How many amps does my PC use?

[Goosemaster]

Basically, can someone give me an estimate on how much current the average desktop PC uses.

I am guessing 3 amps at the extreme. My Shuttle XPC has a 200watt PS, so the max current would be 200watts/120v = ~1.67A , right?


Or am I looking at it wrong?




P.S. Actually I am watching Apollo 13 right now, and would like to know if I would be able to use the XPC minus the monitor for the Heat the CPU would create without going over the limit. I don;t think they used less than 20A-1.6=18.4A ....it looked like it was rreally close

 

[TitanDiddly]

Monitor = 150w, PC = whatever wattage your PSU is (peak) plus peripherals.

 

[Pepsi90919]

why don't you put an ammeter in series and find out then.

 

[Balt]

How many amps does my PC use?

More than you'll ever know.

 

[agnitrate]

The actual power used by your computer isn't a whole lot but that processor is drawing about 50 Amps or so.

-silver

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: agnitrate
The actual power used by your computer isn't a whole lot but that processor is drawing about 50 Amps or so.

-silver

True, but important to note that that's at extremely low voltage.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: agnitrate
The actual power used by your computer isn't a whole lot but that processor is drawing about 50 Amps or so.

-silver

ON MY! 50 #$%$# AMPS?!?

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox

Originally posted by: agnitrate
The actual power used by your computer isn't a whole lot but that processor is drawing about 50 Amps or so.

-silver

True, but important to note that that's at extremely low voltage.

I am familar with the low volatages( <1.5v ) but do not understad what that translates into.


Basically, the amount of force necessary( voltage) is low, but the AMOUNT of power(current) is great?

 

[HonkeyDonk]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: agnitrate
The actual power used by your computer isn't a whole lot but that processor is drawing about 50 Amps or so.

-silver

ON MY! 50 #$%$# AMPS?!?

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox

Originally posted by: agnitrate
The actual power used by your computer isn't a whole lot but that processor is drawing about 50 Amps or so.

-silver

True, but important to note that that's at extremely low voltage.

I am familar with the low volatages( <1.5v ) but do not understad what that translates into.


Basically, the amount of force necessary( voltage) is low, but the AMOUNT of power(current) is great?

Power isn't the same thing as current. In fact, Voltage, Current, and Power are all different.

Power = Voltage * Current, so if you have a low voltage core (~1.5v for CPUs typically), then your current will have to be higher if a lot of power is being used.