Computer usage vrs Electricity Bill

SeantheMan

Hello all

My mam keeps at me that the ESB bill is goin up 15% or something, not sure what it is...and that i'll have to curb my PC usage

Does anyone actually know the "average" say percent of the total electricity within a household that a standard PC would use ?

Basically i need some technical jargon to slap her in the head with as an excuse so i can stay on here longer

i.e. " Me being on the computer uses less electricity than you doing the ironing and watching telly" or something :P

I also think it'd be interesting to see what Home PC's are adding to the electricity bills..

Anyone know ?:rolleyes: Pls,,,,,,my cpu time is at stake here

Mr Mojo

Try this Link. It'll answer your question!!!

ethernet

Modern desktops can use quite a lot of power. 1kW PSUs are becoming more popular with demanding graphics cards.

You could get a device to measure the power consumption of your PC and work out how much it's costing.

I don't use my desktop as much since getting a laptop. Last ESB bill was close to €100 less than usual -- 450 W PSU versus 85 W.

Jonathan

ethernet wrote: »

Modern desktops can use quite a lot of power. 1kW PSUs are becoming more popular with demanding graphics cards.

You could get a device to measure the power consumption of your PC and work out how much it's costing.

I don't use my desktop as much since getting a laptop. Last ESB bill was close to €100 less than usual -- 450 W PSU versus 85 W.

Unless you run demanding apps/gfx continously or donate to SETI@home, your psu is not gonna be drawing 450W constantly. Neither is your lappy gonna be drawing 85W.

Tails142

A standard computer can use about 150 watts at idle, up to 300 watts running a game. A computer with two high end graphics cards in SLI/Xfire will use up to 500 watts.

A standard LCD monitor consume 50W.

SO lets say when you're playing on your PC you're using 350W, lets infact say 500W for simplicity, assuming you have a light on, internet connection, maybe a printer turned on.

A KWhour is the amount of energy you will use running 1000Watts for an hour. A KWh in Ireland costs from 13cent to 14cent depening what tariff your on.

So, you using your PC uses half a KW (500W=0.5KW). So in an hour you use half a KWh or in otherwords 7 cents worth of electricuty. What a rip off!!!

Jonathan

Here is datasheets for relatively new dell pc and monitor.
Here and Here

SolarNexus

anyone know where you can get one of those usage meter things? I'd love to know what all my stuff is costing us

Jonathan

With any decent multimeter and basic physics knowledge you can do it yourself.

calex71

well OP if mammy is paying the bill it really doesnt what we tell you on here does it:D

Overheal

either way, you should practice some good common sense and tweak your power management settings in the control panel.

ethernet

jmccrohan wrote: »

Unless you run demanding apps/gfx continously or donate to SETI@home, your psu is not gonna be drawing 450W constantly. Neither is your lappy gonna be drawing 85W.

I realise that. P4 desktop -- need I say any more? No need for additional heating :pac:

Jonathan

ethernet wrote: »

I realise that. P4 desktop -- need I say any more? No need for additional heating :pac:

Only thing worse than than is two of them.. Oh no.. Wait.. They are just pentium D's :pac:

zilog_jones

Some research I did regarding this a few months ago: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055251509

I don't know how much a newer/high-end/multiple graphics cards will increase things.