Question How to check how much watts is my computer using?

[ipwn3r456]

I want to know if there is any software that can detect how much power my system is using, because I am curious about power consumption. Is there a software that can detect how much power my system is using? Or do I have to buy one of those power meters?

 

[randomkid]

If your intention is to measure power consumption in real time, I would say you would need the power meter. I know of no software that can measure but on the other hand, I haven't really looked yet. It is interesting if someone can give a good answer here.

In the meantime, you can use this to estimate but definitely its far from what you want:
http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

 

[ipwn3r456]

I want the exact power consumption in real time, yes. So where can I get one for a cheap price? Can anyone put a link somewhere? Amazon, Ebay is okay.

 

[clutchc]

I would recommend "one of those power meters" you refer to. Although the Kill-A-Watt meter will only read the wattage on the primary side of the PSU, the secondary side will be only slightly less than the reading you get (due to inductive and capacitive reactance). The Kill-A Watt meters are fairly inexpensive.
http://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4400-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU

 

[ipwn3r456]

I would recommend "one of those power meters" you refer to. Although the Kill-A-Watt meter will only read the wattage on the primary side of the PSU, the secondary side will be only slightly less than the reading you get (due to inductive and capacitive reactance). The Kill-A Watt meters are fairly inexpensive.
http://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4400-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU

Do you any softwares that can detect power consumption? Thanks for the link.

 

[clutchc]

Do you any softwares that can detect power consumption? Thanks for the link.

No, I've never known of any. That doesn't mean there is none. It just means I never heard of any. Still, I would opt for the meter over any software that may/may not be available. Just keep in mind that the meter will show a slightly higher wattage than the computer is actually using. Plus, the meter will provide other interesting information pertaining to Amperage, Voltage, power cost, etc. And, you can use the meter on any outlet for other devices as well.

 

[ipwn3r456]

No, I've never known of any. That doesn't mean there is none. It just means I never heard of any. Still, I would opt for the meter over any software that may/may not be available. Just keep in mind that the meter will show a slightly higher wattage than the computer is actually using. Plus, the meter will provide other interesting information pertaining to Amperage, Voltage, power cost, etc. And, you can use the meter on any outlet for other devices as well.

Are power meters usually accurate? Like how much percent?

 

[dudewitbow]

I know there was some program that caught my cpus amperage and voltage(in return, gets you wattage) from one of my installation cds but not the gpus consumption and the rest of the systems consumption

 

[dudewitbow]

Are power meters usually accurate? Like how much percent?

its not enar 100% accurate, since one:

there is no psu in existence that is 100% efficient(even platinum rated psus are only ~90% efficient). efficiency depends on the different levels of loads. the reason why the wall wattage is higher is because the psu is accidentally turning some of the wattage into heat rather than electricity

 

[ipwn3r456]

I know there was some program that caught my cpus amperage and voltage(in return, gets you wattage) from one of my installation cds but not the gpus consumption and the rest of the systems consumption

I already have a program that detects the power consumption of the CPU. That's why I really want to see if they actually have those softwares that can detects system power consumption.

 

[ipwn3r456]

its not enar 100% accurate, since one:

there is no psu in existence that is 100% efficient(even platinum rated psus are only ~90% efficient). efficiency depends on the different levels of loads. the reason why the wall wattage is higher is because the psu is accidentally turning some of the wattage into heat rather than electricity

Nice to know that. Thanks.

 

[clutchc]

Are power meters usually accurate? Like how much percent?

The Kill-A-Watt meter has an accuracy of .2% as listed in the specs.

 

[ipwn3r456]

The Kill-A-Watt meter has an accuracy of .2% as listed in the specs.

0.2% accuracy? That doesn't make sense at all. More like its 99.8% accuracy. I don't think power meters are not that low accuracy...

 

[clutchc]

0.2% accuracy? That doesn't make sense at all. More like its 99.8% accuracy. I don't think power meters are not that low accuracy...

My bad. I should have stated the accuracy was within .2%.

 

[ipwn3r456]

My bad. I should have stated the accuracy was within .2%.

Oh. That makes ALOT more sense. Never thought those meters are that accurate. I was thinking like 90 - 95%... But i checked the item on amazon, it said up to 15 amps... computers use more than that... Will it works still on computers?

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

Oh. That makes ALOT more sense. Never thought those meters are that accurate. I was thinking like 90 - 95%... But i checked the item on amazon, it said up to 15 amps... computers use more than that... Will it works still on computers?

That's 15 Amps AC not DC. A normal home power outlet can only provide 20 Amps AC, and any normal PSU would never pull that kind of amperage (I don't know of any normal consumer grade PSU's that DO actually).

 

[ipwn3r456]

That's 15 Amps AC not DC. A normal home power outlet can only provide 20 Amps AC, and any normal PSU would never pull that kind of amperage (I don't know of any normal consumer grade PSU's that DO actually).

So it does work with computers right? Sorry I am not good at stuff like these...

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

So it does work with computers right? Sorry I am not good at stuff like these...

Yep.

 

[ipwn3r456]

Yep.

Thanks for the help. Looks like I will have to get one of those later on...

 

[ipwn3r456]

Best answer selected by ipwn3r456.

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

Thanks for the help. Looks like I will have to get one of those later on...

No problem.

Although I really should defer BA to clutch, since he suggested it originally.

 

[HeroicKevin92]

I want to know if theres like a software that can detect how much power is my system using, because I am somehow curious about power consumption. Is there a software that can detect how much power is my system using? Or do I have to buy one of those power meters?

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/fe9e10c5-5c5b-450c-a674-daf55565f794/
Here you go boss man. Sorry I'm late

 

[ipwn3r456]

I want to know if theres like a software that can detect how much power is my system using, because I am somehow curious about power consumption. Is there a software that can detect how much power is my system using? Or do I have to buy one of those power meters?

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/fe9e10c5-5c5b-450c-a674-daf55565f794/
Here you go boss man. Sorry I'm late

I wasn't expecting someone to reply this that late... I got myself a power meter now, so everything is fine. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[prime38time]

I want the exact power consumption in real time, yes. So where can I get one for a cheap price? Can anyone put a link somewhere? Amazon, Ebay is okay.

if you live in the states this would work quite well.....otherwise purchase one to work in your country's power grid

 

[RoamingDog]

If you have a good quality UPS (and you should), it may include power consumption among the things it monitors. With a USB connection you can log the usage information.

Otherwise, for less than $20 you can get one of the Kill-A-Watt P3 meters.