After the successful opening of the international technical support forum, Enermax offers its customers a new useful "service advisor": The new online power supply wattage calculator allows users to quickly and easily calculate the power consumption of the system. On the occasion of the opening of the new service, users can win three popular power supplies from Enermax.
Before buying a power supply, most buyers ask themselves what level of power consumption is needed to power their system. Not always the indications of individual manufacturers are accurate enough to calculate the total amount of energy consumption of the entire system. Many users follow the motto "more is better than less" in this case. The result: the choice of an overly powerful and more expensive power supply, which will be loaded at full system power by only 20-30 percent. It should be taken into account that modern power supplies, such as Enermax, achieve efficiency above 90 percent only when the power supply is loaded at about 50 percent.
Count and win
Enermax is presenting an exclusive competition for the opening of the Power Supply Power Calculator. Entry Requirements: Enermax offers three different system configurations. Competitors must use the power supply wattage calculator to calculate the power consumption of the system. Between all the correct answers, Enermax draws three popular power supplies:
More information about the competition is located.
BP calculator saves time and money
Enermax's new Power Supply Calculator ("Power Supply Calculator") is designed to help users calculate their system's power consumption reliably and accurately. The calculator is based on an extensive and constantly updated database with all kinds of system components, from the processor, video card to small things like a case fan. This saves users not only time-consuming searching for power consumption data for individual components, but also saves costs in many cases. Since for most simple office and gaming systems, a 300 - 500 W power supply is more than enough.
Enermax professional support
More than a month ago, Enermax announced the opening of an international support forum. At the Enermax forum, participants have the opportunity to receive qualified assistance in solving technical problems and answers to all questions regarding Enermax products. In addition, the new forum provides a platform for enthusiasts from all over the world to exchange experiences and tips on tuning and optimizing their computers. Enermax product managers and engineers are responsible for professional assistance on the forum - that is, company employees who are primarily responsible for the development of Enermax products.
The vast majority of modern users who assemble their own computers pay attention exclusively to the processor, video card and motherboard. Only after that, a little love and warmth goes to the RAM, case, cooling system, but it is customary to buy a power supply for change. Of course, I'm not saying that everyone does exactly that, but in most YouTube assemblies, articles from the Internet, or advice from close friends, this is exactly the chain that sounds.
Why is the power supply last looked at? It's simple - it does not affect the performance of the computer. Gamers are absolutely always looking to get more FPS in their favorite games by putting their entire budget into the three main components, and buying the rest with the rest of the money. Designers and video workers invest resources in RAM, a processor with a large number of cores. No one is interested in the BP, it only “starts the computer”.
However, it is the "engine" of your PC. If you choose the wrong power, then most of the money invested in the purchase will either be idle, or you will buy a 500W unit, and then put a more powerful video card and there will not be enough power. There is an unstable operation of the system, crashes, overheating of components, blue screens of death. All this we will learn to avoid today. And, I must say right away, we will talk about the power of the power supply. Not about which brand is cooler, not about highlights-coloring-design, not about cooling, there will be no disputes “modular system or not”. We're talking about power and the steps you need to take to get the perfect fit.
Power from specs vs real power
It is worthwhile to immediately understand that the Watts indicated in the characteristics always differ from the real indicators. Absolutely always. The only question is how much. For example, if it is written on the power supply, then this does not at all guarantee real 500 watts of output power. This is just a rounded value imposed by marketers. The same with other powers - 700 W, 1300 W. These are all beautiful figures that attract attention.Usually, more or less decent blocks write the efficiency. Mid-range models and above will have 80 Plus certification (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum). This means that the efficiency of this model is above 80%. The higher the level of the certificate, the higher the percentage of efficiency. For example, a model with Bronze will have 82-85% efficiency of the declared figure, and a variant with Gold - 90%. Below I have given a plate that shows the percentage of efficiency under varying degrees of load. For those models that cannot boast of a certificate, the efficiency is usually 75% or less.
So it turns out that you buy a 600 W PSU without a certificate, but you get 450 W of real power. It is worth considering this point when buying a computer "engine", because very often they do not pay attention to this detail and are surprised at the constant shutdown of the PC under load. To date, most PSUs are certified 80 Plus Bronze, such models can be considered a reasonable minimum. Blocks without a certificate remain dark horses - who knows how much real power there will be.
Golden Rule
The next thing you need to know is the load level of your power supply. Often, due to budget problems, gamers take the power of the piece of iron tightly. We assembled a system for 430 W of power consumption and take a 550 W model with a bronze certificate. The element of the system works, allows you to start the computer and play games, but constantly works at the limit of its capabilities. Naturally, due to the maximum load, all elements of the power supply overheat, the fan runs at maximum speeds and makes wild noise, internal components wear out much faster.
So that your “engine” does not die in a year and a half, you need to follow one rule - take the rated power one and a half (maybe even two) times more than the system requires. For example, you figured (I'll tell you exactly how to do this later) that your system needs 350 watts of power. We multiply by two, we get 700 W - this is the model we are looking for. Even if you take away 20% of the efficiency that is lost, your system will load the PSU by 50-60% in high load mode. This allows the filling of the block to wear out longer, not overheat, the fan will not spin like crazy, and there will be much less noise. Using this rule, you will spend a little more money, but the system will work for three to five years instead of a year.
Count Watts
Now that we have studied the theory and learned the necessary rules, let's calculate the required power for your computer. If you have assembled a PC in an online store and the purchase is hanging in the basket, or you have written down the components on a piece of paper, we will use the frequencies of the processor / video card from the characteristics. For those who have the system already assembled, you only need to replace the battery, you can use real frequencies.- Cooler Master Calculator
- MSI Calculator
- Calculator be quiet!
The first service will be a calculator from . There are a lot of switches, a lot of additional checkboxes and parameters. An experienced user is even allowed to select the frequency of the processor and video card, if you already know these parameters or can guess them.
Entered the data, click on the bottom right button "Calculate" and two numbers will appear in the same place. The first - the power consumption of this system (Load Wattage) is written in black type, and that's what we need. You can't watch the second one. For example, my system has a power consumption of 327 watts.
Next, go to the MSI calculator. There are fewer options, there are no sliders for the frequency at all. We select the processor model, video card, select the number of fans, and so on. The value will be shown immediately in the upper right corner (hard to miss). In my case - 292 watts.
The last one is a calculator from be quiet!. Click on the orange button "Calculate" and look at the power consumption. In this program - 329 watts.
Based on these calculations, the MSI calculator in my case forgot to add something. Take for the average power consumption of 328 watts.
Putting knowledge into practice
So, we have 328 W consumed by the system. We multiply by one and a half (remember the golden rule!) And we get 492 watts. But we remember that power supplies do not deliver 100% power, but only 80%, in the case of Bronze. So, with simple mathematical calculations, we get the required power “on paper” of 615 watts. This figure can be rounded up to 600 W and take any model from bronze and above, you can take it with a little more margin - 650 or 700 W so that our "engine" is loaded by 50-60%.You just have to calculate the power consumption of your PC, do the same mathematical calculations. The remaining parameters - cable modularity, lighting, brand, noise level, smartphone applications, and so on, are selected separately, depending on the budget and desires.
The power supply is one of the most important parts of modern PC, especially gaming.
But many devote very little time to choosing it, believing that if it gets into the box and starts the system, it means it fits and everything is perfectly matched. Many manage to look at only two things when choosing it.
1.
Low price.(Not more 1000 rub)
2.
The number of watts in the PSU.(Of course, the number on the sticker should be higher.) The Chinese love to throw such goodies when in reality the power BP not even close to the number they wrote.
To help not to waste money, I’ll write about what you need to look at so as not to make a mistake in choosing. After all, buying cheap Chinese BP can lead to breakage of all components of a not cheap computer.
http://i036.radikal.ru/1304/90/254cdb4e6c47.jpg
Clause 1.1
1.
Don't skimp on the power supply.
2.
Choose a manufacturer that has proven itself in the market and in this segment.
For example: Seasonic, Chieftec, HighPower, FSP, CoolerMaster, Zalman
3.
Calculate the power consumption of all computer components. (You can find components on the manufacturer's website, where all the characteristics are usually indicated. Or simply by entering it into a search engine.) However, there are many options, the main desire is to find.
4.
After the calculation, add a power reserve to the amount received, so that for sure (suddenly errors, etc.). 3 point in general can be left if there is an intention to buy a watt right away 800-900
++.
1. modular type.
With modular units, cables can be added and unfastened as desired. How convenient this is, I realized after buying such a PSU: you can easily remove unused wires until they come in handy. And you don’t have to rack your brains where to fasten, wrap these wires so as not to interfere. Although this type has a higher price.
2. standard type.
Cheaper, all wires are soldered directly to the block and are not removable.
In principle, if the budget allows, it is better to buy a modular version because of its convenience, although you can choose the standard version. To your taste. :-)
Clause 1.3
There are also differences in Power Factor Correction - Power Factor Correction (PFC): active, passive.
1. Passive PFC
In the passive PFC a conventional inductor is used to smooth out the voltage ripple. The effectiveness of this option is low, it is often used in blocks of a low price segment.
2. Active PFC
In active PFC an additional board is used, representing another switching power supply, and increasing the voltage. What helps to achieve close to ideal power factor also helps in voltage stabilization.
Used in crazy blocks.
Clause 1.4
Standard ATX. The standard indicates the presence of wires needed for connection. Better take no less ATX 2.3 as they install additional connectors for video cards 6+6pin - 6+8pin, motherboard 24+4+4
Clause 1.5
1.
You must always pay attention to the indicated block data.
Extremely important! Pay attention to the rated power BP, not peak.
Rated power is the power that is constantly produced. Whereas peak - is issued for a short time.
2.
Power BP on the channel should be +12V.
The more of them, the better. There are also several channels: +12V1, +12V2, +12V3, +12V4, +12V5.
Example:
1. Power supply from ZALMAN.
It has one line + 12V, total 18A and only 216-W.
Active PFC is used, and this is a big plus.
There are already 2 lines +12V (15A and 16A). Although the manufacturer indicated on the sticker 500 watts in "nominal" only 460 watts.
Quite a high-quality block of the budget segment.
3. Another one from ZALMAN.
When choosing a "system unit", we usually look only at its performance and memory size. And we think about how much light the computer shakes only a little later.
We must pay tribute, manufacturers are doing their best to reduce the power consumption of a computer, and they do it quite well. If you compare the "dinosaurs" of a decade ago with modern "machines", then the difference will be impressive. Hence the first conclusion: the newer the computer, the less money it pulls out of your pocket.
How much electricity does a computer use
It is clear that everyone has different configurations, so we will consider the three most typical cases as an example.
Medium power computer with moderate use. Suppose he works, on average, 5 hours a day, mainly for Internet surfing, communication and simple games. Approximate consumption - 180 watts, plus a monitor, another 40 watts. It turns out that the entire system consumes 220 watts per hour. 220 watts x 5 hours = 1.1 kW. Add to this the consumption in standby mode (after all, you don’t turn off the computer from the outlet, right?). 4 watts x 19 hours = 0.076 kW. Total, 1.176 kW per day, 35 kW per month.
gaming computer. A configuration with a powerful processor and a good graphics card draws about 400 watts. Plus monitor, 40 watts. In total, the average power consumption of a computer per hour is 440 watts. Let's say our gamer plays 6 hours a day. 440 W x 6 hours = 2.64 kW per day. Standby will add another 0.072kW (4W x 18). Total, 2.71 kW per day, 81 kW per month.
Server mode, 24x7. The PC is a media server in the home network, it stores photo and video files. The monitor, in most cases, is not used, from the "stuffing" - a hard drive for several terabytes. Such a system consumes, on average, 40 watts per hour. 40 W x 24 hours = 0.96 kW per day, 29 kW per month.
How to find out how much electricity a computer consumes
When buying a 100 watt light bulb, we know in advance how much it takes per hour. With a computer, as can be seen from the examples above, everything is somewhat more complicated. Consumption depends on your system configuration, schedule, and even what you do.
Even on a PC out of the box, it is not always possible to understand its power. What can we say about those assembled to order, where there are no identification marks on the case at all. You will not disassemble it and look for disk data, video cards ... How, in this case, to find out how much electricity the computer consumes per hour? There are at least two ways.
Accurate. There are special devices for calculating the consumption of electricity. A very useful device can be bought both in our stores and in foreign ones. A simple wattmeter will cost $15, more "fancy" models - from $30. You plug it into a socket near the device you are interested in, and you get data on its consumption in the "online" mode.
Exemplary. We turn off all the electricity in the house, leave one 100-watt light bulb on. We count the number of revolutions of the counter, say, in 30 seconds. We turn off the light bulb, turn on the computer, launch Diablo (or any "heavy" application), again count the revolutions, compare. If much more - you can repeat the experiment with a 200-watt light bulb.
Power consumption of the computer in sleep mode
Modern computers are distinguished not only by low consumption, but also by a variety of modes. Many people confuse them, so let's clarify.
Sleep mode: Turns off hard drives, applications remain in RAM, and work resumes almost instantly. Consumes 7-10% of the total system power.
hibernation mode: Turns off the computer completely, data is saved to a separate file, and work resumes more slowly than after sleep. Consumes 5-10 watts.
Complete shutdown or standby mode, as it is sometimes called, by analogy with household appliances. A full logout occurs, all unsaved data is lost. Work begins with a new system boot. Consumes 4-5 watts.
How to reduce computer power consumption
As you can see, in any of the modes, the PC continues, albeit slightly, to consume electricity. Therefore, try, if possible, to disconnect it from the network. And a few more tips for saving when using a computer.
- Buy energy efficient models;
- If it doesn’t matter to you, give preference to a desktop PC;
- Do not wind "to the full" brightness on the monitor;
- Set aside a certain time for work or play, after which turn off the computer. This is much more economical than multiple “sessions” of several minutes.
- Set up a power plan. Set the optimal modes, depending on your schedule and duration of work.
In turn, the thermal power that is released when the power supply element is heated will directly depend on the strength of the current that passes through all consumers.
It should be remembered that the sum of all the powers consumed by the components should not exceed the output power of the power supply.
How to correctly calculate the power of a computer?
When calculating the power of a PC, it is important to consider that the system consumes power unevenly. The maximum takes the moment of turning on a computer or a separate device, reading / writing disks, transferring information from / to a hard disk, running multiple programs at the same time, etc. For devices that, due to their specificity, consume a large amount of energy, manufacturers often indicate the peak power value. It follows that the maximum that the system as a whole will consume can be calculated by simply adding the power of all devices that are connected to the power supply.
Next, we will offer you an approximate diagram of power consumption by various computer components:
- the central processor consumes an average of 50 to 120 watts. Moreover, the higher the clock frequency, the greater the power consumed by it.
- the motherboard consumes an average of 15 to 30 watts. Moreover, if the board has integrated devices, for example, a sound card, then, accordingly, such a board requires more power.
- power consumption of the graphics editor - from 60 to 130 watts. And if the video card has additional power, it consumes more than those that do not have it. Accordingly: 50-70 W - without additional power and 100-130 with it. At moments of maximum load (for example, during resource-intensive games), the power consumption of modern video cards can increase up to 300-400 watts.
- RAM modules consume from 5 to 20 watts. Consumption directly depends on the capacity of the module. In addition, if there are various "hitches" on the memory module, such as filter capacitors, power consumption increases.
- hard drives consume between 15 and 60 watts. Moreover, when the hard drive is actively working (files are being searched, information is being copied or written), power consumption is reduced to a maximum. It also occurs when the computer is turned on, when the hard drive is being diagnosed, which is necessary to identify critical errors.
- 10 to 25 watts are consumed by CD/DVD drives. The value itself depends on the maximum rotation speed of the disks, as well as on the actual mode of operation. Moreover, if the disc is scratched or simply poorly recorded, much more power is consumed, since the drive constantly has to change the rotation speed. The record holders in terms of power consumption are the so-called Combo drives, which combine the capabilities of reading CD and DVD and writing CD-RW.
- Floppy drives consume 5 to 7 watts. In this case, the power consumption depends mainly on the manufacturer. Since the speed of their work remains the same in any modes.
- sound card consumes 5-10 watts. Here, the higher the class of the sound device, the higher the power consumption. So, Hi-Fi devices require an order of magnitude more power than middle-class sound cards.
- cooling system fans consume an average of 1-2 watts. However, it should be remembered that the fans themselves in a computer can be five, or six, or even more: on the processor, video card, hard drive, in the power supply itself, etc.
- input / output ports consume 8-10 watts. In a modern computer, there are usually six such ports: one COM port, 4 USB and one LPT. In addition, a line-in/out is added to the sound card, plus a microphone-in.
- network cards consume an average of 3-5 watts.
Here are some more factors that should be taken into account when we consider such a question as computer power. Having calculated the approximate power figures, before buying a power supply, you should consider that you need to leave some margin due to the upcoming system upgrade opportunities and the installation of additional devices.
Let's remember a simple truth - so that the power supply does not fail and does not burn out, you should not overload it. In addition, cleanliness should be monitored, as simple dust can contribute to the critical overheating of the power supply and its failure.
Some power supply manufacturers provide these “Online power supply calculators”, where you can make a fairly accurate calculation.
Thus, summing up the above information, having become acquainted with the principle of operation of the power supply, as well as with the power consumption indicators of all the main computer devices, we hope that now the question “how to calculate the power of a computer” and choose the best power supply for it will not seem to you solvable. After all, for this you just need to make simple mathematical calculations.
If you still have questions about how to calculate the power of a computer and choose a suitable power supply, then you can always contact the computer help center site, our engineers will advise you on all your questions. In addition, you can order the installation of a new power supply in your system unit from us.
