If you are comparing an AMD Ryzen APU with an Intel mini PC for a YouTube loop stream, the useful first step is to distinguish browser playback from broadcasting. Published wall-meter readings give bounded examples of YouTube playback on particular machines, but they do not establish the power draw or bill for an always-on live encoder.
You can turn those playback readings into annual kWh and apply your own electricity rate. Treat the result as an illustration of those tested systems, not as an AMD-versus-Intel verdict or a measured streaming bill.
The estimate and its limits
The term “YouTube stream” can describe two different jobs. In a playback test, a mini PC opens a video in a browser and decodes it for viewing. In a live broadcast, a creator sends a continuous programme to YouTube, potentially encoding a local video file and maintaining an upload connection. The review figures used here describe the first job, not the second.
CNX Software reported wall-power readings for two unlike examples: a GEEKOM A7 2026 Edition with a Ryzen 5 7545U, playing YouTube at 4K/60 in Firefox on Ubuntu; and a fanless MINIX NEO Z100-0dB with an Intel N100, playing YouTube at 8K/60 in Chrome on Windows. Their reported ranges were 23.0–29.1 W and 14.7–17.9 W respectively. Those are measurements of complete test configurations under their stated conditions, not processor-only figures.
The examples differ in operating system, browser, video resolution, device design, attached display and test date. They are therefore useful as real-world reference points, but not as a controlled comparison proving one processor brand is more efficient. Neither review tested a continuous live loop broadcast. The arithmetic below extends the reported playback ranges to 24/7 use solely to show how a reader can calculate energy; it does not claim that either PC was measured running for a year.
If your actual question is the cost of an always-on creator setup, use a wall meter on that setup during the broadcast. A comparison of local PC costs with a hosted approach is a separate question, as discussed in PC electricity cost versus cloud service cost. Keep the workload consistent before drawing conclusions.
Published idle and playback reference figures
The AMD example is the GEEKOM A7 2026 Edition, configured with a Ryzen 5 7545U, 16 GB of memory and an M.2 SSD. CNX Software’s Ubuntu 26.04 review reports 4.8–5.3 W at idle and 23.0–29.1 W during YouTube 4K/60 playback in Firefox. Its test had Wi-Fi 6, a USB keyboard-and-mouse receiver and a 4K monitor connected. These details matter because the meter reads the whole setup at the wall, including power used outside the processor.
The Intel example is MINIX’s fanless NEO Z100-0dB, with an Intel N100, 16 GB of memory and a 512 GB SSD. CNX Software’s 2024 Windows 11 review gives 8.9–9.2 W at idle and 14.7–17.9 W for YouTube in Chrome at 8K/60. The test included Wi-Fi 6, a USB keyboard-and-mouse receiver and a VGA screen attached through an HDMI-to-VGA adapter. The reviewer also notes some dropped frames at 4K/8K 60, so the number should not be read as evidence that this particular machine is an ideal choice for every high-resolution job.
The review pages are the evidence for the figures: CNX Software’s GEEKOM A7 Ubuntu review and CNX Software’s MINIX NEO Z100-0dB review. Idle readings provide context for an always-on device that spends time doing little, but they are not substitutes for active workload readings. Likewise, processor TDP, package telemetry and power-supply ratings are not whole-system wall watts.
A second Intel N100 example reinforces why a model name is not enough to predict a result. CNX measured 10.9–15 W for YouTube 8K/60 on a GEEKOM Mini Air12 Lite under its own Windows 11 Pro test conditions, with Wi-Fi, USB input devices and a drawing tablet attached. Do not average that with the MINIX result to create an “Intel” figure; product design and attached equipment differ. See the Mini Air12 Lite review.
Convert watts into annual kWh
A watt is a rate of energy use. To estimate energy over time, multiply average watts by operating hours and divide by 1,000. For continuous operation over a year, there are 8,760 hours, so the convenient formula is:
annual kWh = average wall watts × 8.76
Apply it to each end of a published range. For the A7 example, 23.0 W × 8.76 is about 201.5 kWh per year; 29.1 W × 8.76 is about 254.9 kWh per year. For the MINIX example, 14.7 W × 8.76 is about 128.8 kWh, and 17.9 W × 8.76 is about 156.8 kWh. These are arithmetic extrapolations from review readings, not annual measurements.
| Playback reference | Reported wall-power range | Annual energy if held continuously at that range |
|---|---|---|
| GEEKOM A7, Ryzen 5 7545U, YouTube 4K/60 | 23.0–29.1 W | about 201.5–254.9 kWh |
| MINIX NEO Z100-0dB, Intel N100, YouTube 8K/60 | 14.7–17.9 W | about 128.8–156.8 kWh |
For a shorter period, use the hours you actually expect. For a 30-day month at continuous operation, the equivalent formula is monthly kWh = average watts × 24 × 30 ÷ 1,000. If the PC is on for only part of each day, substitute those hours for 24. If it alternates between playback and idle, estimate each part separately and add the energy: watts for each mode multiplied by its hours, then divided by 1,000.
For example, a system that plays video for some hours and sits idle for the rest cannot be costed accurately by multiplying the playback figure by all hours. Conversely, assuming it stays at idle while it is decoding video understates use. A week of readings can help reveal how often the machine is actually active, but the range should still reflect your content and operating pattern rather than an assumed generic “streaming” load.
Apply your electricity rate
Once you have kWh, multiply by the marginal energy price that applies to your next unit of electricity. The word “marginal” matters: a bill can contain fixed charges, taxes or tiered rates, while this calculation estimates only the energy charge associated with additional consumption. Use the rate relevant to your tariff and currency rather than importing an example from another country.
The calculation is:
estimated energy charge = kWh × local marginal price per kWh
For a monthly estimate, first calculate monthly kWh from the wall watts and operating schedule, then multiply by the unit price. For an annual estimate, multiply annual kWh by the unit price. If your provider’s rate varies by time of day, use a weighted rate for the hours the PC operates, or calculate separate blocks by tariff period and add them. Check your latest bill or your provider’s current tariff page for the applicable rate.
This method is deliberately simple. It does not predict the full amount due on your electricity bill, nor does it account for every local fee or tariff condition. It isolates the energy component attributable to the equipment under the assumed watts and hours. If you are in India, for example, the applicable price can depend on your state, provider and consumption slab; use the rate shown for your household rather than a national “typical” number.
What the illustrative $0.15/kWh example means
A dollar example can demonstrate the multiplication without claiming that it represents a typical rate. At an explicitly assumed $0.15 per kWh, the A7 playback extrapolation of 201.5–254.9 kWh over a year corresponds to approximately $30.23–$38.24 in energy charges. The MINIX extrapolation of 128.8–156.8 kWh corresponds to approximately $19.32–$23.52. The values are rounded from the stated kWh and illustrative rate.
Those figures do not say what either machine will cost you. They use the measured playback ranges as though those watts persisted every hour of the year, and then apply an assumed price. The first assumption is not verified for a live broadcast; the second may not match your tariff. Your actual result can be lower or higher because of workload, operating hours, meter variation and local billing structure.
Nor does the table establish that the Intel processor is inherently cheaper to run than the AMD APU. In these particular reported examples the calculated ranges differ, but the tests are not matched: the AMD figure is for 4K/60 in Firefox on Ubuntu, while the MINIX figure is for 8K/60 in Chrome on Windows. Even display, device and review date vary. The comparison is a starting point for asking what your own measured system uses, not a purchase conclusion.
If you are planning a 24/7 channel budget, separate energy cost from the other decisions that affect whether the channel is sustainable. Electricity is one operating expense; audience and monetisation depend on different factors. For example, whether viewers skipping the archive affects ad earnings is not answered by a mini PC’s power reading.
Why playback, broadcasting and peripherals change the result
A browser playback test decodes a video received from YouTube. A creator’s loop broadcast may instead read a local file, encode it, keep an upstream connection open and run broadcast software continuously. Hardware acceleration, video codec, resolution, frame rate, encoder settings and the software path can change how much work the PC does. The cited reviews do not measure that workload, so their playback watts cannot be presented as a live encoder’s consumption.
Even a “loop” is not necessarily an identical workload at all times. A system may be busier while starting an application or recovering after a network interruption than while repeating a static scene. If your channel displays moving visuals, overlays or other live elements, the combined work differs from simply replaying a browser video. The correct estimate comes from measuring the actual broadcast configuration over a representative period, not choosing whichever published number looks closest.
The rest of the station also matters. A wall meter on the PC alone excludes a separate monitor, speakers, router or other devices unless they are plugged through that meter. The review readings described above include the named connected test equipment as part of their wall setup, so they are not processor draw. For your own comparison, decide whether you want the mini PC alone or the complete operating station, and measure that same boundary for each candidate.
Idle time matters too. A channel computer can remain on while content is paused, an application is being configured, or the system awaits a restart. If it draws a different amount in idle and broadcast modes, average use depends on the time spent in each. A useful record therefore notes not only the measured watts but also whether the channel was live, idle, or doing something else during the measurement.
For a devotional channel that runs a morning aarti loop, planning the content schedule and keeping the source reliable are separate from the machine’s energy use. The practical details in creating a 24/7 morning aarti stream for YouTube viewers in India can help frame the channel workflow, while your own meter answers the power question.
Measure the complete setup for a closer estimate
A plug-in wall-power meter is the most direct way to replace a review example with a personal reading. Put the device or group of devices you want to count through the meter, then observe watts while the intended broadcast is running normally. If you want the cost of the whole station, include the display and any other equipment you expect to leave on. If you want to compare only PCs, keep the measurement boundary to the PC and the same essential accessories for both.
Record the system configuration alongside the number: model and memory, operating system, browser or broadcast software, video resolution and frame rate, encoder choice, hardware acceleration setting, connected display, network method and peripherals. You do not need a laboratory protocol; you do need enough notes to repeat the comparison. A result without those conditions is hard to interpret, particularly if you later change a display or switch from browser playback to an encoder.
Measure more than a momentary peak or a single idle reading. Let the normal workload run long enough to capture its typical variation, note the low and high values you observe, and use an average reading for the duration estimate if the meter provides one. If it does not, take repeated readings at regular intervals and calculate an average. Repeat during idle if the computer spends meaningful hours in that state. The purpose is not to manufacture precision but to replace an unrelated reference workload with the one you actually run.
Then apply the same calculation: average watts × hours ÷ 1,000 gives kWh; kWh × your marginal price gives the estimated energy charge. Keep the observation period and the assumed operating schedule visible in your notes. If the meter reading is 20 W during a measured broadcast, for instance, do not silently substitute the A7’s 23.0–29.1 W browser playback range; use the measurement that belongs to your actual setup.
If you are choosing between two machines, test the same loop at the same resolution and frame rate, with the same display and peripheral arrangement, and as similar software settings as practical. If the stream is meant to stay live while your computer is off, local playback figures are not the right cost comparison; the relevant question becomes which operating arrangement meets your needs and what its own terms and costs are. StreamNeo removes the need to leave your own computer running for the broadcast by taking an uploaded video and keeping it live on YouTube, which addresses the specific burden of a local machine that must otherwise remain on.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Is the Intel mini PC cheaper to run than the AMD Ryzen APU?
The cited MINIX playback range converts to less annual energy than the cited GEEKOM A7 range under the continuous-playback arithmetic. But the reviews tested different resolutions, operating systems, browsers and hardware, so they do not establish a general Intel-versus-AMD result. Compare candidate machines under the same workload and measure them at the wall.
Can I use these figures to estimate a 24/7 YouTube live broadcast?
Not directly. The readings are for YouTube browser playback, while a creator’s continuous broadcast can involve different encoding and upload work. Measure the complete setup during the live loop and use that average wall draw in the formula.
Should I use the PC’s TDP or idle power for my calculation?
Neither is a substitute for wall watts during the workload you want to cost. TDP is not the complete system’s measured electricity use, and idle power describes a different state from active playback or broadcasting. Use a wall meter on the equipment included in your estimate.
How do I make the estimate match my bill?
Take the kWh estimate and multiply it by the marginal price per kWh that applies to your household, checking the current tariff or bill. Treat the result as an energy-charge estimate rather than the full bill, because fixed charges, taxes or tiered pricing may also apply.