Electricity difference between Intel Nuc, mini itx pc, gaming pc?

R3X · 1 Jan 2014 at 01:12

Hi perhaps an odd question, but was wondering since these new intel nucs using no more then 30watts max, how do they compare to say a similar specced mini itx pc and then a full on gaming pc? (ignoring the graphics card)

For example: Intel nuc cpu uses 15watts/whole system peaks 30watts

Core i7 4770k uses 85 watts so are we looking at system peaking 120watts ?

So is it the CPU that takes up all the wattage and power in systems ?

tres_kun · 1 Jan 2014 at 01:20

The intel nuc has laptop grade cpu
it is ment for low power consumption
The diference in performance is immens
On a destop with with i7 4770k system power drow in idle is about 40W and load 100
But the numbers depend on a lot of factors
Mecanical hard drives have a deacent consumption
The power supply will impact it as well

Morg · 1 Jan 2014 at 09:22

I think the gpu would be the main power draw in a gaming pc. Overclocking will also push the energy requirements up

R3X · 1 Jan 2014 at 15:36

From what I have heard from past ocuk forum searches regarding how much electricity is used the situation seems to vary a lot.

someone mentioned newer GPUs have technology in the core which in a sense switches off these hot and power demanding gpus, to the point they use very little watts just to process basic display, obviously when gaming they ramp up I think 200-300watts+ and consume the most power in any system.

Power supplies wattage apparently make no difference since they only delivery the power that the system requires at that given point, so a 1000watt will not consume more power then a 850watt if it was idle or just running basic task, I think...

I was hoping someone could verify the above or give bit more input on overall electricity being used in general in computers.

Ignoring the GPU (since my systems have none, all onboard the cpu) I was thinking it is more down to the cpu wattage on load ?

The mobo/power supply/ssd hdd/motherboard sizes uses barely any watts....

Course ain't 100% sure on the above!

RJC · 1 Jan 2014 at 16:15

The PSU will only pull what's needed, so if your system is idle then you would pull around 100w from the mains (average Intel desktop CPU and reasonable high end GPU).

My old system with a 2700k and 670GTX with custom water on the CPU pulled around 330w from the mains at full load.

R3X · 1 Jan 2014 at 17:24

RJC said:
The PSU will only pull what's needed, so if your system is idle then you would pull around 100w from the mains (average Intel desktop CPU and reasonable high end GPU).

My old system with a 2700k and 670GTX with custom water on the CPU pulled around 330w from the mains at full load.

thx gives me a better idea, 2700k uses max 95w and 670gtx maxxed out around 200 watts, so give or take your hard drives/ram/mobo/watercooling kit +fans must be taking up few watts if not 10ish, and you must be overclocking that cpu/gpu to hit around 330watts

I think I need to google or learn how to test how much power usage my own computer is taking up, these websites with electricity calculators are old and don't show my cpu even.

Jokester · 1 Jan 2014 at 17:31

Different PSUs have different efficiencies, cheaper ones can be less than 80%, top quality PSUs can be 95% efficient. Also the efficiency varies with load.

BinnsY · 1 Jan 2014 at 17:56

I have one of those british gas energy meters on my desk, and from watching what that does I've been able to figure out pretty accurately what my PC uses. My rig has a 3570k at 4.2Ghz, 2*8GB sticks of DDR3 RAM, 2 blu-ray drives, 3 physical hdds, an SSD, a sound card, 2*GTX660s in SLI, 5 120mm led fans, and 3 120mm normal fans. It's all powered off a corsair AX760 which is a platinum rated PSU.

When sitting at idle the PC actually uses just shy of 100W, it's probably around the 90 mark, even with all the hard drives and fans on. At the minute I'm watching a DVD and doing a defrag and it's using around 200w. I'd say this is roughly the range it switches between when just doing normal use. When stressing the entire lot, say running the cpu and both GPU's at max, it pulls around the 500w mark.

RJC · 1 Jan 2014 at 17:59

R3X said:
thx gives me a better idea, 2700k uses max 95w and 670gtx maxxed out around 200 watts, so give or take your hard drives/ram/mobo/watercooling kit +fans must be taking up few watts if not 10ish, and you must be overclocking that cpu/gpu to hit around 330watts

I think I need to google or learn how to test how much power usage my own computer is taking up, these websites with electricity calculators are old and don't show my cpu even.

My CPU was at 4.4ghz and I was using the Gigabyte WF card.

I have one of these:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-003-EN

R3X · 1 Jan 2014 at 19:38

thx for all the replies, yeah was looking @ the power monitor plugs on flebay, just reading some reviews on rainforest and google... will grab one soon!

Very interesting to hear 4ghz+, well specced gaming based pcs hitting 200-300 watts doing the average stuff or more at max, @ idle under 100watts.

Id like to consider a more green 2014, these intel nucs @ 30 watts while maxxed hits my requirements perfectly