What consumes much more energy? laptops or desktop computers?

Question

What consumes much more energy? laptops or desktop computers?

Answer 1

desktop computers

but the secretaries use the most

Answer 2

Generally desktop computers consume more electricity.  Laptops are built more efficient in order to be able to run for hours just on battery power.  Laptops of equal computing power consume more money to buy compared to desktops for just that reason.     ;-)

Answer 3

Desktop computers consume more than laptops.  In addition to generally larger screens and bigger boxes, desktops of course also run with more peripherals usually (e.g. printers, scanners, etc).  

Since Laura already provided some good numbers on energy consumption, here are a few other things you might find interesting.

Here is a wiki on how to green your electronics: http://greenhome.huddler.com/wiki/greeni...

And another on reducing vampire power: http://greenhome.huddler.com/wiki/how-to...

(The second has a pretty interesting graphic at the bottom which graphically shows how different electronics stack up in terms of the power they draw when switched "off" but still plugged in - desktops consume about twice as much vampire power as laptops do)

Answer 4

Desktops use more - PCs are estimated to use 297kWhs per year as opposed to Laptops that use 32 kWhs per year.

The huge discrepancy between the two could be down to the fact the PCs are often left on standby which means they keep consuming energy - a single PC monitor left switched on overnight wastes enough energy to microwave 6 dinners!

To try and reduce this problem you could buy a Standby Saver which automatically turns the PC/Laptop off instead of leaving it on standby, therefore reducing consumption. There are a few companies selling these but for a good selection try this link:

http://www.earthwhile.co.uk/Shop/Audio_V...