PC Power Penny Pinching... switch off completely at night..?

RainbowsInTheSpray

Interesting. You think that a complete shutdown for ten hours would save only 1.37p max..? I certainly won't be risking my back for that, as you say.

poppellerant

If you're serious about penny pinching, how about lowering the CPU voltage if the BIOS allows you to do so?

Here is a video with more information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b3JUiK1aWU

John_Gray

Leaving your PC on all night will make a tiny contribution to heating your house.

The same applies to all the other devices you leave in stand-by mode overnight.

droopsnoot

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

Thanks to all but I'm not sure what's being said. My PC seems to be totally dead and soundless when shut down - no different from when the plug's disconnected from the mains. Is it actually drawing power and if so for what purpose?

I got hold of a power monitor and was surprised to see that my PC (a Dell Optiplex 7010 MT), when shut down and showing no outwards signs of life, is actually drawing 12w. I now switch it off on the socket, but it's a tiny amount of power when you work out the cost of it. Most of the things I've tested with this meter just prove how little energy stuff uses, but as it's no inconvenience for me to switch off at the wall, I do.

victor2

droopsnoot said:

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

Thanks to all but I'm not sure what's being said. My PC seems to be totally dead and soundless when shut down - no different from when the plug's disconnected from the mains. Is it actually drawing power and if so for what purpose?

I got hold of a power monitor and was surprised to see that my PC (a Dell Optiplex 7010 MT), when shut down and showing no outwards signs of life, is actually drawing 12w. I now switch it off on the socket, but it's a tiny amount of power when you work out the cost of it. Most of the things I've tested with this meter just prove how little energy stuff uses, but as it's no inconvenience for me to switch off at the wall, I do.

I don't know about that particular model, but many PCs can still power the USB ports when switched off. It is usually an option in the BIOS settings. If still powered, then obviously whatever is plugged into the USB port(s) will also continue to be powered. Maybe that accounts for much of the 12W?

B0bbyEwing

I had mine plugged in to a meter - as well as everything else on the adapter. Network switch, second land-line, speakers and monitor. 
When pc is set to sleep the whole lot used very very little. Not enough to excite me and I'm tight. 

Though why do some unplug as well as turning off? Is it a surge thing or some other reason? 

droopsnoot

victor2 said:

droopsnoot said:

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

Thanks to all but I'm not sure what's being said. My PC seems to be totally dead and soundless when shut down - no different from when the plug's disconnected from the mains. Is it actually drawing power and if so for what purpose?

I got hold of a power monitor and was surprised to see that my PC (a Dell Optiplex 7010 MT), when shut down and showing no outwards signs of life, is actually drawing 12w. I now switch it off on the socket, but it's a tiny amount of power when you work out the cost of it. Most of the things I've tested with this meter just prove how little energy stuff uses, but as it's no inconvenience for me to switch off at the wall, I do.

I don't know about that particular model, but many PCs can still power the USB ports when switched off. It is usually an option in the BIOS settings. If still powered, then obviously whatever is plugged into the USB port(s) will also continue to be powered. Maybe that accounts for much of the 12W?

I believe that's switched off, but it might explain it. I also looked at the "wake on LAN" and "wake on USB" settings as they need to have power in order to operate, but they were definitely set to "off". It's no big deal, though it did surprise me that it was so high, but not enough to research any further than a four-way extension with individual switches.

[Deleted User]

googler said:

You can get plug-in power monitors which will tell you how much juice an applicance is using. £10 - £12 from Amazon. 

Can use this for other appliances as well as the PC.

Why would you spend £10-12 to discover that the PC uses 3 watts in sleep mode. 

If it is in sleep mode for 12 hours per day it will take 2 years to pay back the plug in power monitor.

https://uk.pcmag.com/editors-choice/3226/dell-optiplex-755#:~:text=The OptiPlex 755 we tested,save a lot of power.

RainbowsInTheSpray

Very grateful for that link. It seems conclusive there's not much of a saving to be made by doing a mains switch off.