Watt Meter Findings

pigoo3

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
44,210
Reaction score
1,418
Points
113
Location
U.S.
Your Mac's Specs
2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
So a few months ago I purchased one of those plug-in watt consumption meters. You know...the "gizmo" that you plug into an electrical outlet...then plug a device into it...and it tells you how many watts of electricity the device is using.

As I mentioned in a previous thread...I sold my 8-core Mac Pro recently...so I measured it's electrical use before selling it...I measured my 1.8ghz dual cpu Powermac G5...and I measured my 2.5ghz Core 2 Duo 17" MacBook Pro...and here were the results:

Watts used under various conditions:

1. Mac Pro (8-core 2.26ghz cpu's, 12gig ram, 2 internal HD's, GT-120 video card):

- Normal operation (web-surfing, e-mail): 130-135 watts
- Gaming (Runescape): 150-160 watts
- Benchmark Testing (all 8 cores/16 threads active): 250-260 watts
- Sleeping: less than 5 watts

2. Powermac G5 (dual 1.8ghz cpu's, 4 gig ram, 1 internal HD, 64meg video card):

- Normal operation (web-surfing, e-mail): 130-150 watts (fans would kick into a higher rpm every so often...increasing watts used)
- All fans kicking into high gear during benchmark testing: 250 watts
- Sleeping: 24 watts

3. 17" MacBook Pro (2.5ghz Core 2 Duo, 4 gig ram, 22" external monitor):

- Normal operation (web-surfing, e-mail): 30-35 watts
- Gaming (Runescape): 50-55 watts (fans spinning at a high rpm)
- Benchmark Testing: haven't done this yet, will update later.
- Sleeping: Too low to measure on the meter.

Basically the reason why I'm posting this (other than the "techie/nerdy" aspect of just doing it);)...was my complete amazement at what a "power-pig" the Powermac G5 is while it's "sleeping". Sure...I know that the Powermac G5's (and the G5 cpu in general) was a real power-pig...but I was amazed how this dual-cpu Powermac G5 was consuming 24+ watts of electricity while sleeping!!!

Compare this to the 30-35 watts the 17" MacBook Pro uses during "normal" operation...just seems crazy. Also factor in that the 8-core Mac Pro (a very similar BIG desktop computer) registered far less "sleeping watts" than the PM G5.

Basically the PM G5 almost costs as much to operate while sleeping...as the 17" MBP does while getting some work done!

- Nick

p.s. I also measured my wife's 13" MacBook (not as extensively)...it consumes around 30 watts during "normal" operation (web-surfing & e-mail).
 

vansmith

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2008
Messages
19,924
Reaction score
559
Points
113
Location
Queensland
Your Mac's Specs
Mini (2014, 2018, 2020), MBA (2020), iPad Pro (2018), iPhone 13 Pro Max, Watch (S6)
I'm guessing the age and increase in power consumption technology, combined with the fact that the G5 is dual processor machine accounts for much of that. It could also be an architectural difference - I know ARM keeps claiming that their processors use considerably less power than a comparable Intel chip. I don't actually know though - I'm not a physicist. ;)

I'd be interested to know how much power the new retina MBP uses relative to the standard model.
 

dtravis7


Retired Staff
Joined
Jan 4, 2005
Messages
30,133
Reaction score
703
Points
113
Location
Modesto, Ca.
Your Mac's Specs
MacMini M-1 MacOS Monterey, iMac 2010 27"Quad I7 , MBPLate2011, iPad Pro10.5", iPhoneSE
Van, the G5 was a very HOT and high power consummation CPU. The G4's were quite efficient in comparison.

Thanks Nick for the results.
 
OP
pigoo3

pigoo3

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
44,210
Reaction score
1,418
Points
113
Location
U.S.
Your Mac's Specs
2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
I'm guessing the age and increase in power consumption technology, combined with the fact that the G5 is dual processor machine accounts for much of that. It could also be an architectural difference - I know ARM keeps claiming that their processors use considerably less power than a comparable Intel chip. I don't actually know though - I'm not a physicist. ;)

Everything you said is true...my amazement was how many watts the dual cpu PM G5 used while sleeping (24+ watts). Since (in theory) the device is totally powered down (except for the pulsing sleep light)...24+ watts is a lot. Compare this to the 30-35 watts the MBP uses during operation.

The Mac Pro (while sleeping) was only consuming around 5 watts.

Maybe (for some reason) the PM G5's power supply (by design) isn't totally shut down when sleeping.

- Nick
 

dtravis7


Retired Staff
Joined
Jan 4, 2005
Messages
30,133
Reaction score
703
Points
113
Location
Modesto, Ca.
Your Mac's Specs
MacMini M-1 MacOS Monterey, iMac 2010 27"Quad I7 , MBPLate2011, iPad Pro10.5", iPhoneSE
Nick, it's that Pulsing light! Joking but many who have seen Macs sleep though that the light pulsing was it's heartbeat! :D
 
OP
pigoo3

pigoo3

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
44,210
Reaction score
1,418
Points
113
Location
U.S.
Your Mac's Specs
2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
Nick, it's that Pulsing light! Joking but many who have seen Macs sleep though that the light pulsing was it's heartbeat! :D

The PM G5 must have a REALLY big heart, compared to an 8-core Mac Pro!;)

- Nick
 

dtravis7


Retired Staff
Joined
Jan 4, 2005
Messages
30,133
Reaction score
703
Points
113
Location
Modesto, Ca.
Your Mac's Specs
MacMini M-1 MacOS Monterey, iMac 2010 27"Quad I7 , MBPLate2011, iPad Pro10.5", iPhoneSE
The PM G5 must have a REALLY big heart, compared to an 8-core Mac Pro!;)

- Nick

Maybe it has a coronary blockage because of it's age and it's having to beat harder to keep the Water Cooling fluid flowing! :D
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top