BOSGAME M4 Plus Power Consumption: An In-Depth Analysis
Mini PCs have carved out a significant niche for enthusiasts and professionals seeking compact, capable, and energy-efficient computing. Whether you’re building a home server, a network-attached storage (NAS) system, or a lightweight desktop, power consumption is a critical factor. It directly impacts your electricity bill, heat output, and overall environmental footprint, especially for devices designed to run 24/7.
Today, we’re taking a close look at the power usage of the BOSGAME M4 Plus Mini PC, a compact device powered by the efficient Intel Processor N305. By measuring its energy draw in various real-world scenarios, we can determine just how suitable it is for always-on applications. All tests were conducted on a clean installation of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS to provide a clear baseline for Linux users.
Real-World Power Usage Scenarios
To understand the complete power profile of the M4 Plus, we measured its consumption during several common tasks, from idling on the desktop to being pushed to its absolute limits.
Idle Power Consumption
When a device is intended to be left on continuously, its idle power draw is perhaps the most important metric. This is the baseline energy it consumes while waiting for commands.
- At the desktop, sitting idle, the BOSGAME M4 Plus consumes an exceptionally low 4.6 Watts. This is a fantastic result, making it an ideal candidate for a home server or any application where the machine spends most of its time waiting for connections or scheduled tasks.
Web Browsing and Media Playback
A common use case for any desktop machine is browsing the web and consuming media. We tested this by playing a 4K video on YouTube, which engages both the CPU and the integrated GPU for decoding.
- While streaming a 4K YouTube video at 60 FPS, the power usage averaged around 12.3 Watts. This is still remarkably efficient, drawing less power than many common LED light bulbs while handling a demanding multimedia task with ease.
Under Maximum Load
To find the peak power consumption, we subjected the Intel N305 processor to a full stress test, pushing all cores to 100% utilization. This represents the absolute maximum power the device would draw under the most intensive computational workloads.
- Under full CPU stress, the BOSGAME M4 Plus peaked at just 16.4 Watts. This demonstrates the incredible efficiency of the Intel N305 architecture. Even when running at its limit, the device’s power draw remains minimal, ensuring it runs cool and quietly without demanding a heavy-duty power supply.
Standby and Off-State Consumption
Even when not actively in use, electronic devices can draw a small amount of power. Here’s how the M4 Plus fares in suspend and powered-off states.
- Suspend Mode: In suspend (sleep) mode, the system maintains the state of its RAM to allow for a quick resume. In this state, the device drew 1.1 Watts.
- Powered Off: When fully shut down but still plugged in, the M4 Plus exhibited a “vampire drain” of only 0.4 Watts. This is a negligible amount and is typical for modern electronics that need to listen for a power-on signal.
Key Takeaways and Final Verdict
The power consumption figures for the BOSGAME M4 Plus are nothing short of impressive. Here’s a summary of what these numbers mean for you:
- Exceptionally Energy Efficient: With an idle draw under 5 Watts and a peak load under 17 Watts, this Mini PC is one of the most efficient options available in its class.
- Perfect for 24/7 Operation: The ultra-low idle power makes it an outstanding choice for a home lab, personal cloud, Pi-hole, or lightweight NAS that needs to run continuously without inflating your energy costs.
- Cool and Quiet Performance: Low power consumption directly translates to less heat generation. This allows the M4 Plus to operate quietly and maintain stable performance without requiring a loud, high-RPM fan.
- Capable Yet Frugal: The Intel N305 processor proves that you don’t have to sacrifice basic performance for efficiency. It capably handles 4K media playback and general desktop tasks while sipping power.
For anyone looking to build an energy-conscious computing setup, the BOSGAME M4 Plus Mini PC offers a compelling combination of performance and low power draw that is hard to beat.
Actionable Tips to Maximize Power Efficiency
If you want to reduce power consumption even further on a Linux-based Mini PC, consider these steps:
- Use Power Management Tools: Install and run tools like
powertopto analyze and optimize system settings, such as enabling power-saving modes for USB devices and disk drives. - Choose a Lightweight Desktop Environment: If you use a graphical interface, opt for a less resource-intensive environment like XFCE or LXQt instead of more demanding ones like GNOME or KDE.
- Disable Unused Hardware: Access the BIOS/UEFI settings to disable any onboard components you don’t use, such as serial ports or unused audio controllers.
- Configure Sleep Settings: Adjust your system’s power settings to automatically enter suspend mode after a shorter period of inactivity.
Source: https://www.linuxlinks.com/bosgame-m4-plus-mini-pc-running-linux-power-consumption/
