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There is no single reliable wattage for a Windows PC playing YouTube continuously: the result depends on the PC, the video workload and whether its display stays on. Measure the complete setup at the wall, convert its average watts to kilowatt-hours (kWh), then use the tariff for your own utility and household category. A 100 W setup running for 24 hours a day over 30 days uses 72 kWh; that is an arithmetic example, not a claim about typical PC consumption.
How to estimate electricity use
Use average wall draw, not the maximum wattage printed on a power supply. A plug-in electricity usage monitor can measure the PC and any display or other equipment included in your setup while it plays YouTube as you intend to use it.
- Define the setup. Decide whether video will play overnight, what resolution you will use, whether the monitor stays illuminated, and whether you want to include network equipment. Playback locally in a browser or app is different from running a live-stream encoder or server.
- Measure average watts. Connect the devices you want counted through the outlet monitor and record their draw over a representative period of playback. The result applies to the hardware, settings and measurement window tested; equipment not connected through the meter is excluded.
- Convert watts to energy. Calculate kWh as average watts × hours ÷ 1,000. For 24/7 operation over 30 days, use average watts × 24 × 30 ÷ 1,000, or average watts × 0.72.
- Estimate the energy charge. Multiply the resulting kWh by the applicable rate for your utility and residential category. Check your bill or the latest local tariff schedule.
For example, 100 W × 24 hours × 30 days ÷ 1,000 = 72 kWh. This is a transparent calculation, not a published benchmark or an estimate of what a typical Windows PC uses.
Why there is no single India-wide bill estimate
Electricity tariffs in India are set by the relevant Electricity Regulatory Commission, and rates depend on the utility, consumer category and tariff structure. The Press Information Bureau, Government of India, stated that “Electricity tariffs in India are determined by the Appropriate Electricity Regulatory Commissions under the Electricity Act, 2003.” A universal monthly rupee amount cannot be calculated without knowing the applicable location and tariff.
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Your final bill may also include fixed charges, duties, subsidies or slab effects. A utility calculator is useful only for the utility and tariff basis it covers. For example, WBSEDCL’s Energy Cost Estimator is specific to its service area and says it uses the latest tariff order passed by WBERC.
What published PC figures can—and cannot—tell you
The OECD/IEA’s 2009 table estimated a desktop PC at 65 W plus a 32 W monitor in “Idle” mode, or 97 W combined; in “Active” mode it estimated an 85 W PC plus a 35 W monitor, or 120 W combined. These are historical estimates, not measurements of a current computer, a YouTube-specific workload or a prediction for your setup.
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- Various Monitoring Parameters: The power meter plug can monitor the power (W), energy (kWh), volts, amps, hertz, power factor, cost, minimum and maximum power (W), cumulative days and time of your appliances. By switching 7 display modes, you can easily know the various parameters while the appliance is working. The home energy monitor can also calculate and display how much power your appliance uses and how much electricity bill it cost in cumulative time
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| Estimation method | Useful when | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Plug-in wall measurement | You need an estimate for your actual PC and playback setup. | It represents only the tested hardware, settings and measurement window; devices outside the meter are omitted. |
| Historical published reference | You want a dated point of comparison. | The OECD/IEA desktop figures are from 2009 and are neither YouTube-specific nor representative of every current PC. |
Windows settings and the display
Windows 11 provides power-mode, energy-saver, screen-timeout and sleep-timeout controls. Microsoft explains that a screen timeout turns off the screen after inactivity and a sleep timeout puts the device to sleep. Sleep is incompatible with uninterrupted video playback, so do not set the PC to sleep during the period you need YouTube to continue playing. If you only need audio, turning off the display may reduce display use, but the amount saved depends on your equipment and should be measured rather than assumed.
Microsoft also notes that some supported apps can use lower video resolution to save network bandwidth. That guidance does not establish an electricity saving for YouTube playback on a Windows PC, so do not count on lower resolution as a measured power reduction.
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- 【Smart Charging for Devices】Automatically cuts power once your device reaches the low-battery limit you set, preventing overcharging.
- 【Auto-Shutoff】Prevents electrical overload by automatically shutting off devices that use too much power.
- 【Voice & Remote Control】 With built-in support for both Alexa and Google Assistant, issue simple voice commands to adjust settings, turn devices on or off, or even access specific functions without lifting a finger. Manage Tapo P115 and its connected devices from anywhere with the user-friendly Tapo app.
Playback on a PC versus a 24/7 live stream
This estimate is for a Windows PC playing YouTube locally. It does not measure the cost of encoding and broadcasting a live stream from that PC; that is a different workload and needs its own wall measurement. If your goal is to keep uploaded videos live on a YouTube channel rather than play YouTube on a local screen, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the uploaded videos without requiring your PC or home connection to stay on.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo keeps a YouTube stream running from the cloud, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. Each slot streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot rather than quality tiers. The first day is free with no card. Monthly is $9.99 per month. This is an alternative to running a live stream from a home PC, not a way to play YouTube locally without a computer.
Quick Recap
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