Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →There is no single electricity cost for running a Mac mini 24/7 with a YouTube loop: multiply the setup’s average wall draw by the hours it runs and your marginal electricity rate. Apple’s published idle and maximum figures are useful reference points, but neither measures a YouTube loop. At a hypothetical rate of $0.15 per kWh, those references work out to about $5.26 or $91.98 per year, respectively—not a prediction of what your stream will cost.
Calculate the cost from your actual power draw
For the most useful estimate, use the average wattage of the complete setup while it is running the loop, then apply the price you pay for each additional kilowatt-hour (kWh).
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- Daily energy: average watts × 24 ÷ 1,000 = kWh per day.
- Annual energy: average watts × 8,760 ÷ 1,000 = kWh per year, assuming 365 days.
- Energy charge: kWh × your marginal electricity price per kWh.
- Monthly average: annual energy charge ÷ 12.
Use the marginal rate that best reflects the extra consumption. A bill may also include fixed charges, taxes, tiered rates, or time-of-use pricing, so the calculated energy charge is not necessarily the final change to your bill.
The Tool Desk
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Apple Support’s power table, published September 22, 2026, reports wattage measured at the wall, including power-supply and system losses. Apple defines “Idle” as Finder open with default power management settings. It is not a YouTube-playback test. Maximum and CPU-maximum values are also specific test conditions, not estimates of ordinary playback.
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| Mac mini configuration listed by Apple | Idle | Maximum listed | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|---|
| M6, 16 GB unified memory / 256 GB SSD | 4 W | 70 W | Idle is Finder-only; maximum is not a loop-stream estimate. |
| M5 Pro, 64 GB unified memory / 8 TB SSD | 6 W | 145 W | Neither value measures YouTube playback. |
| 2024 M4, 16 GB unified memory / 256 GB SSD | 4 W | 65 W | Apple-listed reference conditions, not a loop average. |
| 2024 M4 Pro, 64 GB unified memory / 8 TB SSD | 5 W | 140 W | Apple-listed reference conditions, not a loop average. |
| 2023 M2, 24 GB unified memory / 2 TB SSD | 7 W | 50 W CPU maximum | Apple labels the maximum as CPU maximum. |
| M1 (2020), 16 GB unified memory / 2 TB SSD | 6.8 W | 39 W CPU maximum | Apple labels the maximum as CPU maximum. |
Apple’s specifications list supported video playback formats and a maximum continuous power figure of 155 W for the Mac mini line. That figure does not establish a YouTube-streaming draw; supported formats also do not determine the power use of a particular browser, codec, resolution, display, or peripheral setup. Do not add an arbitrary efficiency correction to Apple’s wall readings.
ENERGY STAR figures are certification states, not streaming measurements
ENERGY STAR’s 2025 certification records for M4 configurations in the United States and Canada report standardized states: the 16 GB M4 record lists 2.4 W long idle, 2.8 W short idle, 0.6 W sleep, and 0.1 W off. The 64 GB M4 Pro record lists 3.7 W long idle, 4.3 W short idle, 0.8 W sleep, and 0.1 W off. These certification states should not be substituted for the draw while an active loop is maintained.
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Worked examples at a hypothetical electricity rate
The following arithmetic uses $0.15 per kWh as an example assumption only; it is not a claim about any country’s or locality’s average rate. It applies Apple’s published M6 reference wattages continuously for 365 days.
| Reference condition | Energy per day | Energy per year | Average monthly energy charge | Annual energy charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 W idle | 0.096 kWh | 35.04 kWh | About $0.44 | About $5.26 |
| 70 W maximum | 1.68 kWh | 613.2 kWh | About $7.67 | About $91.98 |
The idle case is a Finder-only reference, and the maximum case is Apple’s maximum condition; neither is a measured YouTube-loop average. Your stream’s actual consumption could differ.
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Measure the complete setup while the loop runs
A plug-in electricity usage monitor can measure wall draw over a representative period. Run the intended loop and include the equipment you want to cost—such as a display, USB devices, or network equipment—consistently. If you compare configurations, use the same video resolution, player or browser, display state, attached equipment, runtime, and electricity-rate basis. Apple’s figures already include system and power-supply losses, while a wall measurement captures the actual setup and workload.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a continuous YouTube loop rather than keeping a Mac mini at home, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos or playlists from the cloud. Upload your recording, add your YouTube stream key, and go live; your computer and home connection do not need to stay on. Each slot streams the upload as made, 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 pricing is $9.99 per month. Start a StreamNeo free day.
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