3 ms·

In short, yes. Exactly (well minus a few used to spin fans and hard drives). Here's one source from a quick search: https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/article

In short, yes. Exactly (well minus a few used to spin fans and hard drives). Here's one source from a quick search: https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Gaming-PC-vs-Space-Heater-Efficiency-511/ https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Gaming-PC-vs-Spac... I remember seeing a paper referenced here once explaining why that energy loss is actually necessary, but I don't seem to have it saved anymore.

manwe150 5y ago
By a paper, do you mean the laws of thermodynamics? The fans also eventually also dissipate their energy as heat when they push air around. There is an alternative heater design though for the same power, which is a heat pump (the same as an AC, run in reverse), which can be much more efficient at heating (down to -5F outside, or so, when they may freeze over and stop working entirely)
divbzero 5y ago
> I remember seeing a paper referenced here once explaining why that energy loss is actually necessary, but I don't seem to have it saved anymore. Taking a stab at explaining the energy loss… When computing you are reducing local entropy (e.g. achieving a certain pattern of electric charges in chips and a certain pattern of pixels on the screen) while still increasing global entropy (the second law of thermodynamic). Heat dissipation from the local system to its surroundings accounts for the difference. This is analogous to Schrodinger’s description of life where life forms increase the entropy of their surroundings to maintain their own low entropy.
LeifCarrotson 5y ago
The spinning fans use energy to move air, a (slightly) viscous fluid, which eventually encounters turbulence and friction and turns its kinetic energy into heat. Similar to discs that use energy to overcome friction in bearings and generate noise, which is a kinetic energy in the form of vibrations that also eventually dissipates into heat.

manwe150 5y ago

By a paper, do you mean the laws of thermodynamics? The fans also eventually also dissipate their energy as heat when they push air around. There is an alternative heater design though for the same power, which is a heat pump (the same as an AC, run in reverse), which can be much more efficient at heating (down to -5F outside, or so, when they may freeze over and stop working entirely)

divbzero 5y ago

> I remember seeing a paper referenced here once explaining why that energy loss is actually necessary, but I don't seem to have it saved anymore. Taking a stab at explaining the energy loss… When computing you are reducing local entropy (e.g. achieving a certain pattern of electric charges in chips and a certain pattern of pixels on the screen) while still increasing global entropy (the second law of thermodynamic). Heat dissipation from the local system to its surroundings accounts for the difference. This is analogous to Schrodinger’s description of life where life forms increase the entropy of their surroundings to maintain their own low entropy.

LeifCarrotson 5y ago

The spinning fans use energy to move air, a (slightly) viscous fluid, which eventually encounters turbulence and friction and turns its kinetic energy into heat. Similar to discs that use energy to overcome friction in bearings and generate noise, which is a kinetic energy in the form of vibrations that also eventually dissipates into heat.