Boredom & a Kill-A-Watt

[PCTC2]

The Rig In My Sig.... Q6600 @ 3.0GHz, 4GB DDR2-1066, 8800GTS G92 512MB, 2x 500GB HDD, SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum, and 2x Optical Drives, 10 fans, cold cathode ray tube, and some temp monitors

I used a Kill-A-Watt on it and apparently it draws 250-260W idle, and 350-450W load. The CCFL uses 10W. The load difference is between just CPU load and full system load (running 3DM06 & F@H).

I NEED A NEW PSU. I am often near 440W (playing COD4 while running F@H) and I only have a 500W PSU...

BTW... Kill-A-Watts are fun.

 

[0roo0roo]

no you don't need a new psu. the pull from the wall is not what is being delivered to the components, remember, the psu is 80% efficient max and likely worse. psu rating is for delivery of power, not what it sucks from the wall. so your psu is delivering 352watts to your system while drawing 440, well within the 500 watt rating.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: PCTC2
The Rig In My Sig.... Q6600 @ 3.0GHz, 4GB DDR2-1066, 8800GTS G92 512MB, 2x 500GB HDD, SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum, and 2x Optical Drives, 10 fans, cold cathode ray tube, and some temp monitors

I used a Kill-A-Watt on it and apparently it draws 250-260W idle, and 350-450W load. The CCFL uses 10W. The load difference is between just CPU load and full system load (running 3DM06 & F@H).

I NEED A NEW PSU. I am often near 440W (playing COD4 while running F@H) and I only have a 500W PSU...

BTW... Kill-A-Watts are fun.

Does your PSU have APFC? If so the PF will be .99-1.00. If not the PF will be around .55-.70! Switch to VA once and see what you're drawing. If you're folding drawing that continuously your power supply life will be greatly shortened - especially if it's not a great power supply.

 

[bob4432]

bumping an old thread because i was surprised that the cable box never turns off. even if just the clock is on the display, it is drawing 20-23W all the time. what a waste of energy......

 

[Modelworks]

Just keep in mind that the Kill-a-watt is not accurate when comparing small differences.
Using it to compare one supply using 7W to another using 8W is not going to give accurate results.
It should only be used to give ballpark numbers.
It is especially poor at measuring inductive loads.
I wouldn't use it to compare usage except when it was a fairly large difference.
Like between 10W and 25W.

Also the Kill-a-watt will often not count surges or quick spikes in usage due to its slow sampling rate.

Found this out when it was compared to a 1800.00 fluke meter.

 

[bob4432]

that is why a lot of "~" 🙂