Power consumption: PC vs Console

[DarkStarZA]

I want one of those plugs! Where would I be able to get one?

added the link under "these" in my previous post, but here it is again.

http://www.geewiz.co.za/gadgets/6171...att&results=75

Might find something similar on bid-or-buy also

[Avatar]

This is not taking things like power factor into account that reduces efficiency, but it's close enough.

Fantastic post! Just one note, in South Africa we pay per kW used, which excludes the power factor. If we were to pay by kVa, it would include the power factor. Like you said, measuring the current and multiplying with the voltage will give us the power used with the power factor in kVA. Typically the power factor is something like 0.95, so it's a very small change, and I just want to emphasize that ignoring it will give you a slightly conservative estimate, i.e. you'll estimate about 5% more power used than you actually are using.

Well this thread helped the time to pass (excuse the pun) while on the bog, so thanks chaps!

My machine is practically on 24/7. Plex tv + new born = watching episodes at funky hours. When my machine is just idling I think it uses something like 200w (don't know if that's per second or what. I base this off the pull I see on my UPS software) and under load its around 650w.

Wattage is measured instantaneously, and a Watt is defined as energy used per time unit, typically Joules per second. In your case, your machine is using 200 Joules per second. To calculate usage in rands, take the time idling in hours (for example 16 hours) and multiply it by your power draw, 200 W, to give you 16 * 200 = 3200 Wh. Do the same for under load power, so 8 hours (unless I'm severely underestimating the little one's routine!) * 650 = 5200 Wh. Add the two together: 3200 + 5200 = 8400 Wh, or 8.4 kWh. Multiply this by your municipal rate, for example R1.20 per kWh, and you'll have 8.4 * 1.2 = R 10.08 per day to run your PC.

[Lothy]

Fantastic post! Just one note, in South Africa we pay per kW used, which excludes the power factor. If we were to pay by kVa, it would include the power factor. Like you said, measuring the current and multiplying with the voltage will give us the power used with the power factor in kVA. Typically the power factor is something like 0.95, so it's a very small change, and I just want to emphasize that ignoring it will give you a slightly conservative estimate, i.e. you'll estimate about 5% more power used than you actually are using.



Wattage is measured instantaneously, and a Watt is defined as energy used per time unit, typically Joules per second. In your case, your machine is using 200 Joules per second. To calculate usage in rands, take the time idling in hours (for example 16 hours) and multiply it by your power draw, 200 W, to give you 16 * 200 = 3200 Wh. Do the same for under load power, so 8 hours (unless I'm severely underestimating the little one's routine!) * 650 = 5200 Wh. Add the two together: 3200 + 5200 = 8400 Wh, or 8.4 kWh. Multiply this by your municipal rate, for example R1.20 per kWh, and you'll have 8.4 * 1.2 = R 10.08 per day to run your PC.

U sir have made me smile! what a great way of explaining it! It also brings it into perspective, with the little one sleeping through now (he is 4months now) its probably a good time to start shutting down my machine or I need to move my downloads to my laptop and at least that can stay on overnight.

I was checking out http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stor...20approval.pdf and u not far off the amount! Its about R1.2 kWh. Sheesh so on average im paying around R300 p/m to keep my machine on.

[Avatar]

U sir have made me smile! what a great way of explaining it! It also brings it into perspective, with the little one sleeping through now (he is 4months now) its probably a good time to start shutting down my machine or I need to move my downloads to my laptop and at least that can stay on overnight.

I was checking out http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stor...20approval.pdf and u not far off the amount! Its about R1.2 kWh. Sheesh so on average im paying around R300 p/m to keep my machine on.

Glad I could help! Shifting all the 24/7 stuff to a laptop definitely will help, I've got my media centre/download rig running on an old Dell that was donated by a friend, since it's monitor and keyboard died in a spillage accident. Now if only I could figure out an efficient way of putting steam downloads on there as well...

[Lothy]

Glad I could help! Shifting all the 24/7 stuff to a laptop definitely will help, I've got my media centre/download rig running on an old Dell that was donated by a friend, since it's monitor and keyboard died in a spillage accident. Now if only I could figure out an efficient way of putting steam downloads on there as well...

Ye the wife has an old laptop that I need to resurrect and turn that into my media centre/ downloader. Having my machine on was convenient, but not practical

[XbatousaiX]

Just use earphones if you want to save power,every time I turn on my amp eskom starts loadshedding.

[Blazzok]

So I bought the plug that is mentioned earlier in this thread and it has been quite interesting, thought I should update with what I have found so far.

My PC draws between 410 and 420W at full tilt (includes screens) and 150W at idle with screens on, and 90W at idle with screens off. General use it sits at about 230W or so.

I have a 40" LCD TV and a 6.2 sound system, combined they draw only about 130W, with the TV using 80 of those. I was really surprised that the sound system only uses 50W, going up a little bit as the volume goes up, but not by much. So what I said in my earlier post is wrong, very wrong, and now I feel bad. So much for assumptions.

A PVR decoder only uses 18W, a fridge light uses 17W and my kettle uses ~1800W.

So yeah, to get back the topic of the thread, PS4 would win, especially since the sound system impact is not as great as I thought. However, it does depend on what game you play. I imagine a PS4 would use all/most of its resources during gaming. I have found that with older games/less demanding games, my PC only uses 230 to 260W, which is really not that bad (this includes both screens as well which use about 60W).

[BeoTeK]

So I bought the plug that is mentioned earlier in this thread and it has been quite interesting, thought I should update with what I have found so far.

My PC draws between 410 and 420W at full tilt (includes screens) and 150W at idle with screens on, and 90W at idle with screens off. General use it sits at about 230W or so.

I have a 40" LCD TV and a 6.2 sound system, combined they draw only about 130W, with the TV using 80 of those. I was really surprised that the sound system only uses 50W, going up a little bit as the volume goes up, but not by much. So what I said in my earlier post is wrong, very wrong, and now I feel bad. So much for assumptions.

A PVR decoder only uses 18W, a fridge light uses 17W and my kettle uses ~1800W.

So yeah, to get back the topic of the thread, PS4 would win, especially since the sound system impact is not as great as I thought. However, it does depend on what game you play. I imagine a PS4 would use all/most of its resources during gaming. I have found that with older games/less demanding games, my PC only uses 230 to 260W, which is really not that bad (this includes both screens as well which use about 60W).

Very interesting and thanks for updating and going our of your way to find out. Much obliged!

[Mash]

i really thought some of the appliances here control the power they use , those watts aren't they like maximum capacity/usage,
well this makes you think about those days you dose off to sleep while gaming or downloading ...even a movie

PC uses a lot of power but can sustain those extreme usages,
I wouldn't advice treating a laptop like a PC unless maybe you have coolers to prevent battery damage,
consoles yes they are efficient because they are supercomputers with only one specific function.

but anyways if one gets time and enough money ill try to go green on my electrical appliances.