Not really even close. Even with a 235W CPU and a theoretical 600W GPU you wouldn’t actually exceed even half the capacity of a single 15A circuit in synthetic benchmarks that stress the system beyond real-world loads.
I think the issue is with older houses that might have 15 amp circuit breakers compared to the modern standard of 20A. One high end desktop computer by itself isn't likely to be a problem, but the way these houses are wired, there are a lot of outlets on the same breaker since they were mostly designed for lighting loads. Our 1950 house in MI will flip the breaker if we use the microwave, toser and bathroom vent at the same time, and my desktop is also on that circuit (with a UPS)
15A vs 20A is a factor of the gauge of the wires as well. You can’t just swap the breaker for a bigger one. You’ll get heat and depending where that could burn the house down.
I have a relative whose house burnt down due to stapled wiring in the attic. Thermal cycling eventually created a short. When your attic catches on fire the smoke alarms go off in time to save the people, but the moment the ceiling starts to cave in the entire house is involved and you’re mostly trying to keep the neighboring houses from burning.
You have a 15A Fuse. You use a 12A Microwave, a 10A Toaster you have blow your breaker right there, and a 10A Bathroom vent?
if you run a separate circut for the Microwave, and separate your bathroom vent + your bathroom LED lights, you can run all of them at the same time with your toster. Running circuts is comparatively easy, vs installing a new 200A fuse box.
If you have bathroom and kitchen on single circuit you have bigger fucking problems than powering gaming PC, whoever did that abomination needs to be fired.
For sustained loads you are only supposed to draw 12A, and the PSU has a conversion loss, dropping you to perhaps 10A of power for it all. Plus, then you can’t run anything else on the circuit.
Why wouldn't they be on the same circuit? The monitor and computer are in the same room and would generally be plugged into the same outlet. I think this would be the rule rather than the exception.
That’s absurd. Most people will not only plug them on the same circuit, they’ll plug everything into a single multi plug feeding from a single wall socket.
I’ve never seen anyone, in corporate and home environments , split their circuit use like you describe.
I would argue most people wouldn't even understand concepts like a circuit.
All they would see is an electrical cable and plug in hand, and an electrical outlet on the wall. Put two and two together, computer turns on. Circuits? Watts? Load? Might as well be pig latin.
Sure, you would be able to put smaller power draw items on the same circuit, but between the CPU/GPU/Motherboard/PSU/Monitors/Peripherals you will not be able to put two of these machines onto the same circuit.
Maximum available power for standard domestic users is still only 3kW in many places. Might not be enough for a gaming PC, washing machine and microwave!
If you have a circuit in your house that trips for “no reason” this is partially why.
With a steady load you can run a circuit breaker past the rated amperage on the breaker. But look at it funny and it will pop.
The most obvious case of this was when I knew someone who would plug a vacuum into a different circuit and blow a breaker. Just a little noise on the wires and click.
People often use power strips for their computer. So you also have your dual 4K LCD monitor system, as well as maybe plugging in a phone to charge as well which can have high peak power draws over USB 3.0.