How much power am I using?

[Eureka]

I know there are PSU calculators on the net, but is there a program or method to actually figure out how much power my computer is drawing (without having to buy anything)? Is there a program that charts your power usage over time?

 

[nickbits]

No. Buy a Kill-A-Watt.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Originally posted by: nickbits
No. Buy a Kill-A-Watt.

That won't work either. There is no telling how accurate it will be, and of course since that measures AC power, and you won't know your PSU's efficiency, then you won't know the DC power.

You would have to do something like Xbit labs did...build a rig with shunt reisistors or something that can measure current and something that can measure voltage. Then multiply your current by your voltage.