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There is no evidence-based universal winner. Linux does not automatically make a PC cheaper to run than Windows for 24/7 YouTube streaming, and the sources available do not establish which operating system uses less power on the same computer under this workload. To compare costs, measure the same PC at the wall while it plays the same video under each OS, then calculate from the electricity rate on your bill.
What determines the cost?
Watts measure power at a moment; kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy used over time. Your energy cost is the kWh consumed multiplied by your electricity price per kWh. For continuous streaming, the useful input is the PC’s average power during playback—not a brief peak or an idle reading.
Actual draw depends on the hardware and its configuration as well as the workload. Microsoft identifies the hardware platform, power policy, device management, drivers, services, apps and settings as factors in Windows energy efficiency. YouTube playback is active work, not an idle state: device, codec, resolution and bitrate can also affect modeled client-side streaming power.
For a YouTube-specific analysis, a 2022 IEEE paper, “Modeling of Energy Consumption and Streaming Video QoE using a Crowdsourcing Dataset”, analyzed 447,000 streaming events and modeled client-side power and quality. The paper considers variables including device, codec, resolution and bitrate; it does not report a controlled, continuous Linux-versus-Windows test on identical PCs. Its event count is not a measured power difference between operating systems.
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Calculate your own 24/7 streaming cost
Use this formula:
Average watts Ă· 1,000 Ă— hours = kWh
Then calculate: kWh Ă— your electricity price per kWh = energy cost. For a month, use the actual number of streaming hours in the billing period; a 30-day estimate uses 720 hours. Use the energy rate on your own bill, and note whether your calculation excludes taxes, fixed charges or other bill components.
A historical example—not a current estimate
In a 2011 example, the Microsoft Windows Experience Blog calculated that a specific older PC drawing 102 W while idle would use 73.44 kWh over 30 days. At the blog’s assumed rate of $0.10/kWh, that came to $7.34. The system was a 2011-era Intel Q9550 with a GeForce 8400GS; the reading excluded peripherals such as a monitor. The author also noted that a watt meter’s readings could vary considerably. This illustrates the arithmetic only: it is neither a current PC cost nor a Linux-versus-Windows result. Microsoft Windows Experience Blog, “Measuring and reducing your PC’s electricity cost”.
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How to make a fair Linux-versus-Windows comparison
- Measure the same physical setup. Use the same PC, power supply, peripherals and display arrangement for both runs. Decide whether the monitor is included and keep that choice consistent.
- Match the streaming workload. Use the same video, browser and browser version where possible, playback quality, network connection and relevant settings. Record resolution and, where available, codec details.
- Measure at the wall. A plug-in electricity usage monitor or watt meter can capture the PC’s wall draw. Prefer cumulative kWh over an extended run, or record average watts for a clearly stated period, rather than relying on a momentary reading. A meter provides data for your setup; it does not by itself identify an operating-system cause.
- Keep operating conditions comparable. Use comparable power settings, prevent sleep, confirm playback continues, and allow background activity to settle. Note material updates or scheduled tasks that occur during either run. Microsoft’s energy-measurement disclosure includes a 15-minute wait after startup in a Surface measurement sequence; treat that as context for that procedure, not a universal benchmark rule. Microsoft Legal, “Energy efficiency”.
- Repeat if readings fluctuate. Extend or repeat runs when results vary, and report the measured values, run duration and uncertainty. Do not present your observation as a universal OS comparison.
- Calculate each cost from your tariff. Convert the measured energy to kWh and multiply by the applicable rate. State the period and which bill components are excluded.
Why idle readings do not answer the question
Idle draw is a useful baseline, but it is not the draw while a video is playing. Microsoft Learn describes idle power consumption as a lower bound; a system doing other work consumes more than its idle baseline. The page explains a Windows assessment concept, not whether Windows or Linux is more efficient for YouTube playback. Microsoft Learn, “Results for the Idle Energy Efficiency Assessment”.
A European Commission Joint Research Centre report summarizes a referenced study in which consumption during common office activities, including video streaming and browsing, was comparable for most tasks. It notes that high-load activities involving powerful graphics cards and CPUs, such as gaming, can raise consumption. That passage is not a direct JRC Linux-versus-Windows experiment and should not be treated as a result for a specific YouTube stream. European Commission Joint Research Centre, “Technical report on Green Public Procurement criteria for computers”.
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If the PC itself is the burden
If your purpose is to keep uploaded videos looping as a YouTube live stream, a PC-based setup makes the computer, its power draw and its connection part of the arrangement. StreamNeo is a cloud service for YouTube: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud rather than streaming from a camera. See StreamNeo.
Or let it run in the cloud
With StreamNeo, nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams uploaded video at the quality supplied, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; there are no quality tiers. It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required, once per account. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month.
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