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There is no single cost to run a used Dell OptiPlex around the clock: multiply its average measured wall draw in watts by 8.76 to estimate annual kWh, then multiply by your all-in electricity rate. At the U.S. 2025 residential average of 17.30¢/kWh, each continuous watt costs about $1.515 per year. That makes a 13 W setup about $19.70 a year, or $1.64 a month—but 13 W is an example idle reading, not a measurement of an OptiPlex encoding a YouTube stream.
Calculate the electricity cost for your setup
For a PC that runs continuously, the calculation is straightforward:
- Annual energy (kWh): average watts × 8,760 ÷ 1,000, or average watts × 8.76.
- Annual electricity cost: annual kWh × your all-in electricity price per kWh.
- Monthly electricity cost: annual cost ÷ 12.
Use the price on your electricity bill, including applicable delivery charges or other per-kWh costs if those are part of your local tariff. Your actual bill may also include fixed charges that do not change with the PC’s consumption.
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The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports a 2025 residential average of 17.30¢/kWh. At that rate, a continuous watt costs about $1.515 per year.
#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
- [SOLID STATE STORAGE] - This Dell Computer setup comes with an ultra-fast 1TB Solid State Drive (SSD); Setup as the primary boot device; Boot and load programs with lightning speed ; Additional expansion available
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- [MODERN HI-SPEED PORTS] - USB 3.0 (x4) | USB 2.0 (x4) | DisplayPort (x1) | HDMI Port (x1) | Audio Combo Jack (x1) | Audio Out (x1) | RJ-45 Ethernet (x1) | Internal SATA (x3)
| Average draw | Estimated annual energy | Estimated annual cost at 17.30¢/kWh | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 W | 113.9 kWh | $19.70 | $1.64 |
| 15.8 W | 138.4 kWh | $23.95 | $2.00 |
These are calculations from example idle readings, not verified measurements of a 24/7 YouTube encoding session. Replace the example wattage and rate with measurements for your own computer and location.
What used OptiPlex measurements can—and cannot—tell you
Independent tests show why a model name alone is not enough to predict a stream’s electricity use. Form factor, installed components, operating system, attached peripherals, and workload all affect draw.
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)
OptiPlex 7070 Micro
ServeTheHome measured just over 13 W at idle for a six-core Dell OptiPlex 7070 Micro at 120 V. The reviewer says they generally assume 9–12 W idle for these nodes. This is one Micro system and test setup; it does not establish the draw of another used listing or the power needed while encoding. The reported 90 W adapter rating is not the computer’s constant draw, so do not multiply 90 W by 24 hours to estimate the bill. ServeTheHome’s OptiPlex 7070 Micro review.
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Gough’s Tech Zone reported 13.3 W idle without peripherals and 15.8 W with peripherals connected at a Windows 11 desktop, measured with a Tektronix PA1000 power analyzer. Under Ubuntu 24.04 with a SATA SSD, the author reported 12.7 W without peripherals and 14.9 W with them. Under Prime95/mprime load, reported draw was roughly 85–89 W depending on operating system and peripherals. The stress-test figures are not estimates for a YouTube stream, and neither idle nor stress-test results predict every configuration. Gough’s Tech Zone’s OptiPlex 7050 SFF test.
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.
Measure the actual stream workload
The most useful number is the average wall draw of the specific setup while it is doing the work you intend to keep running. Measure the complete setup if you want its total electricity cost; measure only the OptiPlex if you want the computer’s cost alone.
- Prepare the intended configuration. Use the OptiPlex, operating system, encoder, stream resolution, frame rate, codec, and attached devices you plan to use.
- Connect a plug-in energy monitor. Place it between the outlet and the PC, or between the outlet and the full setup if measuring all powered equipment.
- Run a representative stream. Include typical audio and movement in the video. Let the system settle into its intended operation before using the reading as an average.
- Record average watts and calculate. Use the formula above with your local all-in rate. If the monitor reports energy over a representative period instead, use that consumption to estimate the continuous average.
Count an always-on display, external drives, capture devices, or other powered equipment only if you want their consumption included. A PC’s idle test, adapter rating, or brief peak reading is not a substitute for average draw during the stream.
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.
How YouTube settings relate to power use
YouTube’s official live encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS ingestion and H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1 video at frame rates up to 60 fps. It recommends constant bitrate, a two-second keyframe interval, and says not to exceed four seconds. For H.264, its recommended video bitrates include 10 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 17 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps; recommendations vary by resolution, frame rate, and codec, so consult the current table for the chosen setup. YouTube also says it transcodes live streams into multiple output formats for viewers. YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate guidance.
Those bitrate figures help plan upload bandwidth and video quality; they do not tell you how many watts an OptiPlex will use. For upload capacity, YouTube Help advises: “We recommend running a speed test to test your upload bitrate.” Test the actual connection and monitor YouTube’s stream health during a representative run.
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.
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- 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.
Electricity rates vary by location
The EIA’s 2025 figures provide U.S. context, not a universal tariff: the residential retail average was 17.30¢/kWh, the commercial average was 13.41¢/kWh, and the average across customer types was 13.63¢/kWh. Across U.S. states, the 2025 annual average retail price across customer types ranged from 8.20¢ to 35.72¢/kWh. The EIA identifies these averages as based on Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.3, using February 2026 preliminary data. Fuel availability and costs, pricing regulation, and other factors contribute to regional differences. Check your own bill rather than applying a U.S. average to another location—or even assuming it matches your state or utility. EIA Electric Power Monthly.
What it costs to keep the channel running without a home PC
Electricity is only one part of the decision: a dedicated PC also needs a stable home connection and must remain powered. If you would rather not leave hardware running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; the cloud loops the uploaded video without requiring a computer or home connection to stay on. It does not stream from a camera.
StreamNeo offers one flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encode or quality tiers. Every slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots, 24/7 looping and playlists, automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream, and team support. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Billing options are a day, a week, a month, 6 months, or a year; cancel any time. UPI and cards are accepted in India, and card checkout is available worldwide. For five or more slots, contact support. See StreamNeo and its pricing.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesCompare a subscription with the electricity cost only after you measure your actual stream workload and include any other relevant costs, such as equipment and internet service. StreamNeo’s free cloud vs PC cost calculator can help organize that comparison.
Or let it run in the cloud
- Upload your recording or create a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud.
Nothing has to stay on at home. Uploaded video streams at its original quality up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; if YouTube drops the stream, automatic recovery is included. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. Start your free StreamNeo day.
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