When using your laptop, the more programs you opened, the faster the battery will run out. What about in a personal computer when you have opened a lot of applications, does it consume more electricity (resulting to a higher bill) or it doesn't matter?
One friend told me that it does make a difference but most of the people I know say the amount consumed(electricity) is fixed.
2006-09-09 07:22:16 · 11 answers · asked by Muffin 4 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
The amount of energy consumes by your computer is dependent on many things, how the computer is designed, and how the hardware is implemented.
In a simplistic model computer...
The more software you have running, the more your CPU must process over a given period of time. This is called processing POWER for a reason, as the more your CPU processes, the more energy it consumes in the same period of time, usually given off in the form of heat. Regardless of laptop vs. Desktop, the more your CPU has to work, the more power you will consume.
Now, because of differences in hardware design and implementation between Laptops and Desktops, this effect may be more pronounced in a Laptop.
Generally, a laptop has a smaller fan to pipe away the heat generated by the hardware, and much of it is simply radiated from the case. A desktop, on the other hand, can have many, large fans...each consuming energy. The ADDED energy consumption from the CPU working harder on a Desktop may not be as noticeable because the Desktop is already consuming far more energy then the laptop.
A few numbers as an example (Completely made up to illustrate):
A laptop running at 50% CPU capacity might consume:
15 Watts for all hardware other then the CPU
50 Watts for the CPU
65 Watts total.
Run the latest and greatest game, CPU usage goes to 100%:
15 Watts for all hardware other then the CPU
100 Watts for the CPU
115 Watts total.
Your power usage almost doubled, so your battery will deplete almost twice as fast.
Now, same for a desktop.
CPU at 50%:
300 Watts for all hardware other then the CPU
50 Watts for the CPU
350 Watts total.
CPU at 100%:
300 Watts for all hardware other then the CPU
100 Watts for the CPU
400 Watts total.
Instead of almost doubling, your power usage went up by an eighth of the original. Not as noticeable, even though power went up the same 50 Watts in both cases.
2006-09-09 07:31:12 · answer #1 · answered by Matt 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes because most processors these days have several different running speeds. Say you have a 2.3 ghZ processor. If you are running very light programs, say writing a document in word or something , it is only on say 600 Mhz. When you open more programs , the processor switches to high speeds, up to the 2.3, which is the fastest it can go. The higher the speed, the more electricity is required to run the processor. They developed this because it is much more efficient than just running 2.3 all the time, which would probably quickly burn out your processor also. Now older computer do not have this technology, it is within the last 8-10 years. I cannot say how much electricity it is taking, but I know it would definately be noticeable. My roommate has a desktop with a 4. something processor and that thing sucks down power faster than New York City on a 110 degree day!
2006-09-09 07:27:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Laptops use less power than desk tops. They are made to use as little power as they can to perform the tasks they are asked to do. This is why they use more power when they are busier.
Desk tops don't have the same power conservation features since it's much less of an issue when battery life is not a concern. They still will use more power if you are using a drive, powering peripherals etc.
The difference is going to be very small if you're looking for it on a bill though. Computers don't use very much power compared to the other appliances in a house.
2006-09-09 07:27:38 · answer #3 · answered by icetender 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends. New technology coming out has a stablizer so you are alsways consuming a small amount no matter what, but if you have an older proccessor, answer can be yes. if you have 10 programs working, and the computers running hotter, from all the use, you will notice an increase in power usage. BUt its normal, and should only be fractions of a watt.
2006-09-09 07:27:03 · answer #4 · answered by #Reistlehr- 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the most part, your friend is correct, but if a drive bay is in use it is probably using up more electricity. I have a laptop that uses about 65 watts, maximum. Electric motors (like in drive bays) use up more power than most "fixed" electronics. So right now my computer might be using 20-40 watts, but if I put in a CD or DVD it might use the full 65 watts.
2006-09-09 07:26:05 · answer #5 · answered by Paul H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the amount of electricity your pc or laptop use are mostly fixed, maybe using floppy or cd drives might use a bit more power. The load on the chips is mostly constant. The monitor is about 300Watts I think, The pc itself maybe 150Watts, way less for a laptop.
Costs like 7cents an hour I think
2006-09-09 07:25:33 · answer #6 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Definitely writing a 1000 word report on Napoleon
2016-03-27 04:10:31 · answer #7 · answered by Katherine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe it stays the same because the electricity is flowing in is regulated whereas in battery power, you only have a certain amount of electric juice stored to draw power from, hence the rapid consumption when more programs are opened.
2006-09-09 07:25:13 · answer #8 · answered by MANLY EGO 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's fixed based on your configuration...
The CPU only takes care of one task at a time, so it doesn't matter how many programs you have open, all others are on standby.
2006-09-09 07:24:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it does it will be so small you would not notice it on your electric bill. Open them all at once and carry on!!
2006-09-09 07:24:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋