if you pay a very different amount for electricity, the equation could change.
This is also not a 'true' comparison for the 'high-end GPU' systems, as my power cost includes quite a few systems that are designed to be sold to the 'average' user (I am an OEM of custom-built computers), and these systems are drawing power while contributing relatively little to my Folding@Home points scores.
If I limited my calculations to only the 'high-end GPU in a low-end CPU/Motherboard' type of systems, my 'net power cost' may even turn out to be negative.
Best regards,
Art