Mini PC Idle Power Consumption: Measured Watts by Model
Real wall-power measurements from named reviewers, not spec-sheet TDP. Every row links to its source.
By Brandon Sheley · Updated
Short answer: most mini PCs and 1-liter business PCs idle at about 9-16W from the wall, and N100 boxes land in the same range as used OptiPlex Micro and EliteDesk Mini units. Workstation-class models like the Minisforum MS-01 idle around 25-29W. At the U.S. average rate, 13W running 24/7 costs about $21 a year.
I only list numbers I can point to: every row below is a published wall-power measurement with a link to the review it came from.
Measured Idle and Load Power by Model
| Model | CPU | Idle | Load | Measured by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beelink EQ12 | Intel N100 (4 cores) | 12.1-14.3W | 26.5-28.9W | CNX Software |
| Beelink EQ12 Pro | Intel i3-N305 (8 cores) | 9-12W | 34-36W peak, 24-26W sustained | ServeTheHome |
| HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini | Core i5-7500T | ~12W | ~51W | ServeTheHome |
| HP ProDesk 600 G4 Mini | 8th gen Core i5 (4 cores) | 12-16W | 55W+ | ServeTheHome |
| HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Mini | Core i5-10500T | 11-12W | ~61W | ServeTheHome |
| Dell OptiPlex 7070 Micro | Core i5-9500T | ~13W | 60W+ | ServeTheHome |
| Dell OptiPlex 7090 Micro | 10th gen Core, 35W | 12-14W | 60W+ | ServeTheHome |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M920q | Quad-core 8th/9th gen | 12-15W | Not reported | ServeTheHome |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q | Six-core Core i5 | 27W | 68W | ServeTheHome |
| Lenovo ThinkCentre M75q Gen 2 | Ryzen 7 Pro 4750GE | ~12W | ~58W | ServeTheHome |
| Minisforum MS-01 | Core i9 (14 cores) | 25-29W | 90-95W sustained, ~115W peak | ServeTheHome |
All figures are wall power on 120V, from the linked reviews. Each reviewer used their own OS, power settings, RAM and storage, so treat small differences (a watt or two) as noise. The M720q result stands out as high next to ServeTheHome's other Tiny reviews; their M920q, the same chassis, idled at 12-15W, so the CPU and configuration of a particular unit matter.
What the Numbers Say
- Almost every 1-liter PC idles between about 9 and 16 watts. That includes the N100, the N305, and used 7th to 10th gen Intel business minis. TDP on the box (6W, 15W, 35W) tells you very little about idle draw.
- The new low-power chips don't idle much lower than old business minis. An N100 box measured 12-14W; a used OptiPlex 7070 Micro measured about 13W. Where they differ is under load and in cores and RAM slots (see used OptiPlex vs mini PC).
- Workstation-class minis cost more to idle. The MS-01 measured 25-29W, about double, in exchange for 10GbE, a PCIe slot and many more cores.
- In dollars, the spread is small. At the U.S. average of about 18.6¢/kWh, 13W around the clock is about $21 a year and 27W is about $44. A used rack server idling at 150W is about $244.
How to Measure Your Own
- A plug-in meter (Kill-A-Watt style) is the simplest and most accurate for one device.
- A smart plug with energy monitoring logs draw over time, which shows you real daily averages instead of a single idle reading.
- Measure the way you'll run it: with your drives, NICs and the OS you'll actually use, at idle after a few minutes, then under your normal load.
- Lower idle on Proxmox by enabling the CPU's low-power states in the BIOS (C-states), turning off devices you don't use, and not passing a GPU to a VM that keeps it awake.
Then put your number into the power cost calculator to see what it costs a year at your rate.
Related Resources
Power Cost Calculator
Turn any wattage into a yearly cost at your electricity rate.
Used OptiPlex vs Mini PC
Same idle power, different RAM ceilings: how to pick.
N305 vs N100 for Proxmox
Twice the cores for the same idle draw.
SFF & Mini PC Price Tracker
Live prices for the machines in this table.
Best Mini PC for Proxmox
What to check on each kind of mini PC beyond power.
Server Price Tracker
For comparison: used rack servers and what they cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much power does a mini PC use at idle?
Most mini PCs and 1-liter business PCs measure about 9 to 16 watts at the wall when idle. In published tests, an Intel N100 Beelink EQ12 measured 12-14W, a Dell OptiPlex 7070 Micro about 13W and an HP EliteDesk 800 G6 Mini 11-12W. Workstation-class models like the Minisforum MS-01 idle higher, around 25-29W.
Does an N100 mini PC use less power than a used OptiPlex?
At idle, barely. CNX Software measured 12-14W on an N100 Beelink EQ12, and ServeTheHome measured about 13W on an OptiPlex 7070 Micro with a Core i5-9500T. The N100 uses less under full load, but a homelab node spends most of its time near idle, so the yearly cost is about the same.
How much does it cost to run a mini PC 24/7?
About $21 a year for a mini PC averaging 13W, at the U.S. average residential rate of roughly 18.6 cents per kWh. Multiply the watts by 8.76 to get kWh per year, then by your rate.