A fanless mini PC’s added electricity cost is its measured average wall power, multiplied by the hours you run it and your price per kilowatt-hour. In one published test, a MINIX NEO Z100-0dB used 14.7–17.9 watts during YouTube playback; at that draw, continuous use works out to about 10.6–12.9 kWh in a 30-day month.
That is an example from one model and two review setups, not a forecast for every fanless PC or for live encoding. Your bill depends on your own machine, what is connected, how many hours it plays, and the tariff that applies to your household or business.
What the MINIX review measured
CNX Software reported wall-meter readings of 14.7–17.9 W while playing YouTube video on a fanless MINIX NEO Z100-0dB. In its Windows 11 review, playback was in Chrome at 8K60. In its separate Ubuntu 22.04 review, playback was in Firefox at 8Kp60, with the same reported range. Both sets of figures are specific to the conditions the reviewer tested.
The wall reading is useful because it reflects power drawn at the socket by the tested computer and its power adapter, rather than an estimate based only on a processor specification. In the Windows test, the reviewer also reported 8.9–9.2 W at idle. The Ubuntu test reported 7.5–7.6 W idle. Idle is a different operating state, so it should not be substituted for playback when your PC is playing a stream.
The two playback ranges are similar, but the tests are not a controlled comparison proving that operating system or browser makes no difference. Their setups and software differed. The proper takeaway is bounded: CNX measured this model within that range in those playback tests. It is not a typical-value claim for fanless machines in general.
You can read the Windows 11 playback test from CNX Software and its Ubuntu 22.04 test. When comparing another computer, first check whether the other reading was taken at idle, during video playback, or during a live encoding workload. Those are not interchangeable tasks.
Calculate monthly and annual kWh
Electricity use is energy over time. To convert average watts into kilowatt-hours, multiply watts by hours and divide by 1,000:
Energy (kWh) = average power (W) × hours ÷ 1,000
For 24/7 use over a 30-day month, multiply by 720 hours. At the low end of the MINIX playback range, 14.7 W × 720 ÷ 1,000 gives about 10.6 kWh. At 17.9 W, the same calculation gives about 12.9 kWh. For a 365-day year, multiply by 8,760 hours: the range becomes about 129–157 kWh.
| Playback schedule | Energy at 14.7–17.9 W | Illustrative cost at $0.12/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours a day for 30 days | 10.6–12.9 kWh | $1.27–$1.55 |
| 24 hours a day for 365 days | 129–157 kWh | $15.49–$18.86 |
| 8 hours a day for 30 days | 3.53–4.30 kWh | $0.42–$0.52 |
The last column is arithmetic using an illustrative $0.12 per kWh, not a universal or current tariff. It is included to show how a rate changes the answer, not to suggest what a reader should pay. The energy figures are rounded, so minor differences may appear if you calculate from rounded values. For your own estimate, replace the example rate with the applicable usage charge on your bill.
If you only want the energy consumption, the table is enough to provide a starting range under the stated test conditions. If you want the cost added to your bill, calculate with your own tariff and operating hours. That distinction matters: an energy figure can be reused, but a price example cannot be assumed to match another city, state, or country.
Apply your electricity tariff
The basic cost calculation is:
Usage cost = energy (kWh) × price per kWh
Suppose your bill lists a usage rate of R per kWh. For the 30-day, continuous MINIX example, calculate 10.6 × R for the lower estimate and 12.9 × R for the higher estimate. If your actual bill uses a different rate at different times, split the hours across those periods and multiply each block of energy by its matching rate. Use the bill’s units and applicable charges rather than copying a sample currency or tariff from an article.
A useful result is the marginal device cost: the additional usage charge caused by operating the PC. Fixed account fees, standing charges and unrelated household consumption do not belong in that figure. Your total bill may include them, but they are not caused by this computer being switched on. If your tariff includes tiered rates, taxes or adjustments, check whether you want a simple energy-only estimate or the full change you expect to see on the account.
For example, if you run playback only part of each day, calculate only those hours at the playback estimate. Do not multiply playback draw across all 24 hours if the PC is shut down, sleeping or idle for the rest of the day. For a more accurate result, measure each state and calculate the energy blocks separately.
A channel operator planning the whole running budget may also want to separate equipment costs from connectivity and account costs. The practical details in this guide to running a continuous YouTube stream over a BSNL broadband connection are relevant to that broader operating plan, but broadband charges do not change the PC’s electricity calculation.
Read the test conditions before using the range
The CNX Windows setup included Wi-Fi 6, an RF dongle for a keyboard and mouse, and a VGA display connected through an HDMI-to-VGA adapter. The Ubuntu review also described Wi-Fi 6, two USB RF dongles, and a VGA monitor through an adapter. These attached items are part of the context for the reported readings; another arrangement may draw differently.
A monitor’s power boundary needs particular care. A wall meter on the mini PC’s adapter measures the PC-side setup supplied through that adapter, not a monitor plugged into a separate outlet. If you want the cost of the entire viewing or streaming station, include the monitor and any separately powered equipment in your measurement or estimate them separately. Do not silently treat a PC-only reading as the total for a desk.
Playback quality and the path used to display it can also alter results. Resolution, frame rate, browser, operating system, hardware decoding, network connection, USB accessories, and the display arrangement are among the conditions that may differ. A YouTube playback test does not establish what the same computer will draw while encoding and transmitting a live broadcast. This page does not use the MINIX playback range as an estimate for live encoding.
Likewise, processor TDP and the maximum rating printed on a power adapter are not substitutes for wall power measured in the workload you care about. TDP describes a processor design parameter; an adapter rating describes capacity, not the system’s continuous draw. GMKtec’s power measurement guide explains these distinctions and the basic kWh calculation.
If you compare products, compare like with like: the same workload, duration, measurement location, connected equipment and display boundary. A published idle figure for a different machine, even from an official declaration, is not a direct comparison with the MINIX playback figure. For instance, the ASUS CF40 energy declaration reports state figures under a compliance procedure; those should not be presented as YouTube playback results.
Measure your own complete setup
A plug-in electricity meter can replace a broad estimate with a reading from the setup you actually plan to run. Put it between the wall outlet and the mini PC’s power adapter, then let the machine perform a representative session. If the meter shows accumulated kWh, record the starting and ending values, along with the time elapsed. This boundary includes adapter conversion losses and equipment powered by the PC through its own power connections.
For a PC-only number, keep the monitor on a separate outlet and describe the measurement as PC plus adapter and powered peripherals. For the full station, include the monitor and other separately powered items in a combined reading if the meter and outlet arrangement allow it. Otherwise, measure those devices separately. A small difference in what you include can matter when comparing two setups, so write the boundary down rather than labelling a partial reading simply “the channel”.
During the session, note the video resolution and frame rate, browser, operating system, connected USB devices, network connection, display arrangement, and whether the PC is playing a video, idle, or encoding a live feed. Record the session duration and meter reading. Those notes make the number useful later if you change the browser, attach a second screen, or move from playback to a different workload.
A smart plug with energy tracking may offer a convenient way to accumulate readings, while a basic plug-in meter may be enough for a short test. Check the device’s own documentation for its measurement behaviour and whether it supports the socket and load you intend to use. The important point is not a particular accessory: it is measuring at a clearly defined boundary over a representative period.
If your stream runs for part of the day and the computer is in a different state the rest of the time, measure those periods separately. A reading from one continuous playback session cannot tell you how much an overnight idle period uses. For a looping file or a playlist, the guide to keeping audio and video in sync in a YouTube loop stream can help with playback reliability, while the meter tells you the energy cost of your own playback setup.
Estimate cost for your actual schedule
Once you have a measured average or accumulated kWh, match it to the schedule you intend to keep. If the PC is on for eight hours a day, use 8 × 30 = 240 hours for a 30-day estimate. At the MINIX review range, that is roughly 3.53–4.30 kWh. If you use it around the clock, the relevant monthly period is 720 hours. Use your actual calendar period if you want a closer estimate; the 30-day month is a convenient comparison, not every billing cycle.
For a meter that reports energy directly, scale the measured kWh by the ratio of planned hours to measured hours only if the workload is comparable. For example, a representative playback session can inform another playback session with similar settings. It should not be scaled as though it were a measurement of idle or live encoding. When states differ, make separate estimates and add them:
Total energy = playback energy + idle energy + other measured operating-state energy
Then multiply each time-of-use block by its applicable rate if your tariff varies by time. This method also makes assumptions visible. You can see whether the result depends mostly on the PC drawing more during playback, on running it for more hours, or on the local price per kWh.
Finally, distinguish the electricity question from the operating-reliability question. A low measured draw does not tell you whether your stream will stay connected overnight or whether the broadcast will recover after a network interruption. If you are deciding between a local machine and a hosted workflow, first define whether your computer needs to remain on; the guide to keeping a YouTube stream running after disconnecting from an Indian VPS addresses a different continuity problem, not a power measurement comparison.
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
How much electricity does the MINIX NEO Z100-0dB use for YouTube playback?
CNX Software measured 14.7–17.9 W during playback in its Windows 11/Chrome and Ubuntu 22.04/Firefox tests. The readings belong to that model and those review conditions; they are not a general figure for every fanless mini PC. For continuous use, the range converts to about 10.6–12.9 kWh in 30 days.
Does the playback figure include my monitor?
Only if the monitor was powered within the measured boundary. A meter placed between the outlet and the mini PC adapter will not include a monitor plugged into a separate outlet. Measure it separately or include it in a combined measurement if you want a whole-station estimate.
Can I use this number to estimate live encoding?
No. The cited range is for YouTube playback, not live encoding and transmission. Measure the workload you plan to run, with your own settings and connected equipment, before using it for a cost estimate.
What should I use instead of the example tariff?
Use the applicable price per kWh on your own electricity bill. Multiply your estimated kWh by that rate, and account for time-of-use pricing if different periods have different rates. Treat fixed account charges separately from the marginal cost of running the PC.