PC power usage?

[DaRuSsIaMaN]

Ok so my roommate claims that PC's use very little electricity when they're on. Is this true? I know that you waste more electricity by turning the comp on and off in a short time, but isn't it still more energy efficient to turn the comp off if it's not going to be used for, say 7 or 8 hours? He always leaves it on when he goes to work.

 

[Addis]

I don't see a point in leaving it on if its doing nothing (downloading or other processing is an exception). Depending on the hardware they can consume quite a lot of power so its better to leave it off if its going to be for long periods.

 

[megamaced]

And bare in mind that the computer is still consuming power even when it's turned off!

The only way to completely turn it off is to switch off the mains

 

[DaRuSsIaMaN]

And bare in mind that the computer is still consuming power even when it's turned off!

Yeah I've heard of that before.

But, Mega, you agree with Addis?

 

[megamaced]

Yes I do

And besides, I get paranoid that the CPU/PSU/Case fans will stop working when I am out :D

 

[DaRuSsIaMaN]

hehe okay.

The only way to completely turn it off is to switch off the mains

Do you actually do that?

 

[Big B]

Mega's right in the fact that there is a power drain from anything left plugged in, even if not powered on. It'll use some power, very little, but some will be used.

 

[megamaced]

Do you actually do that?

No I don't! :)

But I am not the bill payer in my flat :D

 

[Karanislove]

[ot]

But I am not the bill payer in my flat

Lucky one! In my flat, I share the electric bill and it is usually more than 140$ /m or more.....
[/ot]

 

[DaRuSsIaMaN]

Yeah, lucky you haha. My roommate who made that claim about computer electricity doesn't contribute anything to the electricity bill cuz he lives in the livingroom of our 2-bedroom apt., so the 2 of us who have the bedrooms pay more. So he doesn't concern himself with electricity too much but I do! lol.