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how to find watt usage

C

ColdCrow

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 31, 2005
Messages
289
Is there a program like Everest or something that will display the total watt usage of my pc? I using a 425 watt UPS and I have a 750 watt psu. I just want to know if this 425 watt UPS will handle whatever wattage my pc is typically using.
 
Most UPSs these days have load monitoring. Connect to your PC, install necessary software, read value in %.

If not, you basically have to buy something like a Kill-a-Watt or just make an estimate.

Current draw on the rails isn't measured, and even if it were, that doesn't tell you much about draw from the wall since the power supply's efficiency depends on several variables you also aren't measuring. It is technically doable, but would add fairly considerably to the cost of a modest PSU. Maybe someone has done it.
 
Thanks. I'm waiting for a serial to usb adapter to actually get the software working. So I hope to find it there. ty ty
 
I bought one of these. Really cool and can you anywhere.
Click to expand...

I have the same thing. At the same time that it is cool, it can be really depressing when you hook it up to electric heaters, toasters, coffee machines, or anything that draws a ton of electricity. You can almost see your utility bill sky rocketing.

At the same time, because of it I have reduced my utility bill (more than the $20 cost of the item) over the last six because I am much more aware of the power I am using.
 
PFC makes the current easier to measure accurately. Don't expect incredible accuracy out of these, but with a PFC'd supply they should be reasonable.
 
keenan said:
PFC makes the current easier to measure accurately. Don't expect incredible accuracy out of these, but with a PFC'd supply they should be reasonable.
Click to expand...
Whatever the reason, Kill-A-Watts provide inaccurate measurements when paired with many APFC PSUs. Coupled with their already questionable accuracy, they are not devices that you can rely on to provide absolute measurements. Kill-A-Watt readings should never be treated as anything more than ballpark numbers.
 
Zero82z said:
Whatever the reason, Kill-A-Watts provide inaccurate measurements when paired with many APFC PSUs. Coupled with their already questionable accuracy, they are not devices that you can rely on to provide absolute measurements. Kill-A-Watt readings should never be treated as anything more than ballpark numbers.
Click to expand...

If anything, it should be MORE accurate APFC. Do you have a source that discloses the test setup?

This is the only legit test I've been able to find, and it shows the Kill-A-Watt has very good accuracy (for $20). http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2695
 
Zero82z said:
Whatever the reason, Kill-A-Watts provide inaccurate measurements when paired with many APFC PSUs. Coupled with their already questionable accuracy, they are not devices that you can rely on to provide absolute measurements. Kill-A-Watt readings should never be treated as anything more than ballpark numbers.
Click to expand...

If anything, it should be MORE accurate APFC. Do you have a source that discloses the test setup?

This is the only legit test I've been able to find, and it shows the Kill-A-Watt has very good accuracy (for $20). http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2695

EDIT: Just noticed some of the links above to someone's test here on [H]. Looks like it requires further investigation.
 
Zero82z said:
Whatever the reason, Kill-A-Watts provide inaccurate measurements when paired with many APFC PSUs. Coupled with their already questionable accuracy, they are not devices that you can rely on to provide absolute measurements. Kill-A-Watt readings should never be treated as anything more than ballpark numbers.
Click to expand...

Call me an idiot skeptic, but I can only find one person that's reported this, and I can't think of any mechanism that would cause it, especially with an APFC load. I can't help but think there must be something wrong with his KaW or measurement methodology, the magnitude of the error is just too high, and it's in the opposite direction than I would expect. I would be very curious to see shots of the load I and V waveforms from this test.

If I had one to test, I'd investigate this myself. Might just have to buy one...
 
keenan said:
Call me an idiot skeptic, but I can only find one person that's reported this, and I can't think of any mechanism that would cause it, especially with an APFC load. I can't help but think there must be something wrong with his KaW or measurement methodology, the magnitude of the error is just too high, and it's in the opposite direction than I would expect. I would be very curious to see shots of the load I and V waveforms from this test.
Click to expand...

Actually Oklahoma Wolf of JonnyGuru.com also reported the similar issues in this thread:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1032190418

That should help answer your question why the KAW is inaccurate when it comes to PSUs with APFC.

Also, JonnyGuru of JonnyGuru.com himself acknowledge the inaccuracies of a KAW (Post #7):
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5977

So that's three PSU experts reporting inaccuracies with the KAW.

desolatordan said:
This is the only legit test I've been able to find, and it shows the Kill-A-Watt has very good accuracy (for $20). http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2695

EDIT: Just noticed some of the links above to someone's test here on [H]. Looks like it requires further investigation.
Click to expand...
See the poster named Spectre in that JonnyGuru link? That's Paul_Johnson, the PSU editor here at HardOCP.com
 
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Good to know, I didn't buy it myself. I decide to shift all funds to a 40" Samsung LCD TV instead. (Layaway for 4 weeks. Got a deal.)
 
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