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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →There is no reliable universal wattage for a desktop PC running an OBS loop stream. The result depends on the computer and the stream workload, and official OBS guidance does not publish a standard whole-PC electricity figure for this use. To find your number, measure the setup at the wall while it runs the stream you actually plan to leave on, then calculate its energy use and apply your electricity rate.
Why there is no single OBS electricity-use figure
The relevant measurement is the power drawn by the complete desktop at the wall over time—not an OBS CPU or GPU utilization percentage, and not a component’s rated maximum. OBS says CPU requirements vary with the encoder, resolution, frame rate and scene complexity. Its minimum system requirements also do not guarantee that a machine can stream successfully.
Workload can differ between a loop using a static image, a video, browser overlays or a changing scene. Other programs left running can affect the computer’s total draw as well. OBS documentation explains these workload variables but does not quantify their electricity use in a standardized test. A utilization reading alone therefore cannot tell you watts or kWh.
What encoder choice does—and does not—tell you
OBS generally recommends hardware encoding for performance: it moves encoding work from the CPU to a specialized component in the GPU. OBS also uses GPU resources to composite and render scenes; when those resources are constrained, its troubleshooting guidance recommends reducing output resolution or frame rate and simplifying scenes. These recommendations explain why settings can affect workload, but they do not establish a universal wattage change or prove that one encoder always reduces whole-system electricity use.
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Measure your own desktop while the loop is running
- Connect the desktop tower’s AC input through an outlet-based electricity usage monitor that accumulates energy. Include the monitor and other peripherals only if you want the total for the workstation rather than the PC alone.
- Run the loop with the OBS scene, encoder, resolution, frame rate and other programs you intend to use. Measure over a representative interval long enough to capture normal variation; a brief snapshot may not reflect the average load.
- If the meter records kWh, note the start and end readings and subtract the start value from the end value. If it reports average watts, calculate kWh = average watts Ă— hours Ă· 1,000.
- Estimate the electricity cost by multiplying measured kWh by the price per kWh on your own electricity plan. Rates vary by location and tariff, so a universal bill estimate would be misleading.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s energy guidance describes energy as power multiplied by time and converts watt-hours to kilowatt-hours by dividing by 1,000. Its Federal Energy Management Program guidance advises measuring fluctuating consumption over a period and dividing by that period to determine average power.
Compare settings fairly if you are testing alternatives
To see whether a change affects your particular computer, keep the loop duration and content constant. For each run, record the PC hardware, OBS encoder, output resolution, frame rate, scene and sources, and any other programs running. Compare average watts or total kWh over equivalent intervals, while also checking stream quality and stability. Existing official guidance explains why configurations can differ, but does not supply results for particular PC or OBS setups; treat your own measurements as specific to the equipment and method you used.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If the reason for measuring is that you want a YouTube channel to keep looping while your desktop is off, StreamNeo is a cloud option—not a measurement of how much electricity your desktop uses. Upload your video, add your YouTube stream key, and go live; StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud. Nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price, and StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start the free day.
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