I have my Blue Iris server connected to an Ubiquiti mFi mPower Pro now, which measures power consumption, so I ran some tests.
System #1
i7-3770K (stock speed)
16 GB RAM
1x SSD
4x HDD
Nvidia GTX 950 GPU (only to facilitate 4K@60hz output)
Blue Iris load of 635 MP/s, motion detecting
It is a bit of a power hog since it is years old, has so many HDDs, and a discrete GPU
Baseline Reading
82 watts @ 1% CPU usage (task manager) with Blue Iris not running at all.
Hardware Acceleration Enabled
132 watts @ 33% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI closed.
155 watts @ 55% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI open, maximized at 4K resolution, 6 FPS live view limit.
Hardware Acceleration Disabled
158 watts @ 77% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI closed.
167 watts @ 100% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI open, maximized at 4K resolution, 6 FPS preview limit. The system froze up and I had to unplug the network cord before even the mouse pointer would respond again.
System #2
i7-3770K (stock speed)
16 GB RAM
2x SSD
3x HDD
Onboard graphics only
Blue Iris load of 350 MP/s, continuous recording without motion detection
I will not be measuring with the GUI open because this system never gets monitored live, and I have the live view frame rate limit set to 1 FPS. This is a small, nearly inconsequential additional load of about 2% CPU / 2 watts.
Baseline Reading
60 watts @ 1% CPU usage (task manager) with Blue Iris not running at all.
Hardware Acceleration Enabled
83 watts @ 15% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI closed.
Hardware Acceleration Disabled
97 watts @ 35% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI closed.
System #1
i7-3770K (stock speed)
16 GB RAM
1x SSD
4x HDD
Nvidia GTX 950 GPU (only to facilitate 4K@60hz output)
Blue Iris load of 635 MP/s, motion detecting
It is a bit of a power hog since it is years old, has so many HDDs, and a discrete GPU
Baseline Reading
82 watts @ 1% CPU usage (task manager) with Blue Iris not running at all.
Hardware Acceleration Enabled
132 watts @ 33% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI closed.
155 watts @ 55% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI open, maximized at 4K resolution, 6 FPS live view limit.
Hardware Acceleration Disabled
158 watts @ 77% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI closed.
167 watts @ 100% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI open, maximized at 4K resolution, 6 FPS preview limit. The system froze up and I had to unplug the network cord before even the mouse pointer would respond again.
System #2
i7-3770K (stock speed)
16 GB RAM
2x SSD
3x HDD
Onboard graphics only
Blue Iris load of 350 MP/s, continuous recording without motion detection
I will not be measuring with the GUI open because this system never gets monitored live, and I have the live view frame rate limit set to 1 FPS. This is a small, nearly inconsequential additional load of about 2% CPU / 2 watts.
Baseline Reading
60 watts @ 1% CPU usage (task manager) with Blue Iris not running at all.
Hardware Acceleration Enabled
83 watts @ 15% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI closed.
Hardware Acceleration Disabled
97 watts @ 35% total CPU usage with Blue Iris GUI closed.