Power Analysis: The Enthusiast
Enthusiast Profile
Interestingly, the enthusiasts and gamers are quite close to each other in the maximum power consumption in gaming tests, with the enthusiast even taking the lead slightly by using the best technology at the highest resolutions. The lower total power consumption in the end is because of the lower total usage time and greater proportion of time spent in multimedia applications and surfing.
Interim Conclusion
Despite probably making more than the obsessive gamer, the enthusiast pays less than half in operational costs. The bottom line is that this is no cheap hobby, but this one is probably still relatively bearable.
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Nvidia cards consume power like crazy
I don't get it. Are they saying that a GTX 480 will cost a hard core gamer $90/year in electricity? Seems like a drop in the bucket considering my power bills are over $90/month in the winter and over $250/month in the summer. Just think of all the money the hard core gamer saves from not having a girlfriend
They are also neglecting the positive side effects like not needing a space heater in the winter....you recoup alot of energy right there
^Tell me about it, warmest room in the house right here. Turn the thermostat down, and boot the rig up.
Typo on the enthusiast graph. calculations are correct, but it should be 13ct/kWh, not 22ct/kWh.
Glad I bought the 6870 over the gtx 460 1g
The fact that you mentioned a porsche. no matter what the context. I love that you mentioned it
So at worst, my GTX 480 is costing me $90 a year? Sorry if I'm not alarmed...
Also I can't imagine having 8 hours of gaming time every day. 5 hours even seems extreme. Sometimes, you just can't game AT ALL in a day, or a week.
Some people do have lives...
Nvidia cards consume power like crazy
who cares....if you have the money to buy them you can pay for the electricity...it's just like SUVs, you have the money to buy them you can keep them running
So at worst, my GTX 480 is costing me $90 a year? Sorry if I'm not alarmed...Also I can't imagine having 8 hours of gaming time every day. 5 hours even seems extreme. Sometimes, you just can't game AT ALL in a day, or a week.Some people do have lives...
i run my 480 sli rig to fold almost 24/7...do i care about my bill...HELL NO
Very nice article! Keep it up!
Your enthusiastic profiles aren't all that enthusiastic.
I'm sure my Radeon 5970+5870 tri-CrossFire combination will cost me quite a few dollars over the months. Fortunately, I've got some pretty good power-saving features in use to lighten the pain.
I;d be curious to see a toaster, a microwave,a light bulb or ceiling fan (some thing of hat sort) added the power consumption list for comparisons sake.
A very interesting article. I only game once every few days if at all now, so I guess it makes sense for me to stay with my GTS 250 for now.
By the way, space heater ftw!
It would be really useful to know what a folding setup running 24/7 costs. Perhaps one day you could use it to get a "Folding for the Future" tax credit on the books. Maybe Toms can lead the lobbying effort in Washington.
Compared to the 4000w, 240v industrial space heater I was using over Christmas, my computer will have to work all year to match the utility cost.
I second "space heater ftw!"
Great article. I hope you can somehow include these costs in reviews as electricity costs go higher and video cards get more powerful.
I am able to lower the heat in my Minnesota corner room tx to the pc on the floor and the screens on the desk!
absolutely right that if you can buy them you can run them.
39$ / year? Why an article about it? Lobbying?
Yes! Score for my (now og) 5850!!!!!!!!!!!! What about in crossfire though?
i think the main power burners are the people who buy high end graphics cards and then use them on old displays. wasting money on power your power bill without getting the benifit of higher resolution. that and cheap power suplies. i ALLWAYS see people use the cheapest power suply that fits their needs paying the extra $15-50 dollars really pays off in the long run. i still believe that your power suply can effect your power bill more then your other equipment.
what i got from this article is that it really pays to have a power profile schedule and making use of puting yoru computer in sleep mode when your not useing it. and useing the windows power profile "balenced" and only use the high performance profile when you are gaming/number cruncher/redering/video editing