Save electricty with your computer

Step 2: Type of Computer

This part is usually ignored, because everyone has a personal preference, but this is just here so you know:

In order of electricity use from top to bottom (top uses the most)

PC Desktop
Mac Desktop
Laptop

Desktops use between 60 and 250 watts of power, laptops use 15-45 watts

I'm not sure about linux systems, they're probably either the most or second most efficient.

I use a PC desktop, I like PC's cause I think they're faster and have more compatibility. Sorry Earth!

Comments

[dscodellaro]

This is really misleading information.

Firstoff, a Mac Desktop is made of laptop components, so apart from a huge screen, has equal or near equal power consumption to a laptop.

Operating system does have an impact on power consumption in the loosest sense. That sense being that increased workload from any application (OS, Office, browsers, games) will result in more power drained. We know this is true because when playing a high-end game, the graphics card heats up, and the heat energy comes from electricity. Same idea on a phone (i.e. Iphone), games will make it heat up, and also drain the battery faster.

Therefore, because there are so many varieties of Linux, technically Linux will be the most power efficient because many Linux versions are built specifically to use low power. Also, Macs and Windows PCs are generally loaded with a greater amount of bloat ware which typical users do not remove, which causes increased power drain.

Finally, my computer uses a 1 kW power supply. Desktops may typically use between 60-250, but there are a significant number up to 500W and many high-end up to 1kW or more. Past comments are correct, comptuer power demand is almost entirely dependent

[willrandship]

For all the people who say OS doesn't matter:
Windows is slow after the first 6 months. It takes longer to do the same functions, therefore more power draw. Also, CPU load is increased, which uses more power.

[cwid]

This is incorrect. The operating system on the computer has absolutely nothing to do with its power consumption. It all depends on what hardware you have loaded in the computer. Both Linux and windows can both be run on an extremely wide variety of hardware. Hell you can even run Windows/Linux ON a mac. For example if you have windows on some Bigass gaming rig with 4 graphics cards, double quad core processors, a 12000 rpm 1000 GB hard drive, and a liquid cooling system, it's going to use a hell of a lot more power than a little $400.00 Dell word processing machine. I mean, both would have XP on them, and both could have Linux on them just as easily, but that wouldn't make them use any less or any more power.

[COMMODORE64]

This information is correct. All depends on what specifications you loads inside.

[cwid]

english isn't your first language is it?

[COMMODORE64]

ASL / ESL actually. ( American Sign Language / English Sign Language ) Should have said " It depends on what requirements the hardwares actually need." Thanks for pointing it out.

[cwid]

and the plural of hardware isn't "hardwares"

[chriskarr]

No, the plural of 'hardware' may not be 'hardwares', but multiple types of hardware, such as ram chips and hard drives would be hardwares, just like multiple types of cactus would be cactuses. Most people don't realize this, which is why it is red when you type in cactuses (also, instructables doesn't want us to be vague and use multiple types of hardware as a description in our instructables).

[geterkikzkid]

Yeah, such as: "I cut many types of CHEESES." I don't think you can say "Geeses" however. Hmm, 'Geese'? why isn't the plural of mice Meece? oh well.

[COMMODORE64]

Since when you have some of guts to be sarcastic?

[COMMODORE64]

fine, "hardware". Happy now? :P

[chriskarr]

If you were saying different types of hardware, you were correct. Be happy. Somebody supports you!

[beff50]

no necessarily, if you use a lower os, then your computer uses less power. and there you go, more energy efficient.

[cwid]

Man, what are you talking about? Have YOU ever heard of a "300 watt" OS?

[beff50]

that isn't what i meant. you don't know what you are talking about. if your computer is working to hard running a massive os like vista, your computer will drag in more electricity to power everything. this is because your fans move faster to cool the cpu, the cpu is doing a lot of calculations. and there are even more factors, like if it fills up your ram, you hard drive has to work harder because the ram is filled, so your computer will even sometimes have to run off part of the hd causing it to run faster drawing in more power. so remember, smaller os=happy pc :D

[cwid]

Yeah but running a little fan a few more minutes than normal and and doing a few more calculations with your CPU isn't going to have a substantial effect on how much power your computer is using overall. You can run Vista on a laptop, right? Aren't laptops supposed to use 15 to 45 watts? All I'm saying is that the power comsumption of a computer is NOT determined by what OS it's using, but by what hardware is loaded in it.

[COMMODORE64]

Laptop, depends, if it is mainstream and low cost, then yes. High end laptop such as alienware or XPS, no. they uses 85 - 95 or maybe more. And beside, i have been running Intel 80486 DX2 ever since, it uses only merely 45W, and the psu is 115w. seriously, the psu has nothing to do about it, it is all depends on hardware's power requirement.

[cwid]

OK, it's REALLY misleading to give a ranked list of which op systems are more power effiecient, and in my opinion it's just microsoft hate behind the rankings. The HARDWARE is what's using the power in your computer, not the software

[COMMODORE64]

Try to use Vista as a example. This os did nothing, but forcing you to upgrade to steeper requirement. XP or older uses older, slower requirement, which it is a good way to leave your old computer on, when you are not using it. The major difference is LCD and CRT. LCD saves lots of energy than CRT, so remember to turn off all monitors or at least put it on standby power.

[beff50]

ya dandy, and what im saying is that the harder your system works with a massive os there is a tiny little spick in power. you know what. how about i just post an instructable on how to really save power on a computer? will that help?

[cwid]

And as a side note, Linux systems are also considered PC's, But can be run on almost anything with a processor.. So technically, Linux can fit into the category of a mac, a PC, and a laptop. And actually, so can PC.

[chriskarr]

Just as a side note to a side note, Mac is based off of Linux, that's why they don't just sell the OS for mac, but the whole computers with a backup disk.

[COMMODORE64]

I also forgot to mention about mini-itx boards, they uses much less than 60 watt, and probably less watts than the laptop.

[Grimdopple]

cwid, beffs hella right, the power consumptions has alot to do with the os, the harder your computer works just to sustain it self the more energy it uses.

[cwid]

buddy, what i'm SAYING is that, sure, the operating system you use does have SOME impact on the power consumption, but it really all comes down to HARDWARE, and this instructable saying that linux uses less power than windows is INCORRECT and it should be CHANGED in order to NOT MISLEAD PEOPLE.