Is Your PS4 Secretly Sucking Up More Power Than You Realize?

Is Your PS4 Secretly Sucking Up More Power Than You Realize?

With its amazing graphics and engaging gameplay experiences, the PlayStation 4 is an immensely powerful gaming machine. But all of that performance has a price, and that price is power. Even in idle or regular modes of operation, the majority of PS4 owners are unaware of the exact amount of power their system is consuming. This enormous power use can pile up quickly, leading to unexpectedly hefty electricity bills.

We'll break down just how much electricity a PS4 uses under different circumstances in this article. The total wattage required to power your gaming sessions could surprise you. We'll also offer pointers on how to lower the PS4's energy use, which could result in financial savings. We'll also examine how the EcoFlow DELTA Pro portable power station, which offers dependable off-grid power, might make the ideal partner for a PS4.

Understanding the PS4’s Power Draw

A PlayStation 4's electricity consumption is contingent upon several things. First, we need to make a distinction between the PS4 that was first released, the more compact PS4 Slim model, and the updated PS4 Pro.

The PS4 Pro requires more power to produce its improved 4K and HDR graphics, while the PS4 Slim generally consumes less power than the regular PS4. However, usage circumstances are also very important.

Power Usage During Gaming Sessions

An original PS4 or PS4 Slim typically draws between 130 and 150 watts when gaming. This supplies electricity to the RAM, cooling fans, APU, and GPU for graphic rendering, among other parts. Games with higher graphics settings may cause the power to soar even higher—up to 180W.

While gaming, the PS4 Pro uses about 160W on average, but at its most demanding settings, it can use over 200W. The PS4 Pro is pushed to its limits by games with intricate visuals or those presented in 4K quality. Your console is using all of its power when its fans are screaming loudly.

180W is about the same power as two brilliant incandescent light bulbs, to put this into perspective. Think of your gaming as being illuminated by two vintage light bulbs the next time you hear the PS4 fans whirring. That is a significant power consumption for just one appliance!

Media Playback and Downloads

Power can be wasted even while you're not playing games. A PS4 still draws between 60w and 80W when it is on the home screen or streaming media such as Netflix or Blu-ray movies. Games and system upgrades also take a consistent 60W or more to download.

So even when you're using it "lightly," your PlayStation is consuming electricity. Over time, those hours spent watching television or movies mount up.

Reset and Standby Modes

The PS4's rest mode is similar to how a computer sleeps. In order to sustain network connections and enable background downloads and updates, it consumes 10W or less of power. When the PS4 is still turned on, this is its lowest power state.

Conversely, the PS4 enters standby mode when it is completely off. When you push the power button to restart the boot process, it takes only 1-2W to detect. When you are not utilizing the console for a lengthy amount of time, this should be your default setting.

Estimated Yearly Energy Usage

Based on these power figures, we can estimate how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) an average PS4 consumes over a year:

PS4 original or Slim – around 200 kWh
PS4 Pro – up to 300 kWh

This assumes around 5 hours of gaming time per week, 2 hours of media playback, occasional downloads and updates, and proper standby when not in use. 200-300 kWh equals about $25-$45 per year in electricity costs, depending on your energy rate.

While not enormous, that’s certainly enough to take notice. Especially when you consider there are over 100 million PS4s in homes worldwide. The cumulative energy demand is massive!

Key Factors That Increase PS4 Power Draw

Not all games and usage scenarios are equal when it comes to PS4 power usage. Here are the key factors that cause your PlayStation to consume more electricity

Display Resolution

The higher the rendering resolution, the harder the PS4 must work to process graphics. 4K displays are the most power-hungry. The PS4 Pro can run games natively at 4K which really pushes the APU and GPU to their limits compared to standard 1080p output

The screen resolution of the PS4 game console will affect the power consumption.

Framerate

The smoother framerate, the more effort is required. At 30 FPS the PS4 runs efficiently. But targeting 60 FPS or unlocked frame rates makes the console’s processors break a sweat, using more electricity in the process.

Game Visuals

More complex and detailed graphics suck power. Think expansive open-world environments, numerous NPCs and objects, particle effects like smoke/fog, ray tracing, etc. The more the PS4 renders on screen, the higher the wattage.

Connected Accessories

Attaching accessories like gaming wheels/pedals, PSVR, external hard drives, and USB devices can increase power consumption by a few watts. It takes energy to power their electronics.

Poor Ventilation

Lack of air circulation causes the PS4 to ramp up its internal fans to stay cool. This uses more electricity compared to an efficiently cooled console.

Time Played

It’s simple – the more hours you play during a day or week, the greater your PS4’s energy impact. Heavy gaming vs light use makes a difference over time.

By being aware of what contributes to higher power usage, you can tweak settings or usage habits to curtail excess electricity drain.

Tips to Reduce Your PS4’s Power Consumption

Minor changes in how you use and configure your PlayStation 4 can have a meaningful impact on its energy footprint. Try these suggestions:

Use Rest Mode Judiciously

Avoid leaving your PS4 in Rest Mode when not needed. The 10W draw isn’t huge, but adds up over time. Only use Rest Mode when actively downloading games/updates.

Adjust Power Saving Settings

The PS4 has several built-in power-saving options like dimming the controller lightbar, adjusting screen brightness, disabling the HDMI device link, and setting the automatic turn-off timer. Enable these in your System settings.

Eject Discs When Not Playing

Discs constantly spin while inserted, using extra power. Eject your game discs when you’re done playing rather than leaving them in.

Close Extra Apps and Game Tiles

Suspending games and apps instead of fully closing them keeps them ready in system memory, which consumes power. Close out games and apps fully when not in use.

Unplug Charging Accessories

Devices like controllers drain phantom power when left plugged into USB ports. Unplug fully charged accessories to avoid the standby draw.

Shut Down Instead of Rest Mode

When you won’t use your PS4 for an extended period, do a full shutdown instead of Rest Mode. The tiny standby power still adds up over time.

Check Ventilation

Ensure your PS4 has open space around it for ventilation. Built-up dust can also cause overheating and the fans to work harder. Clean periodically.

Upgrade to a PS4 Pro

Surprisingly, the PS4 Pro is more energy efficient than the original PS4 and Slim models due to its newer, optimized components. If looking to upgrade, the Pro consumes less power for its performance. When combined with the energy-saving tips above, the Pro is the greenest PS4 console choice.

Additionally, for the ultimate in energy efficiency consider powering your PS4 with the EcoFlow DELTA Pro portable home battery instead of the grid.

The EcoFlow DELTA Pro – Reliable Off-Grid Power for PS4 Gaming

The EcoFlow DELTA Pro is a revolutionary portable home battery that provides reliable power for appliances like the PS4 when the grid goes down. No more gaming interruptions from blackouts!

This compact battery packs up to 3.6kWh of capacity in its base configuration. The large capacity means you can game for multiple hours without running out of juice. Just a few hours of charging replenishes the full battery to keep your PS4 humming.

EcoFlow patented X-Stream technology enables incredibly fast 2.7-hour recharge times from 0% to 80% capacity. So you’ll never be without backup power for long. Plus the EcoFlow DELTA Pro can recharge from solar, and gas generators, or by plugging into your car’s 12V outlet in a pinch.

The EcoFlow DELTA Pro delivers a hefty 3600W of AC power output from its standard outlets. This gives it more than enough headroom for powering a PS4, 4K TV, and any other gaming accessories simultaneously.

Intelligent software also monitors connected devices to optimize wattage delivery as needed, ensuring seamless uninterrupted gameplay. Additional batteries can scale capacity up to 25kWh total for extreme runtimes.

So for the ultimate PS4 gaming experience, keep an EcoFlow DELTA Pro handy. It lets you game anywhere, anytime – free from the constraints of the electrical grid.

Conclusion

After reading this, it’s clear the PlayStation 4 uses a substantial amount of electricity – up to 200-300 kWh per year. Much of this occurs while simply navigating menus or streaming video, not just high-intensity gaming. The costs add up over time, especially with over 100 million PS4s in the wild.

Luckily there are ways to reduce the PS4’s power hunger through smart usage habits and configuration tweaks. When shopping for a new console, the PS4 Pro offers efficiency gains over older models. The revolutionary EcoFlow DELTA Pro provides reliable off-grid power for gaming, freeing you from outlet constraints.

Keeping watch on your PlayStation’s power draw will help keep your energy bills in check and lessen its environmental impact. The PS4 delivers amazing experiences, but also requires some electrical savvy to use responsibly. With a bit of diligence, you can enjoy all that gaming goodness while keeping your home energy footprint in check.