Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!motcid!dhiman
From: dhiman@motcid.UUCP (Ravinder Dhiman)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Leaving computer equip. on (was: Monitor reliabilty)
Message-ID: <4349@cocoa11.UUCP>
Date: 16 Sep 90 14:05:40 GMT
References: <1081@beguine.UUCP> <1990Sep16.084439.28861@uncecs.edu>
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Heights, IL
Lines: 41

dmimi@uncecs.edu (Miriam Clifford) writes:


>Does a pc actually draw 200 watts?  All varieties of pc?  Does it draw that
>much constantly?  Or is the power usage higher when the machine is actually in
>use than it is when it is idle but on?

In answer to your first question, it depends.  The 200 watt (or whatever
the number may be) figure just means that the power supply is CAPABLE
of supplying (sp?) that amount of power.  A computer with a 200 watt power
supply will usually be taking up less power than the 200 watts available.

In the case of a computer loaded with relatively high power consumption 
boards (or other devices), may take up close to the maximum rated capacity
of the power supply.

Also, the amount of power consumed by a computer depends on the type and 
speed of the computer.  An IBM PC (or it equivalent) require less power
than a `386 based machine; a 20 MHz `386 will take up a  little less 
power than a 33 MHz `386, and so on..

BTW, the above paragraph assumes all other thing being "equal."

As to your last two questions, unless the computer is providing power
to some small electro-mechanical gadget which turns on and off, the power
consumption should be pretty constant regardless of whether the computer is
sitting "idle" or actually doing something.

BTW, even when the computer is "sitting idle," it is doing it's own
housekeeping (refreshing the RAM, waiting on input indications, etc..).


Hope that answers your questions.


----
Ravi Dhiman
Motorola, Inc.		M/S IL27-N276
Cellular Infrstructure Div.
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Disclaimer: My opinions only, not those of my employer.