Gaming

How Much Electricity Does A Gaming Computer Use? (2021)

[Ecis2023]

If you’re in the market for a new gaming computer, then you should know that it uses more electricity than most other gadgets in your household. Unlike most gadgets with low energy usage, gaming computers are designed to use more power in order to meet the demands of how quickly graphics change during gaming sessions.

You are reading: How Much Electricity Does A Gaming Computer Use? (2021)

In this article, MedCPU will explore How Much Electricity Does a Gaming Computer Use? and how to reduce the power consumption of your gaming PC? Read on our guide to find out more.

How Much Electricity Does Your PC Consume?

There is no one answer for how much electricity a computer consumes.

Your average desktop computer will consume between 65 to 250 watts.

A laptop will use significantly less power than a desktop, at approximately 15 to 60 Watts.

There are a few factors that can influence this range. These factors will be discussed in the article.

Even if you leave your computer powered on, if it is put into sleep or standby mode, it will consume very little electricity, especially when compared to electricity consumption in the rest of the house.

How Much Electricity Does Your PC Consume (1)

It is possible to save much more electricity by taking care of your heating, cooling, and lighting. Instead of worrying about whether your computer is still on overnight, it will use a lot of electricity, leading to high electricity bills.

Even though you may use your computer quite a lot, your overall energy consumption is usually not significant compared to the rest of your home’s use.

Although your computer isn’t using much power in the grand scheme, it would be foolish to let it go to waste.

My recommendation is that your computer automatically goes to sleep when it is not being used. It will automatically go to sleep after about 15 minutes of inactivity. This will keep your computer powered up and ready for you if you need it.

How can you find out how much energy your PC uses?

The average mentioned above won’t necessarily apply to your computer. It isn’t easy to estimate the actual energy consumption of a gaming computer if it is based on standard specifications. Here’s how to find out your PC’s actual energy consumption.

You need to realize that you will not be just looking at your CPU. Your video cards and any other components that consume energy (basically everything) will be examined.

Many online calculators can calculate your computer’s electrical consumption. These calculators ask you for information about the specifications of your components. The calculator will work more accurately if you provide more information.

A power meter is another way to determine your computer’s power consumption. The power meter is connected to a wall outlet. After that, plug your computer into the meter.

This will give you an indication of your PC’s power consumption, as long as you are not running any apps or games. If your computer is only surfing the Web, you won’t accurately read your power consumption.

What factors influence how much power a computer uses?

Your computer’s components and your actual use of it are the main factors that determine how much power you get.

Components

An expensive gaming laptop with top-of-the-line components will use more electricity than a simple laptop with integrated graphics and a low-power CPU.

How to Use Your Computer?

You may not use all of the 750W power that your computer has, even though it is powerful.

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Most likely, your computer will have power-saving features that reduce energy consumption when idle or perform basic tasks such as web browsing that don’t require much power.

For example, if you’re mining Bitcoins, you’ll use more electricity than someone just browsing the internet or writing a document. Even though the computer is used for the same amount of hours each day.

Do You Need to Keep Your Computer On All Time?

It is safe to leave a computer on at all times, especially considering the quality control checks for components.

Many believe it’s better not to turn your computer on when it isn’t being used. The frequent startup and shutdowns can affect the components and decrease their lifespan.

This could be an excellent example of how leaving the computer on constantly can impact the wear and tear of the components.

Do you need to leave your computer on?

It all comes down to how frequently you use it.

It is best to keep it on if you use it several times per day or every day.

It is a good idea to turn your computer off when you’re done using it.

It is less stressful to leave a computer on constantly than turning it on and off several times per day. However, there is still constant stress.

Every time your computer turns on, you will feel a slight surge of power. This is because all the components get into action. Even though it is small, this surge can reduce your computer’s life expectancy.

Many people will argue that the idea of startup and shutdown causing stress is obsolete due to the modern components in computers. Here are some other reasons to either keep your computer on or turn it off.

What are the various power modes for PCs?

We’ll show you how to lower the power consumption of your gaming computer. Let’s first discuss the two options you have to reduce power consumption: Hibernate and Sleep.

The Sleep mode puts your computer in a low power state and suspends certain operations. It reduces power consumption for the display, storage, and peripherals.

Your computer uses the RAM to keep open browsers, games, and documents open to avoid losing any.

Hibernate works similarly, but it cuts power to the RAM. It uses storage to save the data in the RAM of the computer.

The PC acts as though you have turned it off. It still remembers what it was doing before it entered Hibernate mode.

Given the similarities, when should you use each mode?

When you need to take a break from your computer, Sleep mode is better. If you need to take a rest for the night, Hibernate is an option.

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Some tips to reduce the power consumption of your gaming PC

Some tips to reduce the power consumption of your gaming PC

There are many ways to lower the electricity consumption of your gaming computer. These are five things you can do to reduce your electricity bill.

Unplug external devices

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Did you know that external devices that are plugged in can add to your power consumption? It’s quite funny that these external devices can still consume power even when they’re not being used.

The standby hard drive doesn’t get completely shut down, so power is still flowing through it. It’s best to unplug your hard drive, printer, and speakers every once in a while.

Select a monitor that consumes less power

If you are still using CRT monitors, a new monitor may be necessary. It’s better to switch to LCD screens than to keep these power-eaters. LCD screens are far more efficient. A 17-inch LCD screen uses only 30 watts maximum, while a CRT screen with the same size consumes 100 watts. This is a huge difference!

Maximize your Sleep

You can also maximize the Sleep or Hibernate options on your computer. It can be counterproductive to saving electricity by turning it off and on again after an hour. It’s better to leave your computer to Sleep if you are only going out for a short time. Most of the components will still be working.

Exit programs that run in the background

Although this is an old tip, it’s astonishing how many people forget about it. This tip is simple: Stop using programs you don’t use. It takes a lot of energy to have many programs running in the background, mainly if they use power. When you go to the Task Manager, you will see which programs they are.

Upgrade your hardware

You wouldn’t usually think upgrading will make you more money, as you’ll have to spend money instead of saving. But, long-term, energy-efficient devices can help you save money in terms of efficiency as well as maintenance.

If you have an older CPU in your home that has been around for five years or more, you may want to consider replacing it. Modern CPUs can deliver better performance and less energy.

Read also: How to Build the Perfect Gaming Laptop Setup? 2021

FAQs

FAQs about a gaming computer's power consumption

Is it a good idea to just unplug my computer when not in use?

The idea of just unplugging your computer when not in use is a good idea, as long as you remember to plug it back in when you need it.

Generally, it’s best to plug in your computer when you first turn it on and whenever it goes to sleep, and to unplug it when you first switch it off and at other times that the power goes out.

Does it matter what kind of power supply I get for my gaming computer?

It is very important what type of power supply one gets for their gaming computer. If you are not careful, your computer could become unstable and fail, causing a lot of unnecessary stress.

There are many different types of power supplies for computers, but it is crucial to find the best fit for your specific needs. The type of power supply that best suits your computer will depend on the power requirements of your computer components.

Should I buy a power supply with higher wattage or higher amperage?

Power supplies come in two different styles: those with high wattage and those with high amperage. People often debate whether it is better to buy a power supply with higher wattage or higher amperage.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both. High wattage power supplies can be cheaper, but they usually consume more energy and produce more heat. On the other hand, high amperage power supplies require less energy and produce less heat, but they cost more.

Conclusion

Now you know the answer to how much electricity does a gaming computer use. When trying to reduce the power consumption of their computer, the most important thing they can do is to understand how much power their computer actually uses and prioritize which devices need to be on and which ones can be turned off.

If you keep the above guidelines in mind, you will find that your PC’s energy consumption will be significantly reduced without sacrificing too much of its performance.

Thanks for reading. I hope this post was useful for you. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Source: ecis2016.org
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Source: https://ecis2016.org
Category: Gaming

Debora Berti

Università degli Studi di Firenze, IT

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