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•While the logic behind this myth seems plausible, the math
doesn't add up. Let's do the sums. Using the Dell example above, if we assume
the average desktop is drawing 89 watts per hour and is left in active mode
overnight for 16 hours, the desktop consumes 1.42 kilowatts (kW) overnight.
For this myth to hold true, the power surge of turning on your PC would have
to also draw 1.42 kW. But since the power surge only lasts, say, five minutes
maximum, this would mean you would be drawing energy at a rate of 17
kilowatts per hour (kWh) — the equivalent of 44 HP DL580 servers at 100%
utilization. Moreover, the average US wall outlet can only provide 1.8 kW of
draw, which is about one-tenth of what the power surge would require.
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