I've been thinking about building a new rig for a while, but one thing that has me concerned - other than the initial outlay for a high-end system - is the ongoing costs of the electricity. Say you have a Core i7 processor, a high end GPU and a 24 inch monitor...how much does all this cost to run? So, let us know - how much is your electricity bill? Is it something that concerns you? Do you budget how much time you use your system for? Thanks!
If you can afford a high end pc you should be able to afford the power bill to run it. that being said I turn mine off whenever its not being used. No point in having it cost money if its no in use. Thats like letting your car idle all night long in case you decide to go for a drive at 3am...
Well put it this way, 100W draw 24 hours a day at 15p a KWh is about £300 a year so times that by wattage and divide that by usage. (So a 400W system running 3 hrs a day is 300x4/8 = £150 a year)
well your all going to hate me but my power is included in my rent soo i don't get a powerbill per say
If you really want to know, you need to use a Kill-A-Watt (or similar electricity monitor). Plug that in for your computer and it'll log your power usage over a certain period.
In Quebec electricity is virtually free compared to most places, as we use hydro and sell a large part (I said "We" as it's nationalized). So, the 4 and a half apartment that I live in with 1 laptop, the computer you see on my signature which runs pretty much 24/7, and my mother computer. We do eat at home, we have 27inch CRT TV, and we pay about 24$ Canadian (after our 13% tax) on average per month for everything. That is about 160 pounds per year (288$ Canadian) My point is that it's subjective to where you live. And also consider that the Power Supply of your computer consumes what your computer needs. so getting a 1000W one doesn't mean it will consume 1000W every hour. When your computer is idle, even with a high end GPU, it doesn't consume much. More than a laptop, yes, but not far from when under heavy load. And playing games, doesn't mean "heavy load" either.
One other thing to consider: all the energy the PC consumes gets vented as heat. My PC makes a very nice 300 watt room heater - I've only had to turn on the thermostat twice. (Once when it got down to 0 F, and the other when I was sick)
Sweet jebus I'm moving to Quebec! When I was in Nova Scotia my apartment with me and my ex was about 30$ a month. that was my pc, her laptop, tv, stove, fridge, other apartment stuff. Here in alberta, same people, same stuff, 60 a month. I knew some people in Grande Prairie who got bills for close to 300 a month.
That is also the case, unfotunately it's 25 degrees outside (nothing I know) and my bedroom is at the top of a three storey house. I really don't sleep well in hot temperatures.
with the heater/comps/air conditioning.. we've had around $250 month here- half that if we go without the heater/ac.. cali is just expensive to live in
The Electricity Bill in my House is around £180 a Month. Thats with 2 Home Cinema Systems running most days for a few hours (800w and 1000w) 3 HDTV's, PS3, 360, Bunch of Network Stuff, PC in my sig, and basic appliances.
I have a two bedroom flat, between me and my flatmate we use about £60 of elec a month averaged over the year... ...which is mostly me.
No you don't. The hidden secret is that we are one the most taxed region in the world, and we are still in great lack of funds for about every governmental services.