PSU mains power usage

I have had a good look around for how much power my PSU's are using and have got some quite weird answers. One in particular said that the mains power usage / current draw is around half of what the PSU puts out.

Now using that logic my latest - Corsair HX 1050 rated a bit below that figure it turns out would be drawing 400 -- 450 watts from the mains supply? This I find very hard to believe in view of the technology and having made a few battery chargers in my time I have never seen those sorts of figures before.

So does anyone know what mains power PSU's actually use? I know a device will only reflect the input by what it is putting out even so with the cost of power as it stands using my machines could be very costly.

James7679 said:

Newegg.com - P3 Kill A Watt Electricity Load Meter and MonitorThis is the only way to know, for sure, how much your draw is.

Ok James I thought there just might be a calculator around - I'll see what I can get out here as Newegg don't ship O/S:)

Just as an afterthought I have a UPS on my equipment and at the moment have two machines running one with the HX 1050 an the other with a HX 650 and the readout on the screen is as in the pics so I gather I am using 316 watts and the other readout is the year usage.

James7679 said:

There you go. Here's something else Joulemeter - Microsoft Research

Hey thanks James we must have cross posts I just realised I have a UPS that gives me a readout on the screen

But that ref you sent is going to get a try:)