Gaming PCs have massive power consumption variance - a budget system with integrated graphics uses 150W while high-end rigs with RTX 4090 GPUs can draw 600-800W under load. If you game 6 hours daily, the difference between a 200W and 600W system is $105/year in electricity costs.
Adjust the settings below to see real-time cost estimates for your Gaming PC
Check your device label or manual for wattage
Default: $0.16/kWh (America average)
⚠️ These are estimates based on continuous usage at the specified wattage. Actual costs may vary based on usage patterns, thermostat cycling, and local electricity rates.
Average running costs for a 400W Gaming PC at $0.16/kWh (US average)
| Usage | Energy (kWh) | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Hour | 0.40 | $0.064 |
| 8 Hours/Day | 3.20 | $0.51 |
| Per Month (30 days) | 96.00 | $15.36 |
| Per Year (365 days) | 1168.00 | $186.88 |
* Based on 8 hours daily usage. Use the calculator above for your specific usage pattern.
Enable power-saving mode when idle - modern CPUs/GPUs drop to 20-30W at desktop vs 100-150W without proper power management
Cap your frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate - rendering 300 FPS on a 144Hz monitor wastes 50-100W for frames you can't see
Undervolt your GPU and CPU - reduces power by 15-25% with minimal performance impact (RTX 3080 drops from 350W to 280W)
Budget PC (200W): $0.032/hour. Mid-range (400W): $0.064/hour. High-end RTX 4090 build (700W): $0.112/hour. At 6 hours daily gaming, that's $5.76, $11.52, or $20.16 per month respectively at $0.16/kWh. Idle power adds another $2-5/month if left on 24/7.
Yes. A PS5 uses 100-200W gaming, costing $0.016-0.032/hour. A high-end gaming PC uses 400-700W, costing $0.064-0.112/hour - that's 2-4x more. However, PCs can be upgraded with efficient components, while console power is fixed.