Cost of running a computer or laptop

Erosgirl

Once I sign in to the Internet I am on there hours. Can anyone give me an idea how much an hour on average the electricity cost is to run a computer or laptop?

Lakeuk

My PC is currently drawing 120watt per hour which if I was to leave it on 24/7 would cost £9 per month in electric

greenbee

Laptops use less than desktops. The manufacturer's website should have details of energy use in different modes to give you an idea - although it does depend on what you're doing when it's on.

When you aren't using it, shut down and switch off at the mains. If you can't do this, then try to hibernate, as this is the lowest power mode. Switch on peripherals (e.g. printers) only as and when you need to use them. All this will help to keep the energy consumption down.

Electron_2

Approx cost for electricity is 1.5 pence per hour.

totalsolutions

Dont worry about it., please, ohh come on.

Those are very close to my calcs. Laptop has a 18.5v psu and draws 2.7amps 18.5x2.7=49.95 watts. Transformer not 100% efficient so round it up a bit higher.

1000 watts = 12p (guess)
1000/50 = 20 hrs

20hrs / 12p = 1.66666666 pence per hour. devils work.

esbo

In general the bigger the computer the more power uses.
The parts which tend to consume energy are the screen, the hard drives, the CPU
and the graphics card. The bigger and faster such things are the more they consume
(when in use). I think a typical monitor will use 100 watts and the rest of the comp
about 120 watts so thats about 10p every 4 hours in all.

Well worth it IMO, afterall what else can you get for 10p for 4 hours ?

M4RKM

esbo wrote: »

I think a typical monitor will use 100 watts and the rest of the comp about 120 watts so thats about 10p every 4 hours in all.

I think your sums are spot on there.. my iMac, (which is a computer and a monitor built into one) uses at the MAXIMUM, 280W, and a normal computer, probably has a smaller screen, say a 20" screen, you probably get to a figure of around 200W - 220W...

esbo

markymoo wrote: »

I think your sums are spot on there.. my iMac, (which is a computer and a monitor built into one) uses at the MAXIMUM, 280W, and a normal computer, probably has a smaller screen, say a 20" screen, you probably get to a figure of around 200W - 220W...

When I got my new flat panel monitor I though it would use less power less than my old CRT monitor, however as the flat panel monitors have got bigger and brighter I think it uses a fair bit more. I guess a big bright screen uses more power.
Actually I have just had a look as the power consumption of some LCD monitors at PC World and it seems 50 watts maybe a more usual figure. However I seem to remember seeing a figure of 100 watts in the manual for my monitor but I can't find that at the moment so I can't check it. But it does seem that figure of 100 watts is too high. Maybe it was that LCD monitor used to use a lot less then 50 watts but now use that much as they have got a lot brighter.

[edit]
Although this one seems to use 120 watts, so maybe the 100 watts was right after all.
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/crt-monitor/aoc-ht751/
"Energy Star" indeed :rolleyes:

LadyMorticia

Wow. Laptops and Desktops use a lot less electricity than I thought they did.

I'm not complaining.

xx

culpepper

laptops are supposed to be better for low energy consumption as they are supposedly portable and need to be able to run independantly of the mains when charged up.

[Deleted User]

The consumption on my monitor is a maximum of 110w, which would take into account any usb devices being powered, however it's reported that 'normal' operation is about 60w.

You can get inexpensive meters that you can plug inbetween an item and the socket and it will display exactly how much is being drawn, so you can work out exactly how much it will cost you. You might be surprised at what appliance in your house is the worst offender