Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Getback on June 05, 2008, 07:57:09 PM
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Just finished refixing my other computer. It was down because I pulled the Power Supply out to put in my gaming computer. Put a ps in it and it started right up. Now what concerns me, and this was pointed out by my I.T. guy, is I am now using 1400 watts of power, 650 watts and 750 watts, coming out of the same circuit. Am I asking for trouble? The circuit is a 110 I believe.
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if its on a 20amp breaker, you got 2200 watts. all depends on what else you got on that circuit.
NOT
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In my office I've got 2 computers, both with monitors and 2.1 speakers plus 2 printers, a scanner, a cable modem, a wireless transmitter (to transmit music to my home stereo at the other end of the house), a router, a fax machine, a TV, 2 fans, 2 lamps and probably a few things I've forgotten. These are plugged into two outlets (through surge protectors) which, I'm sure, are both on the same circuit. I think you're ok.
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Does the fact that you power supplies capable of a total of 1400 watts mean that they are producing that much continuously? I doubt it. They may never work at max demand and if they ever do are you likely to have both machines maxed out at the same time. I have two computers (750W PS and 500W PS) plus an LCD and 21" CRT monitor and other goodies on a single 15 amp circuit. I have no problems. I do have UPS on both machines to smooth out any power fluctuations.
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You have to remember, that just cuz your power supply says 650W or 750W on the side of it doesn't mean your computer is drawing that much power. Heck, your computer is maybe using at most 450W or so and thats if your CPU is at 100% and your video card is rendering a high end game.
Computer that sit in idle do very well with power. CPU wattage can go from 150+ on a load to ~40W while idle. If both your computers were operating at the max wattage of your PSU's, you'd be having power problems with your computers (i.e. reboots during games etc).
You can google power supply calculators that give you an approximate on how much wattage your computers are using. LCD Monitors generally use 70-90W's and CRT's 100+.
Power Supply Calculators:
http://educations.newegg.com/tool/psucalc/index.html
http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp
I almost bought one of these my last Newegg order, but it was out of stock. Will tell you wattage usage on an outlet.
P3 Kill A Watt Electricity Load Meter and Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882715001&Tpk=Kill%2bA%2bWatt
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Thanks Fulmar, Well said. You are right I think my comp really only uses about 400 watts.
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Nice calculators, the latter is more accurate though.
The first gave me 585W and the latter 291W and I'm currently running a 420W PSU without problems.
-C+
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Nice calculators, the latter is more accurate though.
The first gave me 585W and the latter 291W and I'm currently running a 420W PSU without problems.
-C+
Yikes! A guy named Charge responding to a thread about outlets!