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Monthly Electricity Cost of an Intel NUC 11 Running OBS for a 24/7 YouTube Playlist

A NUC 11’s monthly OBS streaming cost depends on its measured average wall draw and your electricity rate. Use the 30-day formula and avoid treating idle specifications as streaming consumption.
Opened Runtime3 min Written byDocumentaryTube Team
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There is no single reliable monthly cost for an Intel NUC 11 running OBS around the clock: the exact NUC model, its average power draw while streaming, and your electricity rate all matter. Measure the setup at the wall, then calculate average watts × 0.72 × your price per kWh for a 30-day month of 24/7 operation. The result is the energy charge, not necessarily the full electricity bill.

Calculate the cost from your own power draw and tariff

Use the average wall power of the NUC while it is actually running the playlist and streaming—not an idle specification. The general calculation is:

  • Monthly energy (kWh) = average watts × hours per day × days in billing period ÷ 1,000.
  • Monthly energy charge = monthly energy in kWh × your electricity price per kWh.

For continuous operation over 30 days, there are 720 hours, so monthly energy is average watts × 0.72 kWh per watt. Multiply that result by the applicable local tariff. Use the number of days in your actual billing period if it is not 30.

Worked example using an assumed draw

Suppose—only as an illustration—that your complete measured setup averages 20 W at the wall, and your energy rate is $0.20 per kWh. Over 30 days it would use 20 × 0.72 = 14.4 kWh, for an energy charge of 14.4 × $0.20 = $2.88. Neither the 20 W draw nor the $0.20 tariff is a universal NUC or electricity price; replace both with your own figures.

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For the energy charge, use the per-kWh rate on your bill. If you want to estimate the full bill impact, account separately for fixed charges, taxes, and any tiered rates that apply in your area.

Why “Intel NUC 11” does not give one streaming wattage

NUC 11 is a family, not one fixed configuration. Processor, installed components, OBS output settings, encoder, peripherals, and power-management settings can change consumption. Intel says BIOS power-management options vary by NUC model; many models offer Balanced, Low-Power, and Max-Performance profiles and processor power limits (Intel NUC Power Management Information, last reviewed 2025-10-21).

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An ENERGY STAR record for the specified NUC11ATK configuration with a Celeron N4505 lists 5.2 W short idle, 4.4 W long idle, 0.6 W sleep, and 0.2 W off; its certification date is 2025-05-06 (ENERGY STAR NUC11ATK record). These are values for the listed power states and configuration, not measurements of OBS streaming. Do not use them as the stream’s average draw.

Measure the NUC while the playlist is live

  1. Identify your exact model. Check the product code on the device, then locate its technical specifications using Intel’s guide to finding Intel NUC technical product specifications.
  2. Set up the intended workload. Run the actual OBS scene, playlist, encoder, resolution, and frame rate you plan to use. Leave the NUC operating in the power profile you intend to keep.
  3. Measure at the wall. Use a plug-in electricity meter to observe power during normal streaming, preferably over a representative period rather than relying on a momentary reading. Use its average-watt figure for the calculation.
  4. Define what is included. A meter on the NUC alone excludes a display, router, modem, or other equipment. If you want the cost of the whole streaming setup, measure or add the relevant equipment and state clearly what is counted.
  5. Apply your billing inputs. Multiply the measured average watts by 0.72 for a 30-day, 24-hour month, then multiply by your actual price per kWh. Adjust the 0.72 factor for a different number of billing days or operating hours.

What can change the result

  • Streaming workload: OBS encoding and other active work can draw more power than idle or sleep states. The exact difference depends on the hardware and settings; no OBS-plus-24/7-playlist average draw is established for NUC 11 generally.
  • Power profile and limits: BIOS settings can affect how the system manages power. Use the profile you will actually keep, rather than measuring under one configuration and streaming under another.
  • Included equipment: A NUC-only reading and a whole-setup reading answer different cost questions. Include networking equipment only if you want its consumption counted.
  • Local billing: Electricity rates, billing periods, taxes, fixed fees, and tier structures vary. A kWh calculation estimates energy charges; it does not automatically reproduce the total on a bill.
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