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 and your electricity rate. Calculate it as average watts × 8.76 × price per kWh for an annual estimate, or divide that result by 12 for a monthly estimate. At the 2025 U.S. residential average of 17.30¢/kWh, a continuous 13 W draw works out to about $19.70 a year, while 15.8 W works out to about $23.95. Those are scenarios based on published idle readings—not verified power use during YouTube encoding.
Calculate your OptiPlex’s 24/7 electricity cost
Use the computer’s average wall draw in watts and your electricity tariff. For equipment that runs continuously for a full year:
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- Annual energy: average watts × 8,760 ÷ 1,000 = average watts × 8.76 kWh.
- Annual cost: annual kWh × your all-in electricity price per kWh.
- Monthly average: annual cost ÷ 12.
For example, at $0.173 per kWh, 13 W × 8.76 gives 113.9 kWh per year, costing about $19.70 annually, or $1.64 per month. At 15.8 W, the result is 138.4 kWh and about $23.95 a year, or $2.00 a month. These calculations assume the stated wattage is the average for all 8,760 hours; if your streaming setup draws more, replace the example watts with your measured average.
What published OptiPlex measurements can—and cannot—tell you
Published tests provide useful reference points, but they do not establish the power use of every used OptiPlex or of a continuous YouTube encoder workload.
#1 Best Overall
- [INTEL POWERED CONTENT] - Built with a 8th Generation Hexa-Core Intel i5 and 32GB of DDR4 RAM; Modern, Windows 11 ready, with 4K support, Executive multitasking, media streaming and smooth, multi-tab web browsing; Perfect as an all-purpose multimedia computer; built for content creators; Plenty of RAM and Mass storage for photo and video editing powered by Intel HD 630
- [LATEST WIRELESS TECH] - This Dell Desktop Computer easily connects to the internet through the Built In WiFi / Bluetooth
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| System and test conditions | Reported power | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Dell OptiPlex 7070 Micro; ServeTheHome review, measured at 120 V | Just over 13 W idle; the reviewer says they generally assume 9–12 W idle for these nodes. | This is one six-core Micro system and its test setup, not an active-stream measurement. The 90 W adapter rating is not its constant draw. ServeTheHome’s OptiPlex 7070 Micro review |
| Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF; Gough’s Tech Zone test using a Tektronix PA1000 power analyzer | Windows 11 desktop: 13.3 W without peripherals and 15.8 W with peripherals. Ubuntu 24.04 with a SATA SSD: 12.7 W without peripherals and 14.9 W with them. Prime95/mprime load: roughly 85–89 W, depending on operating system and peripherals. | Configuration and operating state change the result. The stress-test figures are not a YouTube streaming estimate. Gough’s Tech Zone’s OptiPlex 7050 SFF test |
Idle readings are not a substitute for measuring your intended live-stream setup. The 7070 Micro’s 90 W power adapter, for instance, is a rated capacity—not evidence that the computer continuously draws 90 W. Multiplying that adapter rating by operating hours would overstate what the rating actually tells you.
Use your local electricity rate
The EIA’s 2025 U.S. averages offer context, but your own all-in tariff is the relevant figure for a personal estimate. The EIA identifies these averages as based on Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.3, using February 2026 preliminary data.
Rank #2
- Model: Dell OptiPlex 7050 Small Form Factor (SFF)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-7700 3.60 GHz
- Memory: 32GB DDR4 Ram
- Storage: 1TB Solid State Drive (SSD) Fast Boot + Storage
- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro (64-bit)
| 2025 U.S. average retail price | Rate | 13 W scenario: annual / monthly | 15.8 W scenario: annual / monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 17.30¢/kWh | About $19.70 / $1.64 | About $23.95 / $2.00 |
| Commercial | 13.41¢/kWh | About $15.27 / $1.27 | About $18.56 / $1.55 |
| Across customer types | 13.63¢/kWh | About $15.53 / $1.29 | About $18.86 / $1.57 |
Across U.S. states, the 2025 annual average retail price across customer types ranged from 8.20¢ to 35.72¢ per kWh. These regional differences reflect factors including fuel availability and costs and pricing regulation. The figures are U.S. context, not a substitute for your utility bill. See the EIA’s Electric Power Monthly for its electricity data and tables.
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- Connect a plug-in energy monitor at the wall. Measure the OptiPlex and its power supply, rather than estimating from the adapter label. If you want the whole setup’s cost, include devices that remain powered, such as an always-on display, external drives, or capture equipment.
- Run the intended stream workload. Use the same resolution, frame rate, codec, encoder settings, and peripherals you expect to keep running. Let the system settle into its normal operating state.
- Record average watts over a representative period. A brief reading may miss changes in encoding load or attached-device use. Use the monitor’s accumulated energy reading over time if available, then derive an average: average watts = kWh consumed × 1,000 ÷ hours measured.
- Apply your tariff. Multiply the measured average watts by 8.76 to estimate annual kWh for continuous operation, then multiply by your all-in price per kWh. Divide the annual cost by 12 for a monthly average.
Measure the OptiPlex alone if you want its share of the bill; measure all always-on equipment if you want the setup total. Keep those measurement boundaries consistent when comparing configurations.
Rank #3
- 【AN INDUSTRY LEADER】- As a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher, we pride ourselves on producing quality remanufactured PCs. Every machine is handled with care, and our experts are dedicated to giving them a new life. We are committed to reducing e-waste, and it is our goal to ensure each machine we process can satisfy our customers needs.
- 【PROCESSOR】- Intel Core i5 7500 (6MB Cache, 3.4GHz up to 3.8GHz Turbo Boost). TPM 2.0 is recommended for Windows 11, yet this PC only has TPM 1.2. This PC may not support all security features and newest updates.
- 【RAM & STORAGE】- 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, Preloaded with Windows 11 Pro 64-bit.
- 【CONNECTIVITY】- 2x Display Port 1.2; 1x HDMI 1.4; 1x USB 3.0 Type C; 5x USB-A 3.0; 4x USB-A 2.0
- 【BUILT IN WIFI & BLUETOOTH】- Built-in Intel 7260 featuring the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi for enhanced wireless performance and integrated Bluetooth for seamless device connectivity.
YouTube settings matter to the stream, not as a wattage shortcut
YouTube’s official encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS ingestion; H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1 video; frame rates up to 60 fps; and constant-bitrate encoding. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. For H.264, its recommendations include 10 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 17 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps; consult the current table for other resolutions, frame rates, and codecs. YouTube also says it transcodes live streams into multiple output formats for viewers. YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate guidance
- Use a stream key in the encoder or streaming software to send the feed to YouTube; keep it private, since someone with access may be able to stream to your channel.
- Check that your upload connection can sustain the selected bitrate. YouTube Help advises: “We recommend running a speed test to test your upload bitrate.”
- Test with representative audio and movement, and monitor YouTube’s stream health while live.
Bitrate informs the network upload capacity and video quality; it does not tell you how many watts the computer will draw. That depends on the actual system, encoder, workload, and peripherals, so measure the complete intended setup rather than inferring its electricity use from YouTube’s bitrate table.
Rank #4
- Powerful 9th Gen Processor - The Dell OptiPlex 7070 desktop computer driven by the Intel 8 Core 9th generation i7-9700 processor upto 4.70 Ghz for efficient multitasking.
- Microsoft Windows 11 Pro - This Dell small form factor desktop is Pre-installed with the Windows 11 Professional operating system,Microsoft has re-imagined how the PC should work for you and with you. This Windows 11 desktop computer is redefining productivity.
- Multitask Smoothly - The Dell OptiPlex is equipped with a blazing fast New 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD to store important files and applications, support faster Boot speed and faster storage rates.
- High Performance Office Desktop- The business desktop computer is a solid workstation that is suitable for both home and business computing. The roomy desktop tower case allows for future expansion making it a great fit for an office PC.
- Rich Ports - This Dell OptiPlex Computer with 5 x USB 3.1 ports,4 x USB 2.0 ports, 2 x display ports,which support for two displays. Also wireless keyboard & mouse.
Copyright and channel-policy checks for a continuous stream
Electricity cost is only one part of keeping a channel live. Before looping a recording, make sure you have rights to its video, music, and other included material. YouTube may act on content that infringes copyright, and permission to use one element does not necessarily cover every element in a recording.
A continuous stream also does not guarantee monetization or satisfy channel eligibility requirements. YouTube assesses channels under its monetization policies, including rules about reused content; a livestream made from material you do not meaningfully own or transform may raise a separate policy issue even if it can technically be broadcast. Check the current rules before building a channel plan around repeated or prerecorded content.
Best Value
- Easy to Setup - The pc bundle including the desktop computer, monitor, and HDMI cables.you can enjoy a hassle-free installation process. The components are already pre-built and tested, so all you need to do is connect the cables and have your dell desktop up and running in no time.
- Built-in WIFI Card Installed - The Data Transfer Rate of this WIFI card reach 1200 Megabytes Per Second. With WIFI technology, you'll get faster speeds, improved security,so you can easily connect to the internet and other devices in your home or office on this computer.
- 24 inch FHD Monitor - Dell optiplex computer desktop pc includes a 24 inch FHD monitor. Which features a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080, providing clear and sharp images.The monitor has a slim design and a narrow bezel, making it an attractive addition to your workspace.
- Dual Monitor Support - These refurbished desktop computers with HDMI port and Display Port, you can use both monitors simultaneously. Dual monitors are ideal for multitasking, allowing you to work on multiple projects at the same time, or for extending your refurbished computers for better productivity.
- Warranty and Excellent Customer Service - The desktop computer comes with a warranty and excellent customer service. If you encounter any issues with your PC, you can contact the customer support team, to resolve the problem. The warranty gives you peace of mind, knowing that you are covered in case something goes wrong.
When the electricity estimate changes
- The actual stream draws more than idle: recalculate with the measured streaming average, not an idle benchmark.
- Peripherals remain on: include their wall draw for a whole-setup estimate, or leave them out consistently for a computer-only estimate.
- Your tariff differs from the U.S. examples: use the all-in per-kWh charge on your own bill; regional averages elsewhere cannot be inferred from the U.S. figures here.
- The machine runs less than the full year: replace 8,760 hours with actual operating hours. Annual kWh = average watts × hours ÷ 1,000.
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- Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream runs from the cloud.
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Quick Recap
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