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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The electricity cost of running a fanless PC for a 24/7 YouTube stream depends on its average whole-system power draw at the wall and your electricity rate. Use this formula: annual cost = average watts ÷ 1,000 × 8,760 hours × price per kWh. Because no verified figure establishes the draw of a fanless PC streaming YouTube continuously, measure your own setup rather than treating a CPU rating or adapter label as its consumption.
Estimate annual and monthly electricity cost
A 24/7 schedule runs for 8,760 hours in a 365-day year. At a hypothetical steady 10 watts, the PC would use 87.6 kWh in that year:
10 W ÷ 1,000 × 8,760 hours = 87.6 kWh
Multiply those kilowatt-hours by your actual tariff. The following examples use hypothetical rates and currency units; they are arithmetic illustrations, not typical tariffs or measured PC consumption.
| Hypothetical electricity rate | Annual cost at 10 W | Monthly average |
|---|---|---|
| 0.05 currency units/kWh | 4.38 currency units | 0.365 currency units |
| 0.12 currency units/kWh | 10.512 currency units | 0.876 currency units |
| 0.24 currency units/kWh | 21.024 currency units | 1.752 currency units |
| 0.40 currency units/kWh | 35.04 currency units | 2.92 currency units |
For another average wattage, multiply the example costs by your watts divided by 10. For a more exact estimate over any period, multiply the observed average watts by operating hours, divide by 1,000, then multiply by your price per kWh. The result changes linearly: doubling watts, operating time, or the tariff doubles the energy cost.
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Measure the PC’s actual power draw
Use a plug-in meter at the socket
Measure the complete PC while it is doing the work you intend to run, including the YouTube stream. A plug-in electricity meter can report wall power; GMKtec’s September 30, 2026 guide describes the useful figure as the complete computer’s socket draw during your own work. Wall measurement also accounts for power-supply conversion losses.
- Plug the PC’s power adapter into a plug-in electricity meter, then connect the meter to the wall outlet.
- Run the streaming setup under its normal conditions and intended resolution. Allow it to settle, then record or observe average watts over a representative period rather than relying on a brief peak or a single moment.
- Use the average watts in the cost formula, and use the tariff from your current electricity bill.
Keep the measurement scope clear. If the meter also powers a monitor, speakers, router, or other equipment, the calculation covers those devices too. Measure only the PC to estimate the PC’s cost; include and name additional equipment when estimating the whole setup.
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Why CPU TDP and adapter ratings are not enough
CPU thermal design power is not the whole computer’s wall draw. Nor is the maximum rating printed on a power adapter a reading of what the PC actually consumes. A manufacturer’s description of the ASUS ExpertCenter PL64-D1, for example, identifies a fanless chassis and support for a CPU of up to 15 watts; that CPU specification does not establish whole-system power use or confirm suitability for continuous YouTube streaming.
Idle and active-use readings can differ. General mini-PC power guides distinguish between those states, but they do not provide a verified measurement for a fanless PC running a 24/7 YouTube stream. Do not substitute an idle reading for the streaming workload.
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What the electricity estimate does—and does not—include
The calculation estimates energy use, not the full cost of operating a stream. It excludes the PC’s purchase price and any separate costs from internet service or other equipment unless those devices are included in the meter reading. To compare hardware options fairly, measure average whole-system watts using the same streaming workload, then apply the same hours and local tariff; separately assess whether each machine can handle your intended resolution and reliability needs.
No named fanless PC in the available figures has a verified 24/7 YouTube-streaming wattage, and a fanless design alone does not determine consumption. The estimate becomes useful when you supply your own measured average and current electricity rate.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded videos playing as a YouTube live stream without leaving a PC running at home, StreamNeo runs the loop from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; uploads stream as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. The monthly option is $9.99 per month.
Quick Recap
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