If you’re curious about gauging your PC’s power consumption on Windows, it’s likely because you suspect your computer might be consuming a significant amount of energy. This is understandable—premium gaming PCs, in particular, often boast high-performance graphics cards that demand considerable wattage. Additionally, your computer’s CPU and other components contribute to its overall power consumption. Therefore, if you’ve opted for top-tier gaming hardware in your laptop or desktop, these robust components could substantially elevate your power usage.
If you want to measure your PC’s power usage, there’s good news and bad news. Let’s address the bad news first: It’s very difficult to measure the exact power draw from the mains supply via software because your computer’s power supply usually doesn’t communicate with the motherboard in a way that enables the total power draw from the mains.
The good news is that there’s still a straightforward way to accurately measure the power draw, although it entails purchasing a product. Additionally, software-based methods allow you to measure the power consumption of the most energy-intensive components of your computer, offering a reasonable estimation of the power draw.
Here’s how to measure your PC’s power usage.
Keep in mind that your PC’s power usage varies depending on the intensity of the tasks it’s handling. For instance, it will consume less power when idle compared to when editing 4K video.
Measuring Your PC’s Power Usage Using a Wattage Meter
To obtain the most accurate measurement of your PC’s power usage, utilize a wattage meter plugged into the mains socket.
Use a wattage meter at the mains socket.
To accurately measure your PC’s energy consumption, the most reliable method is to use a wattage meter connected to the mains, such as the SURAIELEC Watt Meter ($18, available on Amazon). Simply plug your computer’s main power pin into the watt meter and then plug the watt meter into the wall socket. For desktop setups, you’ll also need to repeat this process for your monitor and then add the two wattages together to determine the total system draw.
Measuring Your PC’s Power Consumption Through Software
You can estimate the majority of your PC’s power consumption by utilizing software that accesses the sensors on different components of your computer hardware. In this instance, we’ll use HWiNFO. It’s important to note that this method isn’t highly accurate and will primarily measure the power draw of the two main components: the CPU and GPU. Nevertheless, these components typically contribute significantly to your PC’s overall power consumption.
It’s worth mentioning that this method does not account for your monitor or laptop display. For a comprehensive measurement of your system’s consumption, refer to the wattage meter method described earlier.
- Install and run HWiNFO and click Sensors
Begin by visiting the HWiNFO website and installing the software. It’s a lightweight application, so the installation process should be quick. Once installed, launch the software. With HWiNFO running, navigate to the “Sensors” section and click on it. - Find and check CPU Package Power
Find and select “CPU Package Power” to monitor the total CPU consumption. You’ll see information such as current, minimum measured, maximum measured, and average measured power. These values will fluctuate based on the tasks you perform while HWiNFO is running. - Find and check Total Graphics Power
Find and select “Total Graphics Power” to observe the overall GPU consumption. You’ll find details such as current, minimum measured, maximum measured, and average measured power. These values will fluctuate as you continue to run HWiNFO and engage in tasks of different intensities.
