More eco friendly to get a new lower watt CPU, or keep using the current one?

[Rationale]

If a CPU right now takes 95w, would it be more environmentally friendly to keep using it and not upgrade, or to buy a new 45w CPU?

 

[hdshatter]

It will only draw that much power on full load. Turn on intels power saving features and call it good. The performance you will lose going to a 45 watt is not worth it at all.

If you want to find out how much power its actually using check out this:
https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-power-gadget-20

 

[robo7425]

It depends on the payback period. You'd have to figure out the amount of power you'd save X the per K Watt charge the power company charges x the number of hours the PC is used. Once you have the payback period, only you can decide that.

 

[Rationale]

It will only draw that much power on full load. Turn on intels power saving features and call it good. The performance you will lose going to a 45 watt is not worth it at all.

If you want to find out how much power its actually using check out this:
https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-power-gadget-20

I wouldn't actually lose performance going down to 45w, it'd increase. :3
I currently use an older AMD CPU.
Is there anything like that power calculating thing for AMD? :s

 

[Rationale]

It depends on the payback period. You'd have to figure out the amount of power you'd save X the per K Watt charge the power company charges x the number of hours the PC is used. Once you have the payback period, only you can decide that.

I see... I'll have to find that out.