How to calculate the energy consumption of a Custom PC ?

Are you looking to assemble a Custom PC, and finding out how to calculate energy consumption seems complex? In this article, I break down the various information you need to know before embarking on the assembly of a Custom PC.

How powerful are PC components?

A PC’s power consumption depends on the type of component and its power.
For example, a gamer PC will consume much more power because its components are more powerful than an office PC.

What is the average power consumption of a computer in watts?

A computer’s power consumption can vary considerably depending on the power of the processor, graphics card, connected peripherals and so on.

A PC’s power consumption can range from 300 Watts to 1250 Watts.
The average power consumption of a computer is around 550 Watts.

How to calculate the energy consumption of a Custom PC?

As you’ve seen, PC power consumption is extremely variable, and there’s no room for randomness in this area.

Let’s take the concrete example of a computer on Mesure :

Advice: always go for the highest variable, as it’s better to have a more powerful power supply than a less powerful one. In addition, think about possible upgrades so you don’t have to invest in a new power supply when upgrading your computer’s components.

What is the risk of a lack of power from the power supply?

• System instability : If the power supply is not sufficient to power all PC components, this can lead to instabilities such as system crashes, unexpected reboots or hardware errors.
• Overheating : When the power supply is unable to deliver sufficient power, some components may operate at unstable voltages, causing the computer to overheat.
• Component damage : Under-feeding of components can lead to premature wear and component malfunction.