The reason I ask is that a bad thing because it is a part of my power supply and I leave my PC on over-night and was wondering if it has a big effect on teh electricity bill.
2007-12-11 17:01:03 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
Just sitting there idle overnight, your computer is probably using about 25 watts. The extra power on the power supply is for when the processor starts cranking up and putting off heat. This then causes the cooling fan(s) to come on. Also, your hard drive, video drivers, and all of the other circuits that sat idle overnight use more power when the computer is being used. You also have reserve power to run your DVD drive, additional processors, stuff connected to the USB port, etc.
Even with everything running at full-tilt, you're probably never using the full 400 watts. It's just there for power overhead and for surges. If the power supply was too small (not enough wattage), it would eventually burn out.
2007-12-12 06:10:37 · answer #1 · answered by Paul in San Diego 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a computer power supplies, that is generally the max continuous power it can supply. During normal operation the computer uses about half of that and maybe 5% in standby and surges upwards during boot, cd to hardrive transfers and heavy data moving and crunching. Check the power settings of you OS to see what your computer does to conserve power when its been left alone a while. Most turn off the monitor then the hard drives. Many Windows machines go into standby. A that point a night light or two would use more power overnight.
2007-12-12 01:07:28 · answer #2 · answered by klingongac 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your power supply is capable of delivering 400W, it doesn't mean it is always pulling 400W. Sort of like your speedometer may go to 120 mph doesn't mean you are always traveling 120 mph.
Don't leave your PC on overnight anyway. It is probably taking 100 or 200W. At ten cents per kilowatt hour it could be using 10 or 20 cents overnight (10 hours) for electricity. Multiply that by 365 days a year and you could be spending $70 a year extra on eletricity and wearing out your computer.
2007-12-12 01:07:20 · answer #3 · answered by michael s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have a green machine? Have you set your system to power down or sleep after a certain amount of time? If not check your power options under control panel. You can save lots of power by correct use of these options. Good for the planet and good for your power bill. It also lengthens the life of the equipment.
2007-12-12 01:04:36 · answer #4 · answered by kc_kate 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes its bad ..
u use lots of electricity
bad for the earth to
2007-12-12 01:03:41 · answer #5 · answered by Jenna b 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No My Dad is a elctrican
2007-12-12 01:03:56 · answer #6 · answered by summer123910 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋