Should I upgrade in the name of energy savings?

[jasong]

I've been wanting to save up for a quad-core for a while now. Unfortunately, since I also want to take a college class in September, and because of my income, the potential for that is far, FAR into the future. If I bought a new machine right now, that would be a lot of energy, and my air-conditioner isn't great.

What I'm seriously considering doing is spending $200-$400 on an X2 and motherboard, switching it out with a slower processor and MB in one of my machines, then kicking both the one I took out and another cpu/MB combo to the curb, keeping the case. The reason for this possibility is nowadays you can get significantly more processing per watt, but if I want to both go to college and buy a quad-core, I'm going to be wasting energy for a fairly long time. If I buy a new processor, my output will stay the same, but I'll feel better about what I'm doing, or not doing, to the planet.

Opinions?

[Fozzie]

for Christ's sake just make a decision and buy something and spare us all this never ending waffle. :swear:

[em99010pepe]

or send me the money!

Carlos

[LAURENU2]

or send me the money!

Carlos
You forgot to tell where to send it:bonk:

[em99010pepe]

You forgot to tell where to send it:bonk:

To my bank account. PM sent with the IBAN number!!!:rotfl:

[AETiglathPZ]

"then kicking both the one I took out and another cpu/MB combo to the curb, keeping the case."

Now that would be bad for the environment. Tossing out the old stuff would add to the already growing e-waste problem in landfills. I hope your planning on e-baying(if good) or recycling(if ancient) the old junk? Wouldn't want a poor rat choking on a cap or something.:harhar:

[LAURENU2]

To my bank account. PM sent with the IBAN number!!!:rotfl:

:jester: < Ok sent 10,000 hope thats enough > :jester:

[jasong]

Do any of you base your computer buying, even a little bit, on concerns about the envirornment? I don't pay for electricity, and I'm really not sure at all how my carbon emissions compare to other people's. I don't drive, but I do get driven to my job, and I like to spend time with my friend Kenny, who owns a truck.

I remember once hearing someone say that they weren't interested in driving "golf carts," like they do in Europe. Considering the fact that most trips only involve transporting 1-2 human beings and very little else(maybe a wallet or a purse), why the hell DON'T people in the US want to drive "golf carts?" Especially if they can come up with a cheap one.