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There is no reliable single monthly price without measuring the average wall power of your exact Beelink setup while it runs the stream workload, then multiplying its energy use by your electricity tariff. For a 730-hour average month, use average watts × 0.73 × your local price per kWh. Watching YouTube and broadcasting a live stream are different workloads, so playback or idle readings are not a dependable estimate of live-encoding cost.

Calculate the electricity cost

Use this formula for continuous operation:

Average wall watts ÷ 1,000 × hours operated × price per kWh

A 730-hour month is a convenient average: 8,760 hours in a year divided by 12. At that duration, the calculation simplifies to average watts × 0.73 = monthly kWh. Multiply the resulting kWh by your electricity rate. For an exact bill period, use the actual number of operating hours rather than 730.

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Measure at the wall. An adapter’s maximum rating and a processor’s TDP do not tell you the computer’s actual average consumption. If you want the cost of the whole streaming station, include equipment that stays on, such as its display and peripherals.

#1 Best Overall
Beelink SER5 MAX Mini PC,AMD Ryzen7 7735U(8C/16T,up to 4.75GHz),Mini Computer 24GB LPDDR5 RAM 500GB M.2 SSD Graphics 12core 2200MHz,Support 4K Triple Display/HDMI+DP+Type-C/Wifi6/BT5.4/2.5G LAN
  • 【AMD Ryzen 7 MAX 7735UProcessor】The Beelink SER5 MAX mini pc is powered by AMD Ryzen 7 7735U(8C/16T,up to 4.75 GHz,16M Cache),Which can be widely used for home(video,music and Web browsing),office(PPT, AI, PS,PR) and gaming(Call of Duty,Fall Guys,LOL,etc).
  • 【High Capacity & Expansion Options】The mini computer built-in 24GB(12GB*2) LPDDR5 RAM.LPDDR5 offers higher performance and lower power consumption to support stable operation of applications. It also comes with 500GB M.2 SSD NVMe 2280 which can be upgraded to 8TB (2*4TB,not included),supporting smoother system operation,faster software launches,and more efficient processing.
  • 【4K Three-Screen Display & WIFI 6 & BT 5.4】The SER5 MAX mini computer comes with AMD Radeon Graphics 12 core 2200MHz,delivering exceptional graphics processing.HDMI+DP 1.4 allows you to connect two displays at the same time,and equipped with Type-C supports video output,you can easily expand the use of three screens,the multi monitor setup allows you to deal with multiple programs at the same time,greatly improve your work efficiency.Equipped with the latest WIFI 6 (MT7920) and BT 5.4 and 2.5G LAN,Which ensures high-speed and reliable wireless communication,minimizing latency and improving data transfer rates.
  • 【Efficient Cooling System & Rich Ports Design】This 7735U mini pc is designed with heat pipe + heat sink + Silent Fan design, providing efficient cooling for RAM and SSD, with a 19% improvement in cooling performance. It also has rich interfaces, including 1*HDMI 2.0(4K@60Hz)port, 1*DP1.4(4K@144Hz) port, 2*USB3.2 Gen2 ports, 2*USB2.0 port, 1*Type-C(10Gbps/MAX 4K120Hz) port, 1*DC jack, 1*2.5G LAN and 1*3.5mm Phone Jack(Realtek ALC897).
  • 【Auto Power on & Beelink Technical Support】Our micro computer is 4.96x4.44x1.65 inches,small and easy to carry.If you want to auto power on,please send us the barcode on the bottom of the machine and we will send the corresponding tutorial file.All products have passed strict inspection and obtained FCC, CE, and RoHS certifications.We also provide lifetime technical support,7 days/24 hours service.

Illustrative energy calculations

These are arithmetic examples, not measured 24/7 live-stream workloads. Multiply the kWh figure by your own tariff to calculate cost.

Average power Energy over 730 hours How to get the cost
10 W 7.3 kWh 7.3 × your price per kWh
22 W 16.06 kWh 16.06 × your price per kWh
32–34.3 W About 23.4–25.0 kWh 23.4–25.0 × your price per kWh

What Beelink power readings do—and do not—tell you

EQi13 Pro playback reading

An iTechGuides report attributes a wall-power reading of 32–34.3 W to CNX Software’s 2025 test of a Beelink EQi13 Pro playing YouTube at 8K/60 in Firefox. The described setup included Wi-Fi 6, a USB keyboard-and-mouse dongle, and a connected pen display. That reading works out to about 23.4–25.0 kWh over 730 hours, but it is a playback reference—not a measurement of encoding and sending a live stream, and not a guaranteed figure for other Beelink models. See the reported EQi13 Pro test and its setup.

Rank #2
Beelink SER3 Mini PC AMD Ryzen 3 3200U (up to 3.5GHz), 8GB DDR4 480GB PCIE3.0 SSD Mini Computer, Radeon Vega 3 Graphics,1000Mbps LAN, Dual HDMI 4K Display Home-Office PC
  • 【SER3 Next-Gen Light Office Mini PC】Beelink Mini pc New SER3 AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Processor (2.6-3.5GHz 2C/4T),with Radeon Vega 3 Graphics 3core 1200 MHz, Light office, 4K multimedia playback, virtual machine, NAS, meeting all your daily needs, Beelink mini pc is only 4.88 x 4.44 x 1.65 inches and takes up only 1/40
  • 【8GB DDR4 RAM+ 480GB PCIe3.0 SSD】SER3 Beelink mini pc comes with 8GB SODIMM DDR4 memory, dual-channel memory expansion slots supports up to 32GB (2x16GB) expansion, you can also replace the 480GB SSD up to 2TB (excluded) M.2 PCIE3.0 x4(2280) slot (Incompatible with SATA3 SSDs), or add a 2.5inch 7mm HDD(max 2TB, excluded) to expand the storage. Large capacity brings quicker load times across your entire catalogue of apps and programs
  • 【USB3.2 + WiFi 5 + BT 5.0】Beelink AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Mini Desktop Computer is equipped with rich interfaces: USB3.2x4, HDMI x2, 1000M LANx1. The transmission rate of USB3.2 is up to 10Gbps, 21 times faster than USB2.0. WiFi 5 (802.11ac) Bluetooth5.0 lower latency , more stable and efficient to connect to multiple wireless devices such as projector, printer, monitor, speakers and etc
  • 【Improve Work Efficiency】SER3 Dual HDMI prots allow you to expand your viewing area to enjoy better experience and multi-task easily, i.e. web browsing, design, 4K videos playback, online class, perfectly valid as a multimedia center to use KODI, IPTV or use as a digital signage and brings true-to-life 4K@60Hz visual feat to the audiance
  • 【Why Beelink Mini PC】Beelink SER3 VESA mount can hide the micro pc behind a monitor or HDTV like an all-in-one pc, free you from messy desktop, Cooling system Large fan and dual heat conduction tube,make heat dissipation more efficient,3200U Mini desktop pc also supports Wake On LAN, RTC Wake, Auto Power On, a great to use as a server for media (Plex or FTP)

EQ14 operating-state readings

A separate iTechGuides report attributes these EQ14 readings to MiniPCLab: 6.2 W idle, 8–10 W under light load, and 18–22 W under full CPU load. They describe those PC states; they do not establish what an EQ14 draws while playing a YouTube playlist or encoding a live stream. Read the EQ14 report.

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No cited controlled, sustained test establishes the live-encoding wall power of your exact Beelink model, encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene. Do not label playback, idle, or full-load figures as the cost of running your particular stream.

Rank #3
Beelink Mini S13 Mini PC,13th Intel Twin Lake-N150 (up to 3.6GHz, Upgraded N100), 16GB DDR4 500GB M.2 SSD, Mini Desktop Computer Support 4K Dual Display/USB 3.2/WiFi 6/BT 5.2 for HTPC/Office/Business
  • ✅【2025 New 13th Intel Twin Lake- N150】The Beelink Mini S13 Mini computer is built-in 13th Intel Twin Lake- N150 processors(max up to 3.6GHz, 4C/4T, 6MB L3 Cache), Power consumption is only up to 25W. As an upgrade of the Alder Lake N100 and N95, the N150 offers an overall performance improvement of 10% and 15%. The power-saving, super-quiet Mini PC Ideal for outine tasks, office work and home entertainment.
  • ✅【More Storage Expansion & Upgraded Fan】The Beelink N150 Mini PC has built-in 16GB DDR4, 500GB M.2 PCIe3.0 SSD (Support up to 4TB dual M.2 2280 Nvme/SATA3 SSD), more storage space which will make the device run more smoothly and solve the problem of pc lag. The Mini PC supports a large silent CPU fan, a copper heat sink and a dedicated SSD cooling shield, heat dissipation performance is improved by 40%, you will enjoy a speedier experience.
  • ✅【4K Dual Screen Display & Compact Size】The mini pc is equipped with upgraded Intel Graphics(max 1000MHz)to support 4K@60Hz connect 2 monitors at the same time, and perform different tasks on the dual screens, making your work more efficient. Small form factor and measures only 4.9 x 4.4 x 1.6 inches, and comes with a wall-mounted bracket to allow you to hang the mini-computer behind the monitor, making your desk look tidier.
  • ✅【Additional Functions & Intel Unison APP Support】The Beelink N150 PC Support Wake On LAN, PXE Boot, RTC Wake, Auto Power On, and while support Connect your PC and devices seamlessly with Intel Unison App, make and receive phone calls, managing notifications, viewing galleries and transferring files, share files quickly and easily From PC. It greatly improves user productivity and reduces dependence on mobile phones during work.
  • ✅【USB 3.2 GEN2 & WiFi 6&BT 5.2】Compared with USB3.0, USB3.2 Gen2(10Gbp) has increased the bandwidth rate from the original 5GB/S to 10GB/S. It also supports direct output of video and audio. The Beelink mini pc is Built-in Wifi 6 802.11ax @ 2.4+5G dual wifi and BT5.2, WiFi 2.4G+5G Dual Band networking ensure stable, high-speed data transfers, even in crowded networking environments. BT 5.2 connect faster Speed and Farther Coverage.

Measure your own streaming setup

  1. Define what you are measuring. Decide whether the estimate is for the mini PC alone or the complete station. Include the monitor and peripherals if they remain powered during streaming.
  2. Connect a plug-in electricity usage monitor. Use one that displays wall watts or accumulated kWh. A wall meter measures the actual setup rather than inferring use from component ratings.
  3. Run the actual workload. Use the same video or production, encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity you intend to keep running. Let consumption stabilize and measure for a representative period. A total kWh reading over a known duration can be more useful than a momentary watts display.
  4. Calculate the period’s energy and cost. If you recorded average watts, use watts ÷ 1,000 × hours. If you recorded accumulated kWh, scale it to the billing period if necessary. Multiply kWh by your applicable local price per kWh.
  5. Repeat after meaningful changes. Re-measure if you change resolution, encoder, frame rate, scene complexity, peripherals, or cooling conditions. Those changes can alter both performance and power consumption.

For a fair comparison between Beelink models or configurations, use the same stream workload, display and peripherals, measurement duration, and tariff. Compare measured average wall watts, energy over the same period, and whether each system can sustain the chosen stream’s quality and stability.

Why streaming workload matters

Watching a video is not the same task as encoding and sending a broadcast. A prerecorded playlist with a static scene may place different demands on a system than a production with multiple sources or complex scenes. OBS notes that CPU requirements vary considerably with the selected encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity; meeting basic system requirements does not guarantee a machine can stream or record a particular workload. OBS Project: System Requirements.

Rank #4
Beelink SER5 PRO Mini PC,AMD Ryzen 5 5500U (6C/12T,up to 4.0 GHz),Mini Computer with 16GB DDR4/480GB NVMe SSD,Support Triple Screen Display, WiFi6, BT5.4,Type-C, 2.5G LAN
  • 【 Swift Performance】 This SER5 5500u PRO mini PC is equipped with the upgraded AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor (6C/12T, up to 4.0GHz), delivering responsive and lag-free daily computing performance. It easily handles business office tasks, online video conferences, web browsing, and light creative work such as photo editing with outstanding efficiency.
  • 【Swift DDR4 Memory & Massive NVMe Storage】 This Beelink mini PC is configured with 16GB DDR4 memory (can be upgraded up to 64GB MAX with 2 available memory slots), delivering instant system responsiveness with zero lag or stutter. The built-in 480GB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD enables ultra-fast boot-up and file transfer speeds, with expandable storage up to 4TB to accommodate your growing data and usage needs.
  • 【4K UHD Graphics & Triple Display Output】 Powered by Radeon Graphics 7 cores 1800 MHz , this Beelink 5500u mini PC supports smooth 4K video playback, delivering stunning visual effects. It can also connect to a projector to build a private home theater for immersive entertainment. The three ports (HDMI, DP and Type-C) support connecting three monitors simultaneously to greatly boost your workflow efficiency. Perfect for Zoom meetings, office work, web browsing and online streaming all at once.
  • 【Full-Featured High-Speed Connectivity】 This Beelink SER5 PRO 5500U mini PC is equipped with three 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports for blazing-fast file transfers. It also integrates a 2.5G Ethernet port for lag-free streaming, plus dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4, delivering stable all-round wireless connectivity.
  • 【Ultra-Compact & Whisper-Quiet Low-Noise Design】 Boasting an ultra-slim chassis measuring 4.96 x 4.44 x 1.65 inches, this 5500U PRO mini PC occupies minimal desktop space, perfect for home office and compact workspaces.Built with a low-noise fan and high-efficiency heatsink for superior CPU cooling, it runs at a near-silent 32dB, letting you work, study and relax without disturbance. It achieves 40% better heat dissipation for rock-solid stability and long-lasting reliable performance.

YouTube describes encoder streaming as an option for screen sharing, external audio or video equipment, and more advanced production. Its guidance recommends testing with audio and movement similar to the actual stream and recommends RTMPS. First-time live-stream enablement may take up to 24 hours. YouTube Help: Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.

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A Beelink Mini S12 N100 has appeared as a candidate for modest prerecorded streaming, but listed specifications do not establish continuous encoding power, uptime, or reliability. Treat any PC purchase as a candidate to test with your exact workload and configuration, rather than assuming it will handle a 24/7 stream. See the mini PC discussion.

Best Value
Sale
Beelink SER3 Mini PC, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U(up to 3.5GHz) 2C/4T
  • ✔️Powerful Performance: The Beelink SER3 Mini PC is powered by the 2-core processor AMD Ryzen 3 3200U. Its base operating frequency is up to 3.5GHz (2C/4T) and it supports a 4MB smart cache. The Desktop Computer has stable and reliable performance, reduced latency, powerful loading and processing power for a smoother experience.
  • ✔️High-capacity Storage: The Mini PC built-in 16GB DDR4 3200MHz, 500GB M.2 2280 PCIE3.0 SSD. The Small Computers Support DIY expandable storage, DDR4 RAM up to 32GB(2*16G) expandable memory, NVMe M.2 SSD up to 2TB, and support 500GB~2TB 2.5-inch SATA HDD or SSD, more storage space will make Mini PC run more smoothly.
  • ✔️Multiple Interfaces: The Windows Mini PC has a unique interface designed with 4 x USB 3.2 Gen2(10Gbps) port, 2 x HDMI port, 1 x DC Jack port, 1 x RJ45 1000M port, 1 x Audio Jack (HP&MIC) port. And this mini PC wears a power LED, power button, reset button. To meet your various needs.
  • ✔️Dual Screen Display: The Gaming PC is equipped with Dual HDMI, it can connect two monitors at the same time, which improves work efficiency effectively. The beelink mini pc uses Radeon Vega 3 Graphics 3core 1200 MHz to support 4K 60Hz HD video playback, 3D rendering, and modeling, presenting ultra-sharp visuals. In addition, the FPS is up to 60FPS, and you can play Dota 2, CS: GO, LOL, and other online games.
  • ✔️Widely Used&Safety - The mini PC can be used for visual home entertainment, office, light games, digital security and surveillance, digital signage, media center, conference room, etc. All of our products obtained FCC, ROHS, CE certification. We also offer 3 year factory professional support & 7*24 hours online customer service.
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Include more than electricity in a cost comparison

The electricity formula estimates power cost, not the total cost of operating a local streaming setup. A useful comparison with a hosted option should also account for any hardware purchase and the hosted service’s current price, included storage, quality limits, and terms. Check those details before choosing; they can change, and a low power reading alone does not establish streaming stability.

Or let it run in the cloud

For a YouTube stream made from uploaded videos, StreamNeo is an alternative to leaving a mini PC running: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video in the cloud, so nothing has to stay powered on at home. It 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; the monthly option is $9.99 per month. It streams to YouTube and plays uploaded videos; it does not broadcast from a camera. See StreamNeo or current plans, then start your free first day.

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.

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