How much does it cost to run my PC?

My computer is a similar spec apart from the gfx card and my UPS is saying that the PC and monitor combined are drawing 180W just browsing the net.

Edit: was curious and ran Prime95, the consumption shot up to 273W :D I tried to run 3DMark Vantage but when I alt-tabbed to the desktop to check the power consumption it stopped the test, anyone know how I can stress the GPU without leaving the desktop?

Edit 2: I just ran Prime95 and played L4D in windowed mode and got a max of 350W inc. monitor, it was mostly around 310-330W though.
 
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Bit of a reference for you. Just the tower on 100% load 24/7.

When my rig had the following configuration it cost £32per month. Measure by a plug in metre.

Q6600 3.6Ghz, 4GB, 8800GTX, 4 HDs, 1xoptical drive, DDC18W, 7x120mm and fan controller.
 
I remember posting that SAME question on here ages ago and the answer I was given was £20-30 a week for leaving my PC turned on 24/7. I don't know if it is true but since I read that I no longer leave it on 24/7 and the bill has dropped.
 
its unlikely to ever use more than 450W, and frankly its very unlikely to drop to below 300W idle. If overclocked and with speedstep stuff turned off for a higher stable clock you're looking at using an extra 30-50W idle and not much more load.
 
My power meter has been "up" 33 days..
In that time my rig that is currently consuming 372w whilst typing this (basically at idle) has used..
56 KW/hr and at 0.14p I set the machine to calculate it that comes out at £7.84

Maximum current draw it has stored is 457w

For reference my rig is a water cooled Xeon quad core running at 3.6Ghz, 8GB RAM, air cooled and twin ATI 4870's, twin raptors in RAID and a few 120mm fans PSU is a 650w C&C Also attatched through the power meter is the 24" dell, canon printer, scanner, USB hub, laptop charger, iPhone charger and desk fan. :D

Basically I'd say you use the PC as often as me, on in the evening weekdays and all weekend.
I'd say you are looking AT MOST a tenner a month.
 
It's not going to draw 100W any of the time, in fact won't even ever draw 500W.

In the winter it's free, as it is subtracted from your heating bill.
 
My PC has a 600w power supply. It is currently using 105W. With a 24" TFT and a 19" TFT switched on, it is using 211W.

BigglesPiP said:
It's not going to draw 100W any of the time, in fact won't even ever draw 500W.

In the winter it's free, as it is subtracted from your heating bill.
Click to expand...

Only if your house is heated electrically. Heating a house with electric heaters is much more expensive than gas, so even though the PC does heat the house, it's not an efficient way to do it!
 
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