How much current does your computer use?

[Maxxarcade]

I was wondering if anyone else has done this with a typical home PC.

I was doing some testing to see what uses the most power in my home (need to save money during expensive winter months). I decided to check my computer since I use it a lot. I was actually considering moving to a flat panel display until I did this.

I used a variac with a built in amp meter, and was surprised to see my computer uses less than 2 amps at idle. I was expecting at least 5-8 amps. Basic system specs-

Vantec Stealth 520W power supply
AMD Athlon 64 3700+
1GB RAM
4 hard drives
DVD-ROM
DVD-RW
Soundblaster Audigy Platinum
21" Sun trinitron monitor
Altec Lansing ACS56 speakers
A couple small USB devices

The monitor states 4 Amps on the tag, and the power supply on the computer states 10 Amps. These must be peak cold-boot values. If everything on my PC was using the actual current that was listed on each device, it would be equal to an average electric heater

I already changed out my light bulbs to the small flourescent ones, got new windows, HVAC, insulation, etc., but I'd still like to keep costs as low as possible. It's mainly the cost of the natural gas that's killing me. At least I know my computer is not the power hungry beast I thought it was.

Maybe I'll re-test using my digital multimeter in case the analog meter on the variac is not accurate.

[gonzo0815]

Re: How much current does your computer use?

My rig is using abouth 160w @full load (CPU&GFX), 69w to 78w in idl (C&Q enabled)

My system
it is abouth 0,69A @230v. I messured it with a cheap power monitor, but it is roughly accurate for this purpose. Powerfactor is ablouth 93, not that grate for A-PFC.
Fur non A-PFC or psu`s w/o PFC there is a substantial amount of blindpower, e.g. you will mesure a lot more of power than in A than your system relay uses.

Your rig should not need that mutch more power, so i think roughly 160 to 200w would be the number to go for (at full load).

[Maxxarcade]

Re: How much current does your computer use?

Makes sense if you have .69A at 230v, I had about 1.7A at 120v, or approx. 200W. Not bad for 4 hard drives and a 21" monitor.

For a while I was worried that it was costing too much to keep my 3 servers running 24/7, but since they are headless they should only use about 60-70W each. My Clarkconnect box is a Compaq DL360 w/ dual PIII 1.13Ghz, and that box has PFC in it. The other two are just cheap cases with crappy power supplies and no PFC.

[999999999]

Re: How much current does your computer use?

You are not making sense to me. If it's the cost of natural gas that's killing you, the difference in cost of electric heat (that produced by your computer, every last watt of that is heating your home in the winter) offsets it.

It's summertime when computer power costs the most.

[willawake]

Re: How much current does your computer use?

i think other things than computer are using more power like central heating, shower, kitchen items.

and arc welder if you have one

please resurrect this thread though to post pics of your DL360

[gonzo0815]

Re: How much current does your computer use?

An not forget the lightbulbs. I personally have some fluorescent lamps with elektronic ballast in my working room. Paired wit some Osram Biolight and some cheape aluminium raster cases it makes a decent ambient for pc work. But beware from the older 50 /60 hz flikering coil balast`s, it is no pleasure to work on crt with this.

[Per Hansson]

Re: How much current does your computer use?

DFI Expert
Opteron 170
nVidia 7900GT
1 Raptor 150gb
1 200gb Maxtor
1 optical drive
SB Live 2
Watercooling (12v pump, Laing DDC)
3 120mm fans
Seasonic S12 430w PSU, about 80% efficient

Reading 0.75ah at full load with F@H at 230.0v, this it with a digital mutimeter hooked up so all power goes through it...
I do not peak above 1.0ah even when I max my GFX card with Rthdribl...

I did peak 1.20ah when I had a friends ATI X1900XT in for testing...

To sum up: 1ah x 230v = 230w X 0.8 = 184w DC power delivered by the PSU...