9 Ways to Reduce Power Consumption on Your Windows Server

If your Windows server consumes a lot of power even when idle, it may be due to misconfigured settings and mismanaged components. This not only increases your electricity costs, but also has a negative impact on the server's hardware components, as they have to be put under unnecessary strain. This can ultimately lead to suboptimal performance over time.

Fortunately, you can significantly reduce unnecessary power consumption by implementing power saving strategies, adjusting settings, and efficiently managing the components of your Windows Server.

9 Manage power options

Adjust Windows Server power settings for optimal power usage

First, you should take advantage of Windows Server's built-in power saving settings. Like Windows 10 or 11, Windows Server also has a dedicated one Energy options Setting that allows you to choose a power plan according to your server needs. Windows offers three power plans for servers: Balanced, High performance, And Energy saver.

The default setting is Balanced, but you can also set the setting to Energy Saver. You can also create a customized power plan according to your server needs to reduce excessive power consumption. To manage power options, launch the Control panel and switch to Energy options.

Additionally, you can adjust the Processor Power Management (PPM) settings to manage the CPU power state. To do this, start the Group Policy Editor and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management. Below you will find all of your server's power settings.

PPM not only reduces power consumption, but also reduces heat generation, which can lead to further energy savings through lower cooling costs.

8 Disable unnecessary services and roles

Reduce CPU load

Windows servers can be set up for various dedicated tasks such as: B. File storage management, centralized network management, virtual machines and more. However, servers generally run a number of background services and processes that may not be essential to their core functionality.

By disabling unnecessary services and roles for the server, you can reduce resource consumption and therefore power consumption. To do this, open the Server manager and identify the roles that are not essential to your Windows server's job. These can include print spoolers, diagnostics, and other network roles. Disable these roles to reduce CPU cycles and energy consumption.

7 Use energy-efficient hardware

Choose the right processor, RAM, storage drive and other hardware

A good way to reduce the overall power consumption of Windows Server is to install energy-efficient hardware components. However, it can be difficult to find a powerful component that also uses less power. By carefully selecting and investing in the right components, you can achieve the right balance.

The processor is the most important component as it contributes significantly to the overall energy consumption. Install processors with a low Thermal Design Point (TDP) that still meets your performance goal. The latest generation processors, developed in collaboration with Microsoft, follow cooperative power management techniques for efficient energy use.

Next comes RAM, whose power consumption depends on the memory technology, ECC (Error Correction Code) capability, bus frequency, capacity and density. If you plan to install a lot of RAM, compare performance specs.

When it comes to storage drives, avoid rotating disk drives (HDDs) and go for modern SSDs as they have no moving parts for reading and writing. Rotating old hard drives increases power consumption. If you want to use only rotary drives, choose drives with a low speed (revolutions per minute).

6 Schedule server tasks during off-peak hours

Distribute the power load more evenly

A smart way to minimize power consumption is to schedule power-intensive server tasks during off-hours. This reduces the load on the server during peak times and ensures that power-hungry processes such as backups and updates only run when they are needed most.

You can also set these tasks to run at night or on weekends when fewer users are accessing the server. The tasks can be scheduled with the Task planner Function of your Windows server.

5 Consolidate workloads using virtualization

Use the Hyper-V feature

Virtualization is a great way to integrate multiple roles on fewer physical servers, reducing the number of active devices and thereby reducing power consumption. Windows Server has the built-in feature Hyper V Feature that allows you to create virtual machines. You must enable this feature as it is disabled by default on the server. To install a Hyper-V role, use a Server Manager or an install command via Windows PowerShell.

4 Optimize the cooling system

Get an energy efficient fan

An optimized cooling system ensures that the temperature is under control to achieve the best performance from the server and also that excessive cooling is not required. This ultimately results in less power being required for cooling.

Instead of air conditioning, you can also spend good money Variable speed fans. A variable speed fan can automatically adjust its speed based on system load. This way, there is no unnecessary waste of energy when the system is idle or under relatively low load. Liquid cooling is another energy-efficient option, but it is more expensive than traditional methods.

Another important point is maintaining proper air circulation to prevent hot air from recirculating around the server. Therefore, ensure that server racks are spaced generously for ventilation.

Control your server remotely to reduce power consumption

Remotely managing a server is not only convenient, but can also help reduce power consumption. Windows Server tools like Windows Admin Center or PowerShell can be used to control the server without requiring physical access. This reduces the need for display output and other peripherals, further reducing energy consumption.

Remotely managing your server also allows you to shut down, reboot, or put the server into a sleep mode when not in use, providing more flexibility in controlling power consumption.

2 Update firmware and drivers regularly

Updates make the hardware more efficient

Updating firmware and drivers is more important on Windows Server than on regular Windows 10 or 11 operating systems. This is because a server typically has a lot more external hardware connected to it and drivers need to be up to date for optimal performance. Updates can also introduce the latest power-saving optimizations to make the hardware as efficient as possible.

Visit the manufacturer's website to download the latest drivers for your Windows server. Make sure you download and install compatible drivers.

1 Reduce display power consumption

Turn off inactive monitors

Windows Server is generally monitored through multiple display monitors. However, not every monitor is always actively needed. So turning off or dimming monitors when not in use can reduce overall power consumption. You can also set the monitor to automatically go to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity.

Smartly manage energy consumption on your Windows server

Optimizing your Windows server for low power consumption is not only cost-effective but also extends the life of your hardware components. In addition, it will also contribute to a greener IT environment. By applying power saving settings, optimizing your hardware components, and adjusting Windows Server's operating strategy, you can easily reduce power consumption without compromising performance.