Console Energy Consumption vs PC Calculator

At US average electricity rates ($0.14/kWh) with 4 hours daily gaming: a PS5 costs about $61/year, Xbox Series S about $31/year, mid-range PC about $102/year, and a high-end PC about $143/year. The difference between a console and a PC is typically $40-80 per year — less than the cost of one modern game. The PC's higher upfront cost ($1000-2500 vs $300-500) is a much larger factor than the ongoing electricity cost.

Yes — a 65" LED TV can consume 150W, while a 24" monitor consumes only 25W. Over a year at 4 hours/day, the TV adds ~$30.66 annually vs $5.11 for the small monitor. Console gamers typically use larger TVs which partially offsets the console's efficiency advantage. PC gamers using efficient monitors have a smaller display energy cost. For the most energy-efficient setup, use a 24-27" monitor with LED backlighting regardless of platform.

Modern consoles and PCs use very little power in standby/rest mode — typically 0.5-3W. However, both platforms consume significant power in idle/desktop states. A PS5 at the home screen uses ~50W, while a high-end PC idles at ~110W. If you leave your system on menus or desktop for hours (not gaming), the PC will cost more. Enable auto-shutdown after 1-2 hours of inactivity on both platforms to minimize wasted energy.

At 4 hours/day: a PS5 setup produces ~175 kg CO₂/year, an Xbox Series S produces ~87 kg, a mid-range PC produces ~350 kg, and an ultra PC produces ~525 kg. For comparison: a round-trip transatlantic flight produces ~2000 kg CO₂. Gaming's carbon footprint is relatively small but can be reduced by: enabling power saving features, using efficient monitors, and turning devices off when not in use. Cloud gaming shifts the energy cost to data centers (which may use renewable energy).