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[goodcow]

Do power supplies draw whatever their max wattage is all the time, or is that simply a peak that it can go to?

i.e. does a 300w power supply always draw 300w an hour?

 

[Danj]

It's simply a peak that it can go up to. I'm using a 500W PSU at the moment, but I'm only using about 200W according to my UPS.

 

[Tarazet]

It's a capacity. How much it uses depends on the status of the hard drive(s), disk drive(s), CPU, fan, etc... if you're concerned about electricity bills, you can set your hard drive to turn off when it's not needed. My laptop has a software called Power4 Gear which can reduce the processor's power down to 25% to save energy, too.

 

[goodcow]

Well SOMETHING is sucking electricity like crazy in my apartment, this month's electric bill was insane.

I live in a 325 sq. foot studio, don't have cable so my tv is never on unless I'm playing a console, I have an LCD monitor that peaks out at 85w, I don't use an air conditioner, only an 80w Vornado fan, and have all flourescent bulbs.

It's either gotta be the computer (and admittedly all the external shit attached to it) or the old piece of shit fridge in there, in which case I may just have to buy my own, more energy efficent mini-fridge.

How can I tell how much power my whole computer power strip is using?

 

[NohWun]

Google "kill-a-watt".

 

[Tarazet]

Well SOMETHING is sucking electricity like crazy in my apartment, this month's electric bill was insane.

I live in a 325 sq. foot studio, don't have cable so my tv is never on unless I'm playing a console, I have an LCD monitor that peaks out at 85w, I don't use an air conditioner, only an 80w Vornado fan, and have all flourescent bulbs.

It's either gotta be the computer (and admittedly all the external shit attached to it) or the old piece of shit fridge in there, in which case I may just have to buy my own, more energy efficent mini-fridge.

How can I tell how much power my whole computer power strip is using?

Odds on it's the fridge. They're energy hogs even when they're working correctly.

 

[Barnimal]

and when they go haywire so does your electric bill.

 

[Danj]

Odds on it's the fridge. They're energy hogs even when they're working correctly.

He should buy a new fridge, like this one for example :lol

 

[Hooker]

The fridge for sure!!



Like already mentioned, the wattage on a PSU is the peak, something you'll never actually attain. As the different volt rails (12v / 9v / 5v etc.) all have their own peaks, and those peaks combined will be the total wattage advertised on your PSU.

And old fridges are known for their power hungry ways.


Also, turning your PC off when you're not using it should also help a bit.