Short answer: a gaming PC drawing 300W for four hours a day costs roughly $80 to $90 a year in electricity at 17 cents per kWh. Moving from Bronze to Gold saves a few dollars a year. Going beyond Gold saves less again.
The formula
Yearly cost = (power your parts draw ÷ efficiency) × hours per day × 365 ÷ 1000 × price per kWh.
Example: 300W at 90% efficiency, four hours a day, at $0.17 per kWh. That’s 333W from the wall, 487 kWh a year, about $83.
Yearly cost by efficiency
| Load and hours | Bronze 85% | Gold 90% | Platinum 92% | Titanium 94% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300W, 2 hours a day | $44 | $41 | $40 | $40 |
| 300W, 4 hours a day | $88 | $83 | $81 | $79 |
| 300W, 8 hours a day | $175 | $165 | $162 | $158 |
| 500W, 4 hours a day | $146 | $138 | $135 | $132 |
| 500W, 8 hours a day | $292 | $276 | $270 | $264 |
At $0.17 per kWh, using the 50% load figures from the 80 Plus standard. Real units vary with load.
What each step saves
| Step up | 300W, 4 hours a day | 500W, 8 hours a day |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze to Gold | About $4.90 a year | About $16.20 a year |
| Gold to Platinum | About $1.80 a year | About $6 a year |
| Platinum to Titanium | About $1.70 a year | About $5.70 a year |
When higher efficiency pays off
- The PC runs at high load for many hours a day, such as rendering or AI work.
- Electricity is expensive where you live.
- You want less heat and a quieter fan. That’s often the bigger benefit.
For a typical gaming PC, Gold is the sweet spot. See efficiency ratings explained.
Idle and always-on PCs
A PC that’s on all day spends most of its hours near idle, where efficiency is lower. For servers and always-on machines, light-load efficiency matters more. See power supplies for home servers.
Does a bigger power supply cost more to run?
Barely. It only supplies what your parts draw. See is a bigger power supply wasteful.
- Gold, the sweet spot · Tier ACorsair RMx (2024)80 Plus Gold · Fully modular · ATX · 750/850/1000WCybenetics Gold and quiet.Check 850W price
- Platinum · Tier ACorsair SF Platinum (2024)80 Plus Platinum · Fully modular · SFX · 750/850/1000WPlatinum efficiency in SFX.Check 850W price
- Titanium · Tier Abe quiet! Dark Power 1480 Plus Titanium · Fully modular · ATX · 850/1000/1200WFor long hours at high load.Check 850W price
Questions
How much electricity does a gaming PC use?
It depends on your parts and hours. A 300W load for four hours a day is about 490 kWh a year at the wall.
Will a Platinum power supply lower my bill?
Slightly. Over Gold, it saves a dollar or two a year for typical gaming.
Does a power supply use power when the PC is off?
A tiny amount in standby. Cybenetics measures it.
How do I find my PC’s actual power draw?
A plug-in power meter between the wall and the PC shows it.
Is Titanium worth it to save money?
Rarely. It pays off with long hours at high load or high electricity prices.
Sources
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