How much does a gaming pc cost to run?
This worked example uses 450 W, 4 hours on each use day and 300 use days per year. Change any of these inputs in the calculator.
540 kWh/year · 1.80 kWh per use day
Electricity-price sensitivity
| Electricity price | Energy/use day | Annual energy | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15p/kWh | 1.80 kWh/day when used | 540 kWh/year | £81/yr |
| 25p/kWh | 1.80 kWh/day when used | 540 kWh/year | £135/yr |
| 35p/kWh | 1.80 kWh/day when used | 540 kWh/year | £189/yr |
Important assumption
Actual gaming-system draw varies with CPU, GPU, display settings and workload. 450 W is an illustrative whole-PC average while gaming.
What changes gaming pc electricity use?
Gaming-PC demand changes constantly with GPU load, CPU load, frame-rate limits and game settings. The display can also be a meaningful additional load. Idle, desktop and gaming power are therefore very different, so one rated PSU number should not be treated as actual consumption.
Make this estimate more realistic
A plug-in power meter can capture whole-system draw during the games and settings you really use, provided the meter is appropriately rated. Average several sessions, include monitor power if relevant, and multiply by realistic weekly gaming hours rather than maximum PSU capacity.
Electricity prices change, so the 15p, 25p and 35p/kWh rows are sensitivity examples rather than a current-tariff claim. Use the linked calculator with the unit rate shown on your own bill before relying on the annual cost.