by In today’s technological world, you don’t even think about how much electricity your devices use. Until you try to lower your monthly expenses. The crazy thing is that gaming PCs aren’t something you would think would take a lot of power to run because it’s such a common type of laptop. But still the nagging question remains; Do gaming PCs use a lot of power?
According to numerous studies conducted by experts in many fields, the simple answer is YES. Gaming PCs use an average of 1,400 kWh per year, which is equivalent to running three fridges constantly, or the amount of energy that six standard computers would use. This is for a gaming PC.
To convert that into money, you need to multiply the amount you’re being charged per kWh by 1,400 times. Let’s say you pay 0.35 for a kWh. Your total cost for the year to run a computer pc would be around $490.00. That equates to about $41 a month added to your electric bill. Read on to find out why and how you can reduce these costs.
Gaming PCs and power consumption
Now you might be wondering why a gaming PC consumes so much power compared to a regular computer. A gaming PC equivalent to six normal is a significant difference. Obviously this is an approximate number that would need to be adjusted depending on how much you play and how often you do it. Either way, it’s beneficial for you to understand why a gaming PC uses as much energy as it does.
Why Do Gaming PCs Use So Much Power?
A gaming PC is not designed to save energy. It’s designed to give you the best possible gaming experience for the amount of money you’re spending on building it. Of course there are special bits and pieces that you can fit into your build, but you’re usually paying the extra money it would cost you for bigger and better upgrades to your PC.
The reason the gaming variants draw more power is simple. They require the components of the system to allocate the installed hardware in order to maximize the gaming experience. This means the parts are working harder, constantly drawing power to get the jobs done. Because your gaming laptop needs to be plugged into an outlet most of the time, it has to draw more power to keep the battery charged enough to keep you gaming.
Ways to reduce the power consumption of gaming PCs
To reduce your gaming PC’s power consumption, there are a few things you can do, says WindowsCentral. No matter what options you try, it’s still a gaming laptop, so it uses more power than you might like.
- energy supplier – Check how much your current energy provider is charging you, including any additional charges. Go to an online comparison site like iSelect.com and let them compare all their partner sites to see if you can get a better price.
- Upgrade Parts – There are numerous products on the market that can help you save energy while gaming. All you have to do is swap out the components already present in the PC for the new ones that will reduce your power consumption.
- Internal Settings – Lower the resolution and set the system to turn off after an hour of non-use, according to MakeUseOf.
- Clean – Keep fans clean and internal components dust-free. Do not use vacuum. Opt for a can of compressed air.
Simple daily routines can reduce the power consumption of a gaming PC. Keep it running at its best by keeping it clean and updated, and always turn it off when you’re not using it. One of the biggest benefits in any household is keeping chargers plugged in and running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Conclusion
Gaming PCs bring your favorite pastime to life with vibrant colors, sounds and instantaneous responses to your controls. The one aspect of gaming that you don’t consider as often as you should is how much power the device draws to perform those functions for you.
That doesn’t mean you should stop playing your favorite games. On the contrary, play as long as you want. Make sure the system is off when you’re done and when you can upgrade your bits and pieces to optimize energy use while maintaining your level of play.
Last updated: August 31, 2022
