PC Power usage

[arthurleung]

What about getting a new Mac Mini? They are supposed to be superb at efficiency? Plus i can run windows on it if need be?

Current usage shows up around 250-270

Thanks

Perhaps you can list the spec of every component? And are you measuring the power usage of the computer with the monitor and speaker? Very hard to imagine onboard graphics and X3 CPU can draw 250-270. Some larger monitors can draw 100W or more, and nice speakers can draw 50W even at minimum volume. Add on to the low PSU efficiency (assumed) then 250W looks about right.

Or there is a possibility your meter is faulty. You can test the meter by measuring the power usage of a desk lamp. The power rating is on the lamp itself so you can compare how far it is off.

Before you shell out money to buy a new system think about the economical benefit, otherwise you are just itching your finger on the buy button to buy new gadgets and try to "justify" yourself for the purchase.

If you just need to receive email perhaps you should buy a smartphone and use that to receive email. Connected to the internet via 3G or home Wifi and pull email say every minute, and use less than 2W.

[kmac]

Before you shell out money to buy a new system think about the economical benefit, otherwise you are just itching your finger on the buy button to buy new gadgets and try to "justify" yourself for the purchase.

Nothing wrong with that

If you just need to receive email perhaps you should buy a smartphone and use that to receive email. Connected to the internet via 3G or home Wifi and pull email say every minute, and use less than 2W.

Or a Blackberry

[golwg]

TFT on all the time, PC on all day long. Over 200w according to monitor i have from energy company.

[arthurleung]

TBH power consumption is not a problem, especially in winter. I use computer as heating and my heating bill is reduced by 20% while my electricity bill go up by 20% (both about the same price)

My systems:
WS1: 200W Idle, 300W Max
WS2: 120W Idle, 200W Max
HTPC: 50W Idle, 100W Max
Mobile WS: 20W Idle, 40W Max

Monitor can't remember clearly but I think it is 80W
Projector is 200W on ECO mode, 250W on normal

[sadbuttrue]

When testing PSUs last year I found one of them registering 310watts power consumption for my old PC from a wall meter. However, the OWL I have connected to the mains registered it correctly at ~80watts. The PSU in question functioned perfectly for weeks, so I can only assume some kind of issue with the wall meter and PSU. Everything else it measures is in line with the OWL.

[lego batman]

Get an SSD so that you wont mind switching it off when you are done, since it will be quicker to start up again!

[Time Bandit]

How about PWM fans or a fan controller? It all helps.