energy usage

[ALev]

Is there any way I can get Windows XP to tell me how much energy, in watts or
something, that my computer is currently using?

 

[Mike Torello]

Is there any way I can get Windows XP to tell me how much energy, in watts or
something, that my computer is currently using?

No.

 

[JS]

Kill A Watt
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=kill+a+watt

Note: Measures AC Volts, Watts, VoltAmps (VA) and more.
The VoltAmps value more accurately reflects how much
power you are using. Also after you power off (shutdown)
your computer take note that there is still a small amount
of power being consumed.

 

[db]

your computer's
power supply is
the watts.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Jonathan Harker]

your computer's
power supply is
the watts.

Wrong. That is the peak power that it can provide to computer
components, not the wattage it normally uses.

 

[John McGaw]

Kill A Watt
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=kill+a+watt

Note: Measures AC Volts, Watts, VoltAmps (VA) and more.
The VoltAmps value more accurately reflects how much
power you are using. Also after you power off (shutdown)
your computer take note that there is still a small amount
of power being consumed.

But that won't have "XP" telling him how much power (or energy as he puts
it) is being used doing it that way. Far better that he buy a more
expensive meter which has a computer interface and then have someone write
software to read the meter through that interface. That way he will have
the pleasure of "XP" telling him. Brand Electronics has some decent units
with the interface. I have been using their plainest model since long
before the Kill A Watt existed and it is a fine product.

http://www.brandelectronics.com/meters.html#model20ci

 

[VanguardLH]

Is there any way I can get Windows XP to tell me how much energy, in watts or
something, that my computer is currently using?

Just where do you think any software can connect to non-existent
hardware monitoring the current going through the power cord to your
system box? Get an ammeter.

 

[JS]

No doubt it's a better unit, especially if
you need continuous logging via the software.
But it cost 5 to 10 times more than Kill A Watt.

In the end it's up to the user to decide what
fits his needs.

 

[PerkyPat]

Is there any way I can get Windows XP to tell me how much energy, in watts
or
something, that my computer is currently using?

One way to achieve this is to employ a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) to
power your PC.

Typically, the 3rd party software (e.g. APC Powerchute) supplied with UPS
units will supply this information, and more.

(I dispensed with the supplied software that came with my Belkin UPS and use
only Windows own software, but for me the info you want is not important.)

hth

 

[Lil' Dave]

One way to achieve this is to employ a UPS (uninterruptible power supply)
to power your PC.

Typically, the 3rd party software (e.g. APC Powerchute) supplied with UPS
units will supply this information, and more.

(I dispensed with the supplied software that came with my Belkin UPS and
use only Windows own software, but for me the info you want is not
important.)

hth

Its also a method for eliminating any potential PC power usage. Turn the
UPS off, that is, no output power from the UPS. The only way PC power usage
is not important is if the PC is truly off. Unless of course you like
paying carbon tax on a PC in standby or hibernate modes... That is a matter
of choice. Put that in your tobacco tax and smoke it (optional by toboacco
usage choice and its accompanying tax increase as well).

 

[HeyBub]

your computer's
power supply is
the watts.

Uh, no. My power supply is rated at 400 watts but my trusty Kill-A-Watt
meter shows the computer is only using 95.

 

[JS]

Run the Prime95 "Stress Test" and then
see what the wattage goes up to.

 

[db]

kill-a-watt meter
are for morons
that don't know
how to calculate
wattages.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Rebel]

kill-a-watt meter
are for morons
that don't know
how to calculate
wattages.

Certainly then you must have one, how do you like it?

 

[Tim Slattery]

Uh, no. My power supply is rated at 400 watts but my trusty Kill-A-Watt
meter shows the computer is only using 95.

Right, the wattage rating of the PS is the maximum amount of power
that it can deliver. You hope that you're actually drawing quite a bit
less than that from it.

 

[Mike Torello]

Right, the wattage rating of the PS is the maximum amount of power
that it can deliver. You hope that you're actually drawing quite a bit
less than that from it.

And that is PEAK power, a setting that I don't think can be sustained
for a long period of time.

 

[Bob I]

Unless you have a meter to supply current, RMS voltage and pF readings,
you aren't going to calculate anything.

 

[JS]

P4 3.2GHz overclocked to 3.4GHz
4GB Ram, 3 Hard Drives, 2 Optical
NVIDIA 5600 Ultra Video card
4 case cooling fans
(400 Watt Antec Power Supply)

Heavy load = 177W 244VA
Prime95 Stress Test = 189W 262VA
Idle = 108W 155VA
Powered off = 10W 20VA

 

[db]

you can always put
a three way dimmer
on a 100 watt light
bulb.

you can always use
your 300 watt stereo
on a low setting to
provide 20 watts of
sound.

but frankly, its not
worth splitting hairs.

its best to use the
K.I.S.U.M.
method.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Is there any way I can get Windows XP to tell me how much energy, in watts
or
something, that my computer is currently using?

In view of the non-sinusoidal shape of the current that your switch-mode
power supply draws, most power meters will give you highly inaccurate
results. However, you could take the steps below to get a fairly accurate
reading. The figure you get is what your utility charges you.
- Wait until you're alone in the house.
- Switch off all appliances in the house that turn themselves on and off
automatically, e.g. fridges, heating applicances, air conditioners, DVD
recorders.
- Do not turn anything on and off during the test, other than your PC at the
specified moments.
- Turn off your PC.
- Read the boiler plate on your electricity meter. It tells you how many
times the spinning wheel needs to turn for each kWh. On my meter it's 120
revolutions per kWh.
- Measure how long it takes for the spinning wheel of your electricity meter
to make 1 full revolution. The wheel has a black line in one spot to make
this easy for you.
- Turn on your PC and monitor.
- Measure how long it takes for the spinning wheel of your electricity meter
to make 1 full revolution.

Now do your maths. In each case the power measured by the meter is P = 1000
* 3600 / t / n
where t = time for one full revolution (in seconds)
n = number of revolutions per kWh (as marked on your meter)
P = Power measured by the meter (in Watts)

Subtract the two values from each other to get the PC's consumption.

Note: Don't try this if you hate maths.