There is no single electricity cost for leaving a gaming PC on to run a YouTube loop: the answer depends on the PC’s average power draw at the wall, how long it runs, and your electricity rate. Calculate it as (watts ÷ 1,000) × hours × price per kWh. Measure the setup if you want a useful estimate; a power supply’s rated capacity is not its ongoing consumption.
How to calculate the electricity cost
Watts measure power at a moment; kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy used over time. Convert watts to kilowatts, multiply by the number of hours, then multiply by your rate per kWh. Use the rate on your bill or your utility’s applicable tariff—not a national average—when estimating your own bill.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Period | Calculation for continuous operation |
|---|---|
| One day | (average watts ÷ 1,000) × 24 × rate per kWh |
| Average month | (average watts ÷ 1,000) × 730 × rate per kWh |
| Billing month | (average watts ÷ 1,000) × (24 × actual days in billing period) × rate per kWh |
| One year | (average watts ÷ 1,000) × 8,760 × rate per kWh |
The annual calculation assumes a 365-day year. For overnight-only use, substitute the actual number of hours per night and nights in the period. For example, 8 hours per night for 30 nights is 240 hours, not 720.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Measure the actual draw, not the PC’s rated capacity
Use a wall-side meter
A plug-in electricity usage monitor can show the power passing from the outlet to the equipment. Measure during the workload you intend to run—a loop can draw differently from gaming, idle operation, or sleep—and use an average over a representative period. The practical guide at iTechGuides recommends wall-side measurement because component and workload combinations vary.
#1 Best Overall
- System: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 3.6GHz 6 Cores | AMD B550 Chipset | 8GB DDR4 | 500GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | Windows 11 Home
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB Graphics | 1x HDMI | 1x DisplayPort
- Connectivity: 4 x USB-A 3.2 | 4 x USB-A 2.0 | 1 x LAN | WiFi 5 | Bluetooth 5.0 | 7.1 Channel Audio
- Tempered Side Case Panel | Custom RGB Lighting | Keyboard and Mouse
- 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty, Free Lifetime Tech Support
Decide what equipment the estimate covers
A reading for the PC alone excludes a separately powered monitor, capture or audio equipment, and other peripherals. If you want the cost for the whole channel setup, include each device’s draw and the hours it is on. Conversely, if the monitor is off overnight, do not charge its daytime draw for the full 24-hour period.
Do not use the power supply’s maximum wattage as if the PC continuously consumes that amount. A system’s actual draw changes with its components and workload. A GPU-only reading also does not represent the complete setup.
Rank #2
- 8-Core 16-Thread Processing Power – Powered by the Ryzen 7 4700LE processor with Zen 2 architecture, delivering 8 cores and 16 threads with a boost clock up to 4.2GHz. Effortlessly handle multitasking, streaming, content creation, and demanding applications simultaneously without slowdowns.
- GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Graphics – Equipped with 8GB GDDR6 dedicated VRAM and real-time ray tracing support. Experience smooth 1080p gaming at 55-60 FPS in AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, 70+ FPS in Fortnite, and 90-100 FPS in Apex Legends with DLSS enabled. The 8GB buffer handles modern game textures comfortably – a step above 6GB variants
- High-Speed Memory & Storage – Paired with 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz dual-channel RAM (16GB), the PC ensures responsive multitasking—whether streaming while gaming or editing videos. It also includes a 512 GB NVMe M.2 SSD for lightning-fast boot times, quick game loads, and ample storage for your game library, creative projects, and files.
- Next-Gen WiFi 6 Connectivity – Stay connected with the latest WiFi 6 technology for faster speeds, lower latency, and improved network efficiency. Whether you're gaming online, streaming 4K content, or joining video conferences, enjoy stable, high-speed wireless connectivity.
- Ready-to-Use Value Desktop – Pre-built and ready to go right out of the box. Perfect for gamers, students, content creators, and home office users seeking reliable performance without the hassle of building a PC themselves. The mature AM4 platform with DDR4 memory offers excellent value and proven stability.
Example costs at a U.S. benchmark rate
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports a 2025 average residential electricity price of 17.30¢ per kWh; the figure is preliminary 2025 data published by EIA in 2026. It is a comparison point, not a personal tariff. EIA notes that “Electricity prices vary by locality based on the availability of power plants and fuels, local fuel costs, and pricing regulations.” See its prices and factors affecting prices page and Electric Power Monthly.
| Illustrative average wall draw, 24/7 | Annual energy | Approximate annual cost at 17.30¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 20 W | 175.2 kWh | $30.30 |
| 40 W | 350.4 kWh | $60.62 |
| 80 W | 700.8 kWh | $121.24 |
| 100 W | 876 kWh | $151.55 |
These are arithmetic scenarios, not measured or typical draws for gaming PCs playing YouTube. The 20 W, 40 W, and 80 W scenarios also appear in an iTechGuides 2026 calculation; the wattages are assumptions, not a universal workload profile. The table calculates each value from its stated draw and the EIA benchmark; small differences from other published examples can result from rounding.
Rank #3
- POWERHOUSE 8-CORE GAMING PERFORMANCE — Driven by the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F with 8 cores and 16 threads, boosting up to 5.0 GHz for smooth, responsive gameplay and the ability to handle AAA titles, streaming, and background tasks all at once
- NEXT-GEN BLACKWELL ARCHITECTURE — The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is powered by NVIDIA's cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture, delivering a massive generational leap in rasterization and ray tracing performance so you can experience your games the way they were meant to be played.
- Simplistic Design: Enjoy the latest generation of Windows 11 Home for your everyday needs. *MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business use.
- Cool While Gaming: In conjunction with an ARGB fan Air Cooler, the Codex R2 features four system cooling fans; three in the front and one in the rear to pull in cool air and push heat out of the PC.
- Turn on the Bright Lights: With the built-in RGB lighting, take your gaming experience to the next level by pressing the MSI LED button to cycle through lighting options. Customize lighting even further with MSI Center software.
The EIA’s reported 2025 prices across customer types ranged from 8.20¢/kWh in North Dakota to 35.72¢/kWh in Hawaii. That range is not limited to residential customers, so it should not be used as a residential-only comparison. Your own rate and billing terms are the right inputs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why a published gaming-PC figure may not fit a loop channel
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s 2019 report modeled a gaming computer plus display at 1,394 kWh per year, based on an average of 4.4 hours a day in gaming mode. This is a dated modeled usage profile that includes a display—not a measurement of your PC and not an estimate for a computer left on 24/7 playing a YouTube loop. It provides context, but using it as your expected bill would confuse different workloads and operating hours. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report record.
Rank #4
- POWERED BY RTX 5070 12GB + RYZEN 7 9700X - The GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 graphics card pairs with an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 9700X processor to drive smooth 1440p and 4K gameplay, giving this gaming PC the headroom for modern titles, streaming, and creative work.
- 32GB DDR5 6000MHz MEMORY & 1TB NVMe SSD - 32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid state drive deliver quick load times, smooth multitasking, and generous storage, keeping this prebuilt gaming desktop responsive under heavy workloads.
- BUILT-IN 11.3-INCH Smart DISPLAY - An integrated smart screen shows real-time CPU and GPU temperatures, usage, and weather while you play, adding a distinctive and functional touch to your battlestation.
- 850W 80+ GOLD POWER SUPPLY, 360MM LIQUID COOLING & WiFi 7 - An 850W 80 Plus Gold certified power supply provides stable, efficient power with headroom for future upgrades, while a 360mm AIO liquid cooler, WiFi 7, and an ARGB mid-tower case keep the Ryzen 7 CPU cool and connected in a clean build.
- READY TO PLAY OUT OF THE BOX - Arrives fully assembled and tested with Windows 11 Home pre-installed, so your prebuilt gaming computer is ready to set up in minutes. Assembled in the USA, and backed by a one-year limited warranty and lifetime free technical support.
Common estimating mistakes
- Using PSU capacity as consumption: measure the average draw at the wall instead.
- Assuming every hour is a gaming hour: measure under the loop workload; gaming, video playback, idle, and sleep can differ.
- Leaving out the display: add its consumption only for the hours it is actually powered on.
- Applying a national average to your bill: use your own electricity rate; EIA’s benchmark is a U.S. average, and local prices vary.
- Multiplying by the wrong runtime: use actual overnight hours, billing-period days, or 8,760 hours for a full 365-day year.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is to keep a pre-recorded YouTube stream running, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. StreamNeo supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free day.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
