Cost of a computer running 24/7?

saabcaptain

Member
Nov 21, 2001
31
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Just curious, not that for me it matters with my one computer...

To run a P4 2.4 desktop with a 19 inch CRT mointor 24/7 how much is the cost per day or month? Assume the mointor is on 30% of the time or even less.

Any ideas?

Thanks...
 

Overkiller

Platinum Member
Feb 22, 2003
2,461
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about $3/month i believe is the figure...the monitor is the largest cost so if it is on 30% or less then your fine..

Of course you could...

take the wattage of your PSU (say 400 watts)...assume that under full load it consumes theoretically only 300 (after all Dell's ship w/ 250-300Watt PSUs and run perfectly fine) watts...calculate the amount of kilowatts per day..times it by the cost per kilowatt...x the # of days per month..that will give you the price..
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
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Rough math:
Computer = 300 watts (it is likely using less; like about 80 watts, but some is lost as heat in the conversion process to DC, and lets error on the high side.)
Monitor = 200 watts (guess on actual wattage really.)

Computer Cost per day: 0.3 x 0.08 (8 cents per KWH. Very high, but assuming you live in CA) x 24 = 57 cents per day.
Monitor Cost per day: .2 x 0.08 x 6 ( 6 hours on time per day) = 10 cents per day

You can do your own math with your own prices. you can find your Kilowat/hour price on your electric bill. Here is the formula.

(total watts used / 1000) * (cost per kilowat hour in dollars) * (hours device is on) = how much in dollars per day.
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
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Originally posted by: saabcaptain
well using those numbers you are look at $15-20 a month. is it really that high? still ok...

to get an actuare number, you would have to measure the amperage that is going into your computer and monitor, then find out your exact KWH charge.
 

Hellburner

Senior Member <br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,214
5
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It varies but a box runs about ~90 watts, at 10¢/kWh it runs about $6/month/box. That's ~$(65kWh x electricity rate)/month/box.
 

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
People have measured before, and it works out to about 10-20 dollars a month depending on if you leave your monitor on


 

titanmiller

Platinum Member
Jan 5, 2003
2,123
2
81
But during the winter months it doesn?t really matter at all. All of the energy your computer is using is being turned into heat that your furnace (which isn?t 100% efficient like an electronic device) doesn?t have to produce.
However once you acquire enough computers that you have to use the AC in the winter you have a problem.
 

Overkiller

Platinum Member
Feb 22, 2003
2,461
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well not if u live in New england. jUst open up the window and bone-chilling 10 degree air flows in
 

BlackMountainCow

Diamond Member
May 28, 2003
5,759
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Originally posted by: titanmiller
However once you acquire enough computers that you have to use the AC in the winter you have a problem.

ROFL

But then u can save on the heating side, can't you?!
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
24,120
507
126
AFAIK a more moden system (XP/P4) will use about 120w without monitor ,here in the UK it works out to about £6/mth
 

TofBnT

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2003
1,838
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The power usage varies widely on a system, hard drive is one of the big pulls in a system, so if your hard drive isn't spinning, that is less power used. The best way to find out would be to hook up a meter to your system and measure. A fluke set on current inline with your power cord should be able to give you the total output.

Now, according to a study funded by "Thin Client Computing" (an organization that wants to take "pc's" out of the office environment and go back to terminal type clients with a central server for software and data access) A PC running uses betwwen 65 to 85 watts of power. Approximately mid 60s at idle with no applications or hard drive access, at the high end of the scale when fully in use. These numbers were collected from a 1.5 GHZ P4. The numbers for other systems are comparable with the avg difference being as little as 5 watts for as much as a 1 ghz difference. All bets are off if the CPU is OCed. This significantly increases the heat rate of the processor and completely throws these numbers out the window.

Here in VA, the rates are as high as 6.05 cents per kwh to as low as 3.20 cents per kwh. These rates vary based on time of year and total power usage by the customer. In the summer with high power usage the 6.05 rate applies, however in the winter with high power usage the 3.2 cent rate applies.

So, .1kwh * 24 hours = 2.4kwh per day
2.4 kwh * 30 days(avg length of months) = 72 kwhs per month.
figure that times the high end of the VA scale 72kwh * 6.05 cents =$4.36 / month
At the low end of the scale 72kwh * 3.20 cents = $2.30 / month

Overall the cost of the box itself running is negligible.

Sorry if it sounds like I am preaching, but wanted everyone to know where I got the info from. It makes it more understandable imho.

Cliff Notes.
Box = $2.30 to $4.36 per month.
 

JonB

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,126
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www.granburychristmaslights.com
But what about the cost of NOT running your computer 24/7 ??

Loss of prestige - worth a few dollars a month

Loss of friends - worth a few more dollars a month

Loss of ranking in your favorite DC project - Priceless

 

CADsortaGUY

Lifer
Oct 19, 2001
25,162
1
76
www.ShawCAD.com
~ 7amps = XP2400, XP1800, XP1600, celly700, and MP1000 and only 1 monitor(8hdds total). Plus 1 cisco 678 router, and one 8 port switch.
.84* $.06 = $.05/hour So it costs me ~$40/month for my computers. Hmm...best not let the wife find out about this Especially since there are 2 other computer running(on different circuits) plus one that is on part time.

CkG
 

Mitzi

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2001
3,775
1
76
Using TofBnT formula:

£8.928 a month (@ 12.44 pence/kwh)
£4.212 a month (@ 5.85 pence/kwh)

Not that bad I guess.
 

JWMiddleton

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2000
5,686
172
106
I have 9 computers at my house that run 24/7. Only 4 monitors are used due to 2 kvm switches. My electric bill for the past two months for a 3100 SF house has only been $105 each month. My wife is very bad about leaving lights on. If you only have one computer I sure would not worry about it.
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
24,120
507
126
Originally posted by: JonB
But what about the cost of NOT running your computer 24/7 ??

Loss of prestige - worth a few dollars a month

Loss of friends - worth a few more dollars a month

Loss of ranking in your favorite DC project - Priceless

bwahahaha! ,all good points!

Tim
Interesting ,so even at 2.5GHz there was only a 5w increase in power useage?

Mitzi
12p/kwh!,where did you get that?
I hope its not that much!:Q

When me & a mate of mine worked it out a couple of years ago ,for a 100w draw it added up to about £5/mth.
I took it up to £6/mth cos I was assuming my XP DDR rig would draw a little more power than a PIII rig(where the 100w came from)
 

Mitzi

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2001
3,775
1
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Originally posted by: Assimilator1

Mitzi
12p/kwh!,where did you get that?
I hope its not that much!:Q

When me & a mate of mine worked it out a couple of years ago ,for a 100w draw it added up to about £5/mth.
I took it up to £6/mth cos I was assuming my XP DDR rig would draw a little more power than a PIII rig(where the 100w came from)

Got my electricity statement through from British Gas this morning..it costs 12.xx pence for the first 200 odd kwh and then about 5.8 pence for any extra kwh.

We are on a token meter at home - the guy who lived in my house before me must've been a bad payer. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get an honest answer to whether electricity/gas is the same price or not regardless if you have a token meter or not - I have a feeling that its much cheaper if you don't have a token meter. I might just have to ring up Transco tonight and start the ball rolling and get rid of these meters for good.

How much is your electricity per kwh?
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
24,120
507
126
In general the token meters are more expensive than direct debit payments.

No idea about the cost now! ,I'll ask my landlady/friend latter(not GF)
Though I clearly remember when I spoke to my mate a few years ago it was nowhere near double figures ,might of been 4 & 8p.Though I'm sure its gone up a little now.
 

TofBnT

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2003
1,838
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Assimilator,
Yes, that is the data I found.
However, when I get a chance I will hook up a power meter and read mine then give it to Bryan and let him get a reading on his. I am running an XP1600 and he is running almost twice that system wise. Probably won't be for a while and only if someone wants accurate up to date readings. Takes a lot of time, something I have very little of
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
24,120
507
126
Yeah I'd be interested to know the power draw of a highend P4 or XP

At work we have an ammeter that works on inductive pickup (I think) ,its meant for DC to check alternator output ,..........I don't suppose it'll work for AC though?
 

TofBnT

Golden Member
Apr 28, 2003
1,838
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Might, but you would have to hook it up across only 1 line. You could possibly take an extension cord and split it then hook up across only 1 side.
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
24,120
507
126
Hmm,thinking about it ,a DC meter will just read 0 on an AC line ,the rapidly reversing current is too fast for the needle to keep up with,even on 1 wire
I just remembered though we have a Fluke meter at work that does AC too ,dunno what its current rating is though
 
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