PC Maitenance costs

[Eminence]

Hi I don't leave my PC on overnight, but I was wondering if there was a type of software that tells me how much power my PC is using, or anything in windows that would tell me, I know it's based on the Power supply but here are the specs of my two computers

HP: Vista Ultimate 64, Q6600 (stock), 9300LE, 4gb ram, idk about the power supply.

Dell: Pentium 4, Windows xp media center ed, 1gb ram, 8500GT.

someone told me my dell would only go 20 bucks a month, would laptops use less energy?

but my friends just leave their PCs on overnight for downloading and what not, but my dad wont let me, how much power costs would these PCs use if you guys have any idea thanks.

[Spikey00]

I assume your computer would perhaps use around 450W? IDK, it should be right on the back of your PSU (physically), or you could open the case and see the label on it. However, the maximum usage usually would be lower than the maximum power output your PSU supplies (along with the aging of the unit).

[Eminence]

Yes but is there any specifics? Do laptops take more power or equal amount or less? Is there a way I can monitor it, is what I'm asking.

[Spikey00]

"According to the Energy Savings Trust, laptops run on just a third of the energy used by a desktop PC which means that apart from the COsub>2 savings, you could save over £35 a year on electricity bills by making the switch."

A quick Google, so I assume laptops use less energy than towers. I don't know of any program that actually indicates how much energy you use... which is odd since there are applications for everything. =/

Just watch out for overheat.

[Eminence]

"According to the Energy Savings Trust, laptops run on just a third of the energy used by a desktop PC which means that apart from the COsub>2 savings, you could save over £35 a year on electricity bills by making the switch."

A quick Google, so I assume laptops use less energy than towers. I don't know of any program that actually indicates how much energy you use... which is odd since there are applications for everything. =/

Just watch out for overheat.

The laptop I'm running on overheats like crap and runs nothing without blowing up, however, the desktop I want to build I don't want a HUGE power supply, but I want to run a pretty good video card and a core i7, with a nvidia 250 probably, but I don't really know how much eg: 450 psu = 400 watts maybe? would charge monthly.

[IndependenT]

Im on a 400w psu and on a XFX 9800 GT. I just meet the minimum requirements with a intel duo 3.2 - 2gb corsair - 250gb WD HDD. My tower runs 24/7 and i've been doing it for years and years and my dad hasn't complained at all. Leaving your system on wont give you a large energy bill, depending on how many people are in the house and where you live, ect ect. There are PSU out there now which are green efficient so.....

If you want a 250, go look for your brand of choice: XFX, BFG, PNY, ect...and look at the minimum PSU specs and go from there. Lets say you need a 500w for a 250 under XFX requirements. Go with a 550 or w/e just to be safe.


Yes but is there any specifics? Do laptops take more power or equal amount or less? Is there a way I can monitor it, is what I'm asking.

I dont think so...

[divito]

The only way to do what you're proposing is to calculate your max wattage based on your PSU, and convert it to kwh.

Then, you should be able to find the rates of your hydro company online and do the math to figure out what it would cost a month. Most hydro companies even have an appliance calculator to see potential costs.

[Bossi]

Google for Power Meter or Watt Meter. Those are plug-in measuring devices that can calculate the exact power usage.

[Eminence]

Ok so I guess I can use those programs to measure the watt usage, do some math (lol), and then show how much power it takes, but I'm not allowed to leave it on overnight, so I'll just do it by hours and add the hours manually if I were to leave it on overnight, perhaps I could do it hourly.

[CHIZZ]

It shouldn't be that much either way.

I moved in with my grandma so I could be closer to school and her bills only went up $10 per month and thats including water and electricity.

My pc is on about 8-12 hours a day usually if im on it or not and i shower at least once everyday so unless its just cheap here id say the price difference would not be alot.

I cant sleept with my pc on either, the LEDs are annoying. I need almost 100% blackness to sleep unless im really tired. =/ just a random statement

[Eminence]

It shouldn't be that much either way.

I moved in with my grandma so I could be closer to school and her bills only went up $10 per month and thats including water and electricity.

My pc is on about 8-12 hours a day usually if im on it or not and i shower at least once everyday so unless its just cheap here id say the price difference would not be alot.

I cant sleept with my pc on either, the LEDs are annoying. I need almost 100% blackness to sleep unless im really tired. =/ just a random statement

I need darkness to sleep too, but the PC LEDs don't bother me, it's more of the noise (I need it to be quiet too unless I'm tired) but where do you live? I live in socal.

[Eminence]

So there is no software I can download? Would it have to be watt meter or power meter?

[Bossi]

So there is no software I can download? Would it have to be watt meter or power meter?

Why not google both and read what information comes up?! ;)

[tehfox]

i may be wrong. but im pretty sure that turning ur computer off and on all the time actually hurts ur computer more. last longer if u just keep it on. could save money in the long run. probably doesn't use hardly anything if its on idle.

[Eminence]

i may be wrong. but im pretty sure that turning ur computer off and on all the time actually hurts ur computer more. last longer if u just keep it on. could save money in the long run. probably doesn't use hardly anything if its on idle.

If it were up to mee I'd just use sleep/hibernate (for vista and xp) but the LED turns orange so my father still thinks the computer is on, it's very hard convincing him to do anything really. =/