We already knew that the PlayStation 3 is a huge space hog, but now it seems that the game console is also munching down on your electric power bill.
Australian-based Choice Magazine decided to test the power consumption of your beloved electronics, including the current generation of game systems. You probably won't be surprised to hear that the PS3 and Xbox 360 are massive power whores.
"Our tests also found that leaving a PlayStation 3 on while not in use would cost almost $250 a year in electricity bills (charged at 15c per kWh). This alone is around five times more than it would take to run a refrigerator for the same yearly period."
I had no idea that these boxes were so power hungry! According to their chart, even after US dollar conversion, your Xbox 360 and PS3 combined are stealing about 8 or 9 games out of your potential future library. On the other hand, if you left your Nintendo Wii on all year, it would only cost you about $25.
Of course, I'm probably writing this for an auidence that has the air conditioner cranked, the stereo at full blast, and 3 computers and two consoles running all at the same time. I'm with you on all of that.
[Via Spong]
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
11:49 AM on 06.03.2008
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you don't have your ps3 on 24/7.
so i don't see the point of this research?
Of course, you could bypass standby and just unplug / switch off everything off when not in use, at which point Wii wins again.
Though that does tell me where my electicity went, my room mates PS3........
time to go whore myself
OMG DTOID R FANBOIZ
That is some interesting and frightening news...
A while back, I've read of a study concerning the incredible sucking power of "Vampire" electronics. The study stated to unplug everything not in use(televisions, lamps, toasters, chargers, etc.).
I mean, I get the idea, but who has the time and effort to do this?
Honestly...
pm me your PSN Tag!
The article is only talking about leaving consoles completely turned on. Green light, at the menu screen, ready to play. It does not address standby power consumption.
Did you even go to the site and see the chart?
It shows with the systems on standby and on while idle and on while playing a game.
[url=http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=106346&catId=100245&tid=100008&p=5&title=Computers'+energy+costs]Click here to see![/url]
Fortunately, I don't leave them on at all when not in use, and I don't pay the bill.
Turn shit off.
Sorry, I should have been clearer. I was referring to reading this article and also the source at Spong. There seemed to be a lot of confusion over unplugging the units, etc. Since unplugging a PS3 saves you a whopping $2.50 / year over just turning off the front power (standby), it seemed like people were missing the point.
But you are definitely correct in saying that the full chart at Choice Magazine shows this info. The last paragraph of the Choice Magazine article, though, is misleading and has apparently led to confusion.
If you want a more thorough and less confusing breakdown, this report on console and PC power consumption made the rounds a while back.
Or your refrigerator.
Or your PS3.
Or all three!
The wife used to complain about me buying a new game once or twice a month (or more often during Holiday season), then I showed her how much I've been saving us on our power bill and she hasn't complained since then.
PS3s and 360s are about 200w when switched on, a fridge on average is about 300w so they are talking out of their botties, and who leaves their console on 24/7 anyway?
Some people leave their PC's on 24/7 and I would guess that a PC running 24/7 would cost more than a PS3 would to run. Unless you have a sissy gilry PC with some 300w PSU in it, I Arnold LOL at that.
What we need now is a Sony rep to pick this news us and spin it as positive PR: "See, the lack of decent games is good for the environment!"