Power Usage

Lead Head · February 13th, 2007

Using my New Multimeter, I was able to check the amperage of AC current. One of the firsts things that came to mind was my Computer, to see how much power a decent powered OCed computer would draw

Results for my system

150 Watts during POST
118.75 Watts IDLE
192.5 Wats CPU LOAD
210 Watts GPU+CPU Load

166.32 Watts CS1.6

CS:S
- low - 172.88 watts
- avg - 182.7 watts
- high - 190.26 watts

Now, this is the power that the PSU was drawing from the AC mains, to find out how much power the PC parts are using themselves, Multiply those wattage rating by .74 (the average efficiency of my PSU). I plan to add to this list such as other hardware configs and other load conditions, (games, 3dmark, etc...)

*Hardware Logic is not responsible for any damage done that might result from trying to measure Amperage and or Wattage using other then a Kill-a-Watt meter*

pc_guy · February 13th, 2007

Kill-a-Watt meter

RangerXLT8 · February 14th, 2007

Well I picked up a new DMM capable of measuring greater amperage then the one I had, spent 10 bucks on supplies and made a load tester..
I measured my 2 systems. First the one in my sig.

IDLE at desktop 1.93A * 122v = 235W

100% CPU Load 2.30A * 122v = 280W

3DMark06 Game Test 3.25A * 122V = 396W

This is measured at the wall. Thanks to Lead Head for helping me.

**gvblake22** · February 14th, 2007

Very interesting results. Proves yet again people usually don't even need a 600W PSU, let alone a 700 - 800 Watt unit!

RangerXLT8 · February 14th, 2007

The only systems that need a 600W + unit are a dual GFX cards...

**Reloadron** · February 15th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Very interesting results. Proves yet again people usually don't even need a 600W PSU, let alone a 700 - 800 Watt unit!

Exactly! I built my newest workstation about 2 years ago. Using an Intel server style case with an included 600 Watt PSU. That 600 Watt PSU powers six (6) HDDs, dual Intel Xeons @ 3.6 GHz, 4 GB of RDRAM, the hot swap rack for the HDDs, a collection of fans and assorted other stuff I shoved in there. Oh yeah, the GPU is a 3D Labs Realizm 800 commercial PCI-E graphics card and the RAID controller is an Intel SRCS16.

Running some pretty intensive applications and 100% CPU usage (both CPUs) there has never been a power issue. More often than not, people tend to overkill when it comes to the PSU in a system.

Ron

**gvblake22** · February 15th, 2007

HERE is a very interesting article on power requirements and basic home electricity. What do you think about it Reloadron?

**Reloadron** · February 15th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by gvblake22

HERE is a very interesting article on power requirements and basic home electricity. What do you think about it Reloadron?

Good article and this will get a little off topic. I live in a house the wife and I own. We are fortunate. The house has 200 Amp service from the pole. Several years ago I upgraded everything. All major appliances have their own dedicated 20 Amp service, like the microwave, fridge, freezer and such. The computer room generally has 4 to 5 machines running 24/7. I feed the room with four 20 amp service branches. Those being split on the 240 entry. I was fortunate in that I could plan things. The article places emphasis on that.

However, this seems to come up pretty often and something I have learned is this. We have thousands of PC enthusiast living in apartments and many of them have no choice as to their power distribution. Many living in older rental properties in a similar situation. This is where situations like start microwave in kitchen and computer reboots in living room happen.

Again, real good article and I suggest anyone reading this thread give it a lookie.

I just finished a PSU type project and sent it along for some people to evaluate and mess with. I want to start doing more test along the lines of this thread with that project complete. Have to clear another spot on a cluttered bench. :)

I like this thread because it looks at what is going on at the wall outlet.

Ron

Quakindude · February 15th, 2007

That was a good read. I have no idea how many amps are available for my house, but I know there are two 20 amp breakers for the computer room. So far, I have had zero issues with clean power. Still, I can't help but remember an episode of Myth Busters where they were plugging in so many Christmas tree lights into an extension cord that the cord melted and caught fire.

screwballl · February 15th, 2007

Newegg has it too for cheaper, I am adding it to my wish list for whenever the damned insurance company sends my check

February 13th, 2007	#1
Lead Head Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rhode Island USA Posts: 1,716	Power Usage Using my New Multimeter, I was able to check the amperage of AC current. One of the firsts things that came to mind was my Computer, to see how much power a decent powered OCed computer would draw Results for my system 150 Watts during POST 118.75 Watts IDLE 192.5 Wats CPU LOAD 210 Watts GPU+CPU Load 166.32 Watts CS1.6 CS:S - low - 172.88 watts - avg - 182.7 watts - high - 190.26 watts Now, this is the power that the PSU was drawing from the AC mains, to find out how much power the PC parts are using themselves, Multiply those wattage rating by .74 (the average efficiency of my PSU). I plan to add to this list such as other hardware configs and other load conditions, (games, 3dmark, etc...) Hardware Logic is not responsible for any damage done that might result from trying to measure Amperage and or Wattage using other then a Kill-a-Watt meter Opteron 64 165--1.5GB DDR--ECS KA1 MVP(thanks HL!)--x1800GTO 256MB--Seagate 320GB SATA--Antec 550 Watt--Antec P180 Last edited by Lead Head; February 14th, 2007 at 10:53.

February 13th, 2007	#2
pc_guy Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Inside an igloo, Canada Posts: 313	Re: Power Usage Kill-a-Watt meter \|\| AMD Athlon64 3800+ Venice \| Asus A8N5X s939 \| OCZ Premier PC3200 Du-Ch 1GB \| Sapphire X1600Pro 512MB PCI-e \| 1xWD 80Gb & 1xWD 250Gb Sata(s) \| Antec SLK3800B Case \| Enermax NoiseTaker 485W \|\|

February 14th, 2007	#3
RangerXLT8 Worker Ant Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 945	Re: Power Usage Well I picked up a new DMM capable of measuring greater amperage then the one I had, spent 10 bucks on supplies and made a load tester.. I measured my 2 systems. First the one in my sig. IDLE at desktop 1.93A * 122v = 235W 100% CPU Load 2.30A * 122v = 280W 3DMark06 Game Test 3.25A * 122V = 396W This is measured at the wall. Thanks to Lead Head for helping me. Quad Core Xeon 3210@3.22ghz GA-EP35C-DS3R 460FSB x 7 -- 60mm Delta fan on NB 2x1gb OCZ3-1333@1380MHZ Sapphire 4870 512mb GDDR5 2x Raptor 150 ADFD RAID 0--WD320YS RE 16mb Storage Samsung Super WriteMaster 20x DVDRW X-Fi eXtremeGamer w\Logitech Z-2300 Silverstone OP650 54A 12v Rail @50C DamgerDen Torture Rack--MC-TDX--Black Ice GTX240--MCP355 Rev 2--Swiftech MicroRes-- Tygon 3603 3/8"ID Logitech G5 - Logitech LX-710 wireless KB Vista Ultimate 64

February 14th, 2007	#4
gvblake22 Modder-ator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tempe Desert Posts: 6,360 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Power Usage Very interesting results. Proves yet again people usually don't even need a 600W PSU, let alone a 700 - 800 Watt unit!

February 14th, 2007	#5
RangerXLT8 Worker Ant Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 945	Re: Power Usage The only systems that need a 600W + unit are a dual GFX cards... Quad Core Xeon 3210@3.22ghz GA-EP35C-DS3R 460FSB x 7 -- 60mm Delta fan on NB 2x1gb OCZ3-1333@1380MHZ Sapphire 4870 512mb GDDR5 2x Raptor 150 ADFD RAID 0--WD320YS RE 16mb Storage Samsung Super WriteMaster 20x DVDRW X-Fi eXtremeGamer w\Logitech Z-2300 Silverstone OP650 54A 12v Rail @50C DamgerDen Torture Rack--MC-TDX--Black Ice GTX240--MCP355 Rev 2--Swiftech MicroRes-- Tygon 3603 3/8"ID Logitech G5 - Logitech LX-710 wireless KB Vista Ultimate 64

February 15th, 2007	#7
gvblake22 Modder-ator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tempe Desert Posts: 6,360 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Power Usage HERE is a very interesting article on power requirements and basic home electricity. What do you think about it Reloadron?

February 15th, 2007	#9
Quakindude I'm Diggin it! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Rucker, AL. Posts: 2,737 Blog Entries: 7	Re: Power Usage That was a good read. I have no idea how many amps are available for my house, but I know there are two 20 amp breakers for the computer room. So far, I have had zero issues with clean power. Still, I can't help but remember an episode of Myth Busters where they were plugging in so many Christmas tree lights into an extension cord that the cord melted and caught fire. Q6600@ 3.2GHz w/ CNPS9700 \| EVGA 780i \| 2Gb Corsair DDR2-800 \| EVGA GTX 280 1Gb Video \| 1x WD 640Gb HDD, 2x Seagate 400Gb HDD, 1x250Gb WD \| 2x Samsung SH-203B Opticals \| Antec 900 \| ABS/Tagan BZ700 700W PSU

February 15th, 2007	#10
screwballl Colonel Calamity Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sandy South Posts: 6,279 Blog Entries: 6	Re: Power Usage Newegg has it too for cheaper, I am adding it to my wish list for whenever the damned insurance company sends my check Thanks HL and Corsair! My opinions are my own and not representative of this site or its members.

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