I also have the guts of my old desktop PC.
The CPU is an AMD FX8350 4Ghz(https://www.amd.com/en/products/cpu/fx-8350).
The motherboard is some ASUS model, I forget and don't want to check right now.
A potential PSU would be 500-600W range.
My question:
I am considering moving to use my old PC parts as a new home server. One benefit is to cut down on the noise (rack mount PC fans are LOUD). But the real gain I would want is on power savings.
So, if RAM and the multiple HDDs all stay the same, but I moved them to the AMD/ASUS CPU/motherboard, can anyone definitively say this will be more power-efficient?
I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to electrics or power consumption, and am just looking for someone to confirm for me.
I am aware that the AMD CPU still isn't an excellent choice for an always-on machine, but it could be an improvement.
You are right that this is the true way to tell, but I don't own one, and the "new" PC is not set up at all. I would have to tear apart the old and build the new to be able to test the new one.