Question 1

How much does a home server cost to run per year?

Accepted Answer

A typical low-power home server (10-20W idle) costs $10-25 per year at average US electricity rates ($0.12/kWh). Higher-power servers (100W+) can cost $100-200+ annually. Use our calculator to get an exact estimate based on your power consumption and local electricity rates.

Question 2

What is idle power consumption?

Accepted Answer

Idle power is the electricity your server uses when running but not under heavy load. Most home servers spend 70-90% of their time at idle. Modern efficient Mini PCs (Intel N100) idle at 6-15W, while older desktop servers may idle at 50-100W or more.

Question 3

How do I measure my server's power consumption?

Accepted Answer

Use a plug-in power meter like a Kill-A-Watt or a smart plug with power monitoring. Measure at the wall outlet for accurate readings. Check both idle power (server running, no load) and peak power (under heavy load like transcoding or compiling).

Question 4

What affects PSU efficiency?

Accepted Answer

PSU (Power Supply Unit) efficiency determines how much power is lost as heat. 80+ Bronze PSUs are ~82% efficient, Gold ~87%, Platinum ~90%, and Titanium ~94%. Lower efficiency means higher wall power draw. Many Mini PCs use external power bricks rated 85-90% efficient.

Question 5

Should I upgrade to a more efficient server?

Accepted Answer

Use our ROI calculator to find out. If you're running an old server (100W+ idle), upgrading to a modern Mini PC (10-15W idle) can save $75-150/year in electricity. The upgrade typically pays for itself in 1-3 years depending on your electricity rates.

⚡ Power Cost Calculator

💡 Quick Comparison

🔌 Measurement Tips

⚡ Power Cost Calculator

💡 Quick Comparison

🔌 Measurement Tips