Short answer: the published examples suggest that continuous YouTube playback can use roughly 129–255 kWh per year, depending on the mini PC and test setup. That is not a controlled AMD-versus-Intel result—and it is not a measurement of broadcasting a loop as a live stream. CNX Software measured browser playback on two different systems under different conditions, so use the figures as reference points and measure your own setup for a useful cost estimate.
What the published figures measure—and what they do not
Here, “YouTube loop stream” needs a distinction: playing a YouTube video in a browser is a viewer workload; sending a continuous live broadcast to YouTube is a creator workload. The cited CNX Software reviews measured browser playback, not a live encoder and uploader. Their readings therefore cannot establish the electricity cost of broadcasting a loop 24/7.
The figures below are whole-system readings taken at the wall, which are more useful for estimating electricity use than processor TDP or CPU-only telemetry. They include the tested computer and the connected equipment described in each review; they are not measurements of an isolated processor.
Published mini PC playback readings
| System and test | Playback wall draw | Context and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| GEEKOM A7 2026 Edition, Ryzen 5 7545U | 23.0–29.1 W | CNX Software measured YouTube 4K/60 playback in Firefox on Ubuntu 26.04 on June 27, 2026. The system had 16 GB DDR5 RAM and a 500 GB M.2 SSD; Wi-Fi 6, a USB RF keyboard/mouse dongle, and a KTC 4K monitor were connected. CNX reported smooth playback through 4K/60. CNX Software review |
| MINIX NEO Z100-0dB, Intel N100 | 14.7–17.9 W | CNX Software measured YouTube 8K/60 playback in Chrome on Windows 11 in its February 25, 2024 review. The fanless system had 16 GB DDR4 and a 512 GB SSD; Wi-Fi 6, a USB RF keyboard/mouse dongle, and a VGA screen connected through an HDMI-to-VGA adapter were attached. The review reported playback up to 8K/30 without issue, with some dropped frames at 4K/8K 60. CNX Software review |
These are examples, not a matched benchmark: resolution and frame rate, operating system, browser, hardware, display, peripherals, and review date differ. The lower reading in this pair does not prove that Intel mini PCs use less power than AMD systems.
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A second Intel example shows system variation
CNX Software reported 10.9–15 W for YouTube 8K/60 playback in Chrome on Windows 11 Pro on a GEEKOM Mini Air12 Lite with an Intel N100. Wi-Fi, a USB keyboard and mouse, and a drawing tablet were attached. This is another system-specific reading, not an Intel platform average. CNX Software review
Estimate electricity use and energy cost
Use average wall watts for the workload you care about. For a 30-day month:
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monthly kWh = average wall watts × hours per day × 30 ÷ 1,000
estimated energy charge = monthly kWh × your marginal electricity price per kWh
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For a system running continuously for a year:
annual kWh = average wall watts × 24 × 365 ÷ 1,000 = average watts × 8.76
Applying that arithmetic to the published playback ranges gives:
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| Playback example | 24/7 annual energy use |
|---|---|
| GEEKOM A7 2026 Edition, Ryzen 5 7545U, 23.0–29.1 W playback range | About 201.5–254.9 kWh/year |
| MINIX NEO Z100-0dB, Intel N100, 14.7–17.9 W playback range | About 128.8–156.8 kWh/year |
These annual figures are extrapolations from review readings, not measured annual consumption. To turn kWh into an energy-charge estimate, multiply by your own marginal rate. A bill can also include fixed charges, taxes, or tiered rates, so this calculation is not a bill prediction. No single electricity price applies worldwide.
How to make a fair comparison for your setup
- Define the workload. If you want a live broadcast, test the broadcast itself. Browser playback readings do not tell you what encoding and uploading will draw.
- Match playback conditions. Use the same video resolution and frame rate, browser, operating system, and hardware-acceleration settings on each candidate PC. A 4K/60 test is not directly comparable to 8K/60.
- Keep the whole setup consistent. Connect the same display and peripherals, and include any always-on equipment you want counted. Wall-meter readings include whatever is plugged into the measured setup.
- Measure at the wall. Use a plug-in wall-power meter during a representative period of steady playback. Record the average watts rather than relying on a brief peak or an idle reading.
- Account for non-playback hours. If the PC stays on between loops, include those hours at their actual draw. Use a separate reading for idle or other activity rather than treating playback watts as an all-day average.
- Apply your tariff. Multiply the resulting kWh by your local marginal energy price per kWh; do not assume a rate from another country or region.
Why a YouTube live loop needs its own power measurement
A live-loop setup may decode video, encode a stream, and upload continuously. Its draw depends on the computer, encoding method, stream settings, and connected equipment. The cited reviews did not test that task, so their playback wattages should not be presented as live-stream measurements or used to calculate a live broadcaster’s exact cost.
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If you plan to broadcast from a local mini PC, measure the complete system while it is actually streaming for long enough to capture steady operation. Then use the monthly or annual formula above with the measured average. For platform and channel requirements, see YouTube’s live streaming help. A low electricity estimate does not establish that a video is cleared for live use: check the rights to the video and audio, and ensure the channel’s content complies with YouTube policies.
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If the goal is keeping uploaded videos live on a YouTube channel, StreamNeo is an alternative to leaving a PC running at home. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud. It does not broadcast a camera feed.
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See StreamNeo for plan details, or start your free day.
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