Draw On PSU - Any Way Of Measuring ?

Bint Box

Bint Box

Bint Box

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Hi,

Is there any way of measuring the power draw from my desktop PSU under load? For example, is there a utility program or inbuilt Windows 7 tool that will measure the wattage draw from the PSU under operating conditions?


Rgds
Binty
 
Unfortunately there's not, only real way is to use a plug in energy monitor.

What is your spec.
 
I wish someone would come up with some kind of power drawn and temp measurement tools for power supplies :/ it would be nice to have it displayed next to all other temps :)
 
RJC said:
Unfortunately there's not, only real way is to use a plug in energy monitor.

What is your spec.
Click to expand...

Its a 350W PSU running a GeForce 9500GT GPU, Core 2 Quad Q9400 (2.66GHz), DVDR/RW with the usual connections and no other cards etc. I just want to find out how much I can upgrade my graphics card without having to upgrade the PSU.

I did a quick online check using the extreme power calculator by selecting all my components and it reckoned that with an ATI Radeon 5770 I would need around 325W (minimum recommended 285W). Hopefully, the Radeon 5770 GPU will be OK with my 350W PSU.


Thanks for all of the replies.


Rgds
Binty
 
Normally the online calculator tell you which PSU you should buy. At 100% load on everything, it will be using about that.

So on average day to day use, a bit less than that
 
Bint Box said:
Hi,

Is there any way of measuring the power draw from my desktop PSU under load?
Click to expand...
I use my fan controller ;)

DSC00216-1.jpg
 
DAMNIT!

Was going to link to that, cheeky sod!

Wonder how accurate it actually is though! 583W seems low for SLI 580s and a i7-2600k - was that load?
 
jake9891 said:
That's what I have atm plugged in to my socket. Got mine from amazon I think. On average my PC uses 2kW a day.
Click to expand...

Whoa... that must be expensive. Both my Dual G5 and PC ranges from 250 - 350w for regular tasks with 30". Gaming, the PC can bump it to 350/4xxw on a 24". PC has a 750w PSU pretty sure the G5 has a 700w. Total 450 - 750w between the two dependent what I'm doing.

How on earth do you get that... from your PC in your sig you have a 620 Corsair with less fans than my PC, the G5 has quite a load... maybe 8 - 10. Though a lot of them are really slow ones. Apart from the 4 deltas. Swoosh swoosh!

Even the multi cooker we have uses 1 - 4kW, 1 obviously on the slow heat. 4kW when it's cooking it fast. The heat off that thing scares me to be honest. I hate it. It's bad enough at setting 1.

I'll need to check my e-ON meter, it tells you what the prices would be burning 2kW everyday. I've had it down to 2 bars during the day. Usually 3 most days, 3 - 4 at night dependent what's on. The shower really cranks it up. 7 - 8kW.
 
Last edited:
Bint Box said:
Its a 350W PSU running a GeForce 9500GT GPU, Core 2 Quad Q9400 (2.66GHz), DVDR/RW with the usual connections and no other cards etc. I just want to find out how much I can upgrade my graphics card without having to upgrade the PSU.

I did a quick online check using the extreme power calculator by selecting all my components and it reckoned that with an ATI Radeon 5770 I would need around 325W (minimum recommended 285W). Hopefully, the Radeon 5770 GPU will be OK with my 350W PSU.


Thanks for all of the replies.


Rgds
Binty
Click to expand...

Forget about total watts from your PSU. Look at the ampage of the 12v rail. What is the make of your PSU as not all PSUs are created equal:)
 
V F said:
Whoa... that must be expensive. Both my Dual G5 and PC ranges from 250 - 350w for regular tasks with 30". Gaming, the PC can bump it to 350/4xxw on a 24". PC has a 750w PSU pretty sure the G5 has a 700w. Total 450 - 750w between the two dependent what I'm doing.

How on earth do you get that... from your PC in your sig you have a 620 Corsair with less fans than my PC, the G5 has quite a load... maybe 8 - 10. Though a lot of them are really slow ones. Apart from the 4 deltas. Swoosh swoosh!

Even the multi cooker we have uses 1 - 4kW, 1 obviously on the slow heat. 4kW when it's cooking it fast. The heat off that thing scares me to be honest. I hate it. It's bad enough at setting 1.

I'll need to check my e-ON meter, it tells you what the prices would be burning 2kW everyday. I've had it down to 2 bars during the day. Usually 3 most days, 3 - 4 at night dependent what's on. The shower really cranks it up. 7 - 8kW.
Click to expand...

I assume he's using his PC for a signifiicant amount of time. If it's a gaming PC it'll be drawing between 300 and 600 watts. Multiply by 4 hours and you're at 1.2 to 2.4 KW / day.
 
Bint Box said:
Its a 350W PSU running a GeForce 9500GT GPU, Core 2 Quad Q9400 (2.66GHz), DVDR/RW with the usual connections and no other cards etc. I just want to find out how much I can upgrade my graphics card without having to upgrade the PSU.

I did a quick online check using the extreme power calculator by selecting all my components and it reckoned that with an ATI Radeon 5770 I would need around 325W (minimum recommended 285W). Hopefully, the Radeon 5770 GPU will be OK with my 350W PSU.


Thanks for all of the replies.


Rgds
Binty
Click to expand...


What make is the psu? If it's a cheap and nasty generic one then it will not even put out 350w so you will be close to it's limits already. If this is the case replace it before it fails. On the other hand, if it's a quality one you "may" be ok but i would still be more comfortable with a more powerful one.
 
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