Need ideas to power a PC ...

[Quit RVing]

Just because you have a power supply capable of delivering 750 watts does not mean you will USE 750 watts. And there is no such thing as “undervolting” a PC to make it draw less current.

As others have suggested, you need to measure what the setup actually uses. I’ll bet it is less than 300 watts.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

My office PC must really suck. Everything's plugged into a protective outlet strip so I plugged my kill-a-watt into it this AM. The highest I saw it go was 82W playing a DVD with a bunch of programs open while doing a disk check. That includes two 24" curved monitors. It idles around 62W waiting for me to do something. No question a "gaming" PC with a fancy processor and super graphics card would draw more, but I'm betting the nominal 40-50W my HP desktop draws is far below the 240W power supply nameplate rating. If I were considering running this on battery, 80W nominal is the figure I'd be using.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Quit RVing]

I’m glad you published this, Mark. It’s good info.

You could have a 5,000 watt power supply running your computer, and it would still only DRAW that same 62-80 watts, because that’s all it needs.

 

[Domo]

Not sure this is a serious thread. But we've all had fun anyway.

Many solutions posted - all refuted.

 

[LarsMac]

Hi,

I need to connect a PC. It will have a 750w power supply +40w monitor + 20w router +20w modem.

I researched the Ankher Solix C1000, it's my fav right now, problem is it will only last 1 hour.

I need something to last at least 5... preferably 10.

Give me your innovative ideas how to make this happen.

My gamer brags of similar numbers, but it all chugs along nicely just plugged into my APC UPS which is feeding off one outlet. And even when I reheat some Lasagna while the A/C is running. neither my Genny, nor shore power seemed to be overly tasked.

 

[IBTripping]

This winter, I was boondocking with a 1000 wh power station which I used to run my computer and TV. Whenever the power station got down to a low charge, I'd start up my small portable generator to charge the power station and house battery. Worked fine for me. However, I've since up graded to 3,000 wh power stations and added portable solar panels.

I think using a 2,000 or 2,500 watt small generator to charge the power station would work well for you.

 

[baskenuta]

That's a lot of trouble when a laptop with an added screen and external keyboard works very well. It's what I use every day. Mine will run all day on the battery. Also a small 2K generator from Tractor Supply for around 500 bucks is a good option. Very quiet and it's an inverter so clean power.

Maybe. But I can’t upgrade a laptop.

 

[baskenuta]

This winter, I was boondocking with a 1000 wh power station which I used to run my computer and TV. Whenever the power station got down to a low charge, I'd start up my small portable generator to charge the power station and house battery. Worked fine for me. However, I've since up graded to 3,000 wh power stations and added portable solar panels.

I think using a 2,000 or 2,500 watt small generator to charge the power station would work well for you.

Can u tell me more about this generator and how to use it to charge a power station

And To the dude that said there’s no such thing as undervolting a pc …. Go into the bios and report back

Thanks

 

[baskenuta]

What GPU do you have? And do you run games / streaming software like OBS and edit videos etc?


How much did you pay for it.

BTW do you guts know where I csn find a public AC outlet i can run an extension cord from?

3060 ti and yes to obs etc

 

[Isaac-1]

There are cheaper alternatives to the traditional Kill-A-Watt (which I have owned), here is one I recently bought, cheaper, better display, etc. and only $12 Amazon.com

 

[Domo]

Can u tell me more about this generator and how to use it to charge a power station

And To the dude that said there’s no such thing as undervolting a pc …. Go into the bios and report back

Thanks

Perhaps you mean underclocking? (Slowing down the CPU).

 

[IBTripping]

Can u tell me more about this generator and how to use it to charge a power station

And To the dude that said there’s no such thing as undervolting a pc …. Go into the bios and report back

Thanks

If you have an RV (travel trailer for me), start the generator, attach the RV's 30 amp or 50 amp (using a 30 amp adapter) power cord, and plug in your power station to a 120 volt outlet. Or, you can plug your power station directly into a running generator to charge it if you camp in a vehicle. I used a 2000 watt inverter generator after my 3000 watt generator died.

It's a simple procedure.

 

[8Muddypaws]

Under and over volting are indeed 'a thing'. It's a common BIOS tuning option on gaming motherboards. Some of them that I've used from MSI and ASUS can to it automatically.

Personally I think using a desktop in an RV is asking for trouble. I bought an ASUS gaming laptop and have used it for audio production while on the road, it's performance is actually better that my desktop DAW. Added bonus - it doesn't shut down immediately when the power fails or glitches. I can hang four 4K monitors on it if I want and I've installed two 1TB NVME SSDs in it. (Could have been two 4TB drives.)

 

[RayIN]

Hi,

I need to connect a PC. It will have a 750w power supply +40w monitor + 20w router +20w modem.

I researched the Ankher Solix C1000, it's my fav right now, problem is it will only last 1 hour.

I need something to last at least 5... preferably 10.

Give me your innovative ideas how to make this happen.

A pedal-powered generator, you get exercise while sitting at a computer desk.
If you run out of power, It's your fault.

 

[Isaac-1]

Nice in theory, but I doubt even an Olympic Bicyclist could generate that much power

 

[TXMOOSE]

Sounds like your power goes quick cause maybe your a gamer ? I know just doing this little game off my phone at times it takes the battery down. In your car I guess there's no room for the lab top and monitor idea. Your best bet will probably be a direct hook up to run clearly for games.
Then if and when you get hooked up with an RV type you can better figure it all. I'm figuring as busy as Door Dash can keep you setting up the solar panels aren't an option since you take them down each call.
We had a guy in a big RV parked in the lot were a K Mart was. He only moved to I guess empty his tanks. But he was parked one to one of the lot lights and passing one day I saw he had his cord plugged In the bottom of the pole. Some of those lights have the outside electrical for outside use.
So maybe if your tricky enough you can use that to charge up a bit even use the WiFi while there.
Good Luck.