Energy Consumption when Vista "Sleeps"

[wwswimming]

what happens to the computer when you leave it
in "Sleep" mode instead of turning it off (power-
consumption-wise) ?

these are the specs for my Vista machine -

motherboard - intel 975XBX2
CPU - intel E6850
graphics - eVGA 8600GT (don't laugh)
Hard Drive - Seagate 320
Power Supply - Antec Phantom 350 (no fans)

the Heat Sink is a Noctua NH-U12.

OS - Vista Ultimate 32.

 

[MetaDFF]

If your computer enters the S3 sleep state (i.e. HDD powers down, computer fans and PSU fans shut down) then the only power consumed is the power needed to refresh the RAM (S3 is also known as "suspend to ram").

If you really wanted to find out what the power consumption is, you could always pick up a Kill-A-Watt meter and make a measurement.

 

[0roo0roo]

yup kill a watt
if no fans turn off really then its not going into s3. in that case it uses almost as much power as being on, a really lame state. going into hibernation and ur just basically off power.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.amazon.com/P3-Inter...-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU kill a watt 20 bucks

 

[frostedflakes]

Power consumption should be 3-5w in S3 sleep.

 

[wwswimming]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
http://www.amazon.com/P3-Inter...-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU kill a watt 20 bucks

it's good to know where to get a Kill a Watt (is that
basically a current meter ?)

it's not free shipping though, you have to spend $25+
or join "Amazon Prime" for $79.

 

[JackMDS]

Here to make you happy.

$20.98 Shipped, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16882715001

Yeah it is a current meter that compute for you the Wattage.

Just in case you want to compute your self.

W = I x V I.e. Watt=Ampere x Volt.

Volt is the 110VAC that caome out of the wall.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: frostedflakes
Power consumption should be 3-5w in S3 sleep.

How do you know this?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: frostedflakes
Power consumption should be 3-5w in S3 sleep.

How do you know this?

This is a theoretical number that can be inferred from what Mobos doing S3 Sleep stage.
In reality, it really needs to be measured since Cases and peripheral might contribute to the Electrical usage during sleep and each system the saving on the computer's sleep might be very small as compare to the whole system/Network that keep running.

However, the real question to be asked is what is the real gain from keeping the system On.

In most cases is more of a social Macho rather there any functional addition to the use of the computer.

Hey, Dude/Doudette my putters are running 24/7, Cool?

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: frostedflakes
Power consumption should be 3-5w in S3 sleep.

How do you know this?

kill-a-watt
esp with laptops...suspend brings down the wattage to almost nothin


but as said, if any fans still goin, ur suckin down a whole lot more

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
However, the real question to be asked is what is the real gain from keeping the system On.

In most cases is more of a social Macho rather there any functional addition to the use of the computer.

Hey, Dude/Doucette my putters are running 24/7, Cool?

I personally don't do it, but I would think that in this case, with Vista being the OS, it might be to avoid the initial SuperFetching/indexing (and accompanying disk thrashing noises) that would result from turning the machine on from a cold stop.