Computer electricity consumption

[Muse]

Originally posted by: plastick
okay i hope this is the right friggin forum for this..

I was wondering if the average computer consumes more electricity when left on all the time as apposed to when its being turned on and off after its done being used.

Im asking because Im moving to an apartment where i have to pay for my electricity so i want the bill to be cheap. Plus its good common knowledge..

I have an athlon 64 bit cpu vnf3 mobo with a gforce 4 video card and i usually use it for internet and word processing and photoshopping and play games like starcraft (So thats what i demand from my pc).

any info?

No brainer. When on, my computer uses around 140 watts. If I'm using my CRT, closer to 200 watts. When you shut it off, it uses either no watts or maybe 5 depending on whether or not it's plugged in. Myself, I always turn off the main power strip when I turn off my computer equipment. This drops power consumption to zero and has no negative consequences. The computer has an internal battery. Turning on your computer doesn't consume more than anything else. Keep it off when not using it for any reasonable length of time (say, an hour) and you will save money.

I keep some of my components on power strips that are plugged into my main power strip (which is a fancy surge protector). Components that I only use occasionally are plugged into one of these auxiliary power strips, which are generally off. On those are things like my printer, my external modem, my scanner, most of which have wall warts, which continually draw power even when the units plugged into them are off. I save around 25 watts right there even when computing.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: bluestrobe

Originally posted by: vegetation

Originally posted by: Calin
I know that while heating, a incandescent bulb consumes more power than when running at its normal temperature. Should I let the lights on all the time or should I just turn it off when not needed?

Also, switch to compact fluorescent lights to really save on electric bill. The ROI on CF's are way up there.

I almost lost my house due to 3 of those lights. Don't use them unless you have a constant, steady voltage and you can check on them every day. Caught one dripping melting plastic onto the carpet just seconds from turning into a flame.

You're talking about a compact flourescent? Causing a fire? Never heard of that before. Anyone have any links to info on this? That's a very serious allegation. I've got them all over the house and I'm concerned. A couple I leave on 24/7. The others, as needed.

I think the voltages are pretty stable in my vicinity, but that's the kind of thing you can never depend on. One time I had a serious voltage drop for a few minutes, but I can't imagine that to be a problem here. To my knowledge, there aren't excessive voltages, but what do I know? I don't think I've ever measured over 122 volts here, though.