PC and electricity bill

[killians45]

It doesn't consume a bunch, how much are you talking as far as rise in prices?

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

I remember a year or so ago in an article somewheres that even though a computer or piece of electronic equipment may be in stand by or off it could easily and still does take up some power. Like a radio, you are basicaly putting it into standby when you hit the power button, but it will use the same ammount of power just sitting there "off". Now a computer on the other hand is a different story, you may put it into standby or shut down, it will use some power still, more if just going into standby because it still monitors everything for activity. It just don't have a heavy load on it, where while your gaming it could easily use tons of electricity, last time I checked we paid $700 for our power bill.

 

[TheMajor]

My computer uses (idle) about 120-125 watts stock settings.

E6300
7600GT

It uses about 145 watts at my current clock speeds.

I added 3 hard disks, so let's say it is currently using about 160 watts (idle)

Electricity costs about $ 0.27 per KwH over here (including all sorts of taxes).

24 x 0.160 x 365 = 1402 KwH

1402 x 0.27 = $ 378,54 per year.

I use the computer about 16 hours per day. That would be $ 252 per year. A little more because it is not always idle, and a little less because I don't use it 365 days.
When turned off, the PSU uses about 3 watts.

My MMX server is running 24/7, using about 65 watts. It costs $ 153 dollars year.

 

[Ethereal_Dragon]

Admittidly, I know very little about electricity itself, aside from sticking my tongue on a 9v battery.... zzzzttt.

Anyways, what type of euipment is needed to measure electrical stats on a PC at the plug, such as voltage/wattage/amperage when it is idle/running 100%... Is there a simple way of using a small volt-meter, or do you need a specific piece of hardware?

 

[TheMajor]

Admittidly, I know very little about electricity itself, aside from sticking my tongue on a 9v battery.... zzzzttt.

Anyways, what type of euipment is needed to measure electrical stats on a PC at the plug, such as voltage/wattage/amperage when it is idle/running 100%... Is there a simple way of using a small volt-meter, or do you need a specific piece of hardware?

I have one of these (watt meter).
Conrad Electronic - System Information[1]=uk_insert&cookie_v[1]=U4&cookie_d[1]=&cookie_p[1]=%2f&cookie_e[1]=Fri%2c+15-Jun-2007+21%3a31%3a18+GMT&cookie_n[2]=uk_hk_cookie&cookie_v[2]=WW2&cookie_d[2]=&cookie_p[2]=%2f&cookie_e[2]=Fri%2c+15-Jun-2007+21%3a31%3a18+GMT&scrwidth=1152

 

[Ethereal_Dragon]

What is the model #? That link gives me a shopping cart error.

 

[TheMajor]

What is the model #? That link gives me a shopping cart error.

Part no.: 125319 - 62

Or search for Energy Check 3000.

 

[Nitestick]

you need a watt meter that plugs between your power cable and the wall. that will give you total power consumption, though not what is actually being used by the system as there is wasted energy.

 

[TheMajor]

If your PSU has 80% efficiency, it will use 120 watts if your system only needs 100 watts.