Pc power usage and a smart meter

[Griff7520]

Hi all

Recently had smart meters installed for our electricity supply. The meter turns to an amber light when boiling a kettle or when the central heating is on.

I have just noticed that the meter turns amber when I am gaming, I have not noticed this before but I am now wondering if this is normal, I did not think I was using so much electricity for gaming.

Any one notice the same thing in there house and if so is there something I can do to reduce the power usage. I am not overclocking anything and the spec is in my sig

tia

 

[Griff7520]

ok.....the amber light means medium power usage, i found a button on the meter saying usage now, I pressed it and at idle it is saying i an using 424watts for the whole house, when i went into a game it went up to 625watts and it says I am using 13p an hour electricity at current usage. does that help

the draw on the gtx 1080ti is 250/260watts according to afterburner. would i save money with a new gpu do you think

tia

 

[Griff7520]

Yes!
I think my house is often using close to 400W at idle so to speak. Fridges, TV, lights and so on, and the PC running at idle. If i play a game then that jumps by another 150W, and 500W is the magic consumption that makes the power meter glow orange!
This is going to be a major consideration with future graphics cards. Basically things are about as small as they can make them right now. This is because quantum effects mean that chips are getting hotter and hotter as they get smaller. There is a definite limit to how small chips can get and offer any improvement. There is already some worry about the Nvidia 40 series - the power consumption figures the press are throwing about right now are just insane.

thats about the same for me.....just did not realise how much power my pc uses for gaming till i got this meter....something to keep an eye on now....will have to tell the wife only 3 cuppers a day from now on to save some money ......we all have to make sacrifices lol