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There is no single electricity cost for running a used Dell OptiPlex around the clock: the answer depends on its average power draw while streaming, any other equipment left on, and your electricity rate. Measure the setup at the wall during the stream you plan to run, then use annual kWh = average watts × 8.76 and multiply by your all-in price per kWh. At the 2025 U.S. residential average of 17.30¢/kWh, a continuous 13 W draw works out to about $19.70 a year, or $1.64 a month. That is an example calculation from an idle reading, not a verified streaming measurement.
Calculate the cost from your measured power draw
For equipment running continuously, the arithmetic is simple:
- Measure average watts: use a plug-in energy monitor at the wall while the OptiPlex is performing the actual streaming workload.
- Calculate annual energy: average watts × 8,760 hours ÷ 1,000 = annual kilowatt-hours. Equivalently, average watts × 8.76 = annual kWh.
- Apply your tariff: annual kWh × your all-in electricity price per kWh = annual cost. Divide by 12 for an approximate monthly cost.
For example, at 17.30¢/kWh, each watt used continuously costs about $1.515 per year. The following scenarios apply that rate to published idle readings; neither is a measurement of 24/7 YouTube encoding.
| Average draw used in calculation | Annual energy | Annual cost at 17.30¢/kWh | Approximate monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 W | 113.9 kWh | $19.70 | $1.64 |
| 15.8 W | 138.4 kWh | $23.95 | $2.00 |
For the most useful estimate, measure after the computer has settled into its intended streaming operation. Measure only the OptiPlex if you want its cost; include a display, capture device, external drive, or other powered equipment if you want the whole setup’s cost.
#1 Best Overall
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What published OptiPlex readings can—and can’t—tell you
OptiPlex 7070 Micro
A ServeTheHome review measured just over 13 W at idle for a six-core Dell OptiPlex 7070 Micro at 120 V. The reviewer said they generally assume 9–12 W idle for these nodes. These are figures for a particular Micro system and test setup; they do not establish the draw of another used OptiPlex or the power required by an active stream. ServeTheHome’s OptiPlex 7070 Micro review
OptiPlex 7050 SFF
Gough’s Tech Zone reported 13.3 W idle without peripherals and 15.8 W with peripherals connected at a Windows 11 desktop, measured with a Tektronix PA1000 power analyzer. In its Ubuntu 24.04 test with a SATA SSD, the reported readings were 12.7 W without peripherals and 14.9 W with them. Prime95/mprime stress testing drew roughly 85–89 W depending on operating system and peripherals. That stress-test figure is not an estimate of YouTube streaming consumption. Gough’s Tech Zone’s OptiPlex 7050 SFF test
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- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Model, processor, storage, operating system, attached devices, and workload all affect consumption. Treat idle readings as context, not as a prediction of your own live-stream draw. Similarly, the 90 W adapter reported for the 7070 Micro is its adapter rating, not a constant power draw: multiplying that rating by 24 hours would not give a sound electricity estimate.
Use your local electricity price, not a national estimate
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2025 averages, identified as based on Electric Power Monthly Table 5.3 and February 2026 preliminary data, provide useful U.S. context:
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- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
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- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- 17.30¢/kWh for U.S. residential customers.
- 13.41¢/kWh for U.S. commercial customers.
- 13.63¢/kWh across U.S. customer types.
- 8.20–35.72¢/kWh across states for the annual average retail price across customer types.
These are U.S. averages, not a substitute for your bill. Your location, customer type, and applicable rate determine the cost; the EIA notes that factors such as fuel availability and costs and pricing regulation contribute to price differences. Use your own all-in per-kWh rate in the calculation. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly
Measure the stream you will actually run
A useful test includes the OptiPlex encoding the video and sending it to YouTube in the intended configuration. Let the system reach steady operation, then record average wall consumption over a representative period with a plug-in energy monitor. If the monitor reports energy in kWh rather than average watts, divide the measured kWh by the test duration in hours and multiply by 1,000 to get average watts.
Rank #4
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- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Keep the workload and measurement scope consistent when comparing setups. Note the computer’s form factor and hardware, operating system, stream resolution, frame rate and codec, peripherals included, and local electricity rate. A number measured with a monitor and external drives attached is a total for that setup, not the computer alone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Streaming settings matter for upload, not as a direct power-cost formula
YouTube’s live encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS ingestion, H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1 video, and frame rates up to 60 fps. YouTube recommends constant bitrate, a two-second keyframe interval, and not exceeding four seconds. Its H.264 recommendations include 10 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 17 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps; recommended bitrates vary with resolution, frame rate, and codec, so check YouTube’s current table for your selected settings. YouTube also recommends testing with representative audio and movement, monitoring stream health, and says, “We recommend running a speed test to test your upload bitrate.” YouTube: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
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- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
These bitrate recommendations concern the stream’s upload bandwidth and quality. They do not tell you how many watts the OptiPlex will use. YouTube transcodes live streams into multiple output formats for viewers, but that does not make the cited idle or stress-test readings a measure of your computer’s streaming draw.
Keep a DIY stream running—or let it run in the cloud
What the OptiPlex approach involves
A local computer can keep sending a live stream only while the computer, network connection, and streaming software remain operational. Budget for the measured electricity use of the complete setup and consider what happens if power or internet access is interrupted. The examples above do not establish how much a particular OptiPlex will draw during encoding; measure your own workload rather than estimating from the adapter rating or an unrelated idle test.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for keeping uploaded videos live 24/7. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; your home computer does not need to stay on. It streams the uploaded material as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot regardless of quality, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or its pricing page for details. To try it, start your free day with StreamNeo.
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