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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →There is no evidence-based universal winner. A Raspberry Pi can use little power, but its published figures are for the bare board—not a complete system encoding and streaming continuously. No matched wall-power test establishes whether a used laptop or a Raspberry Pi costs less for the same YouTube stream. Measure each complete setup at the wall while it streams the same video with the same settings, then multiply its energy use by your electricity rate.
What the published power figures do—and do not—tell you
Raspberry Pi Ltd.’s current hardware documentation lists typical active current for the bare board as 600 mA for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and 800 mA for Raspberry Pi 5. At a nominal 5 V, those figures convert to roughly 3 W and 4 W, respectively. They are board-level context, not wall-meter readings for a complete streaming setup, and the documentation notes that peripheral use changes current. Raspberry Pi hardware documentation
Power-supply capacity is not the same as power consumption. Raspberry Pi’s setup guide recommends a 5 V, 3 A supply for Pi 4 and a 5 V, 5 A supply for Pi 5; those are recommended supply ratings, not the boards’ constant draw. Raspberry Pi setup guide
Raspberry Pi’s 2023 Pi 5 announcement says its peak can reach around 12 W under intensive workloads, compared with 8 W for Pi 4. These are peak figures, not 24/7 averages. The announcement also says Pi 5 uses less power than Pi 4 on an identical workload, a reminder that model labels alone do not settle consumption. Raspberry Pi 5 announcement
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A 2018 paper in Agronomy Research describes streaming from a Raspberry Pi to YouTube and notes that transcoding camera output to H.264 can consume significant CPU resources. It shows a past implementation, not how a current Pi performs in a continuous-stream benchmark. 2018 Raspberry Pi streaming paper
There is no corresponding laptop measurement here, and no controlled laptop-versus-Pi test. Comparing a bare-board Pi number with a laptop reading—or treating either device’s idle draw as streaming draw—would not answer the cost question.
Rank #2
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Compare the same stream, not just the computers
For a fair test, fix the workload before measuring. YouTube’s current live encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS and H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1. It recommends constant-bitrate encoding, a two-second keyframe interval, and says not to exceed four seconds. Its H.264 recommendations include 5 Mbps for 720p30, 8 Mbps for 720p60, 5 Mbps for 1080p30, and 6 Mbps minimum / 17 Mbps recommended for 1080p60. Use the bitrate range for your chosen codec, resolution and frame rate; do not mix settings from different codec columns. YouTube live encoder settings
Choose one target resolution, frame rate, codec and bitrate, then use those settings on both machines. A system that cannot sustain that workload is not a valid low-power substitute simply because it draws less while idle.
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Check channel and connection requirements
- YouTube says the channel must be verified and must have no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days. Its guidance covers mobile, webcam and encoder routes. YouTube live-streaming eligibility
- The upload connection must support the stream’s total bitrate. YouTube Help says: “The total bitrate you’re streaming cannot exceed the amount of upload bandwidth available. Leave a bit of room (20% recommended).” Test before starting and monitor stream health. YouTube Streaming tips
- A laptop and webcam can stream, according to YouTube, but that does not establish that every older laptop can encode and send your chosen stream reliably.
Measure each complete setup at the wall
- Prepare the laptop and Pi with the same stream source and encoder settings. Use the same resolution, frame rate, codec and bitrate, and let each reach steady operation.
- Connect a plug-in electricity usage meter between the wall outlet and the device’s power supply. Measure the full system as actually used: power supply, storage, cooling, attached devices, and the laptop display in its intended on/off state.
- Record the average watts over a representative period of active streaming. Include any attached capture device or other equipment needed by that setup. Do not compare the Pi’s documented board current with the laptop’s wall-meter result.
- Calculate the energy for your chosen operating period, then apply your actual utility tariff.
A plug-in electricity usage meter is a category-level way to measure stream setup wall power; no particular model is established here as tested or recommended.
Calculate cost from your own readings
Energy (kWh) = measured watts × operating hours ÷ 1,000.
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Electricity cost = energy (kWh) × your price per kWh.
For a full non-leap year of uninterrupted operation, use 8,760 hours. For any other schedule, use the hours you actually expect to run. Enter your local currency and tariff; there is no single electricity rate that applies to every country. Recalculate separately for each measured setup. This gives electricity cost only, not purchase or setup payback.
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- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 12" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy laptop support with the integrated device ledge.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
- Durable Surface: Work with confidence on our lap desk's solid surface, featuring a blush pink color, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent your laptop from overheating.
- On-the-Go Convenience: With an integrated handle and lightweight design (2.14 lbs), our lap desk is portable for travel or moving around the house, offering flexibility in any space.
Choose on stability as well as electricity cost
The lower measured bill is only one part of a useful always-on setup. Compare whether each machine can sustain the selected encode settings, keep a stable upload connection, and recover from interruptions. YouTube recommends upload headroom and monitoring stream health; a small projected energy difference may matter less in practice than whether the stream remains stable. The available figures do not establish a universal reliability or cost winner between old laptops and Pi models.
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