PlayStation 4 Rest Mode: Should You Use It?

PlayStation 4 Rest Mode: Energy Consumption and Cost

Sony recommends utilizing the Rest Mode feature on your PlayStation 4 as an alternative to a full system shutdown. This function operates similarly to sleep mode on a personal computer.

Instead of a complete power off, the console enters a reduced power state, enabling quicker access to games and applications upon reactivation.

Energy Usage Comparison

While Rest Mode offers convenience, it does consume more energy compared to completely powering down the PS4. However, the extent of this increased consumption and its associated cost are important considerations.

The PlayStation 4 demonstrates lower energy usage overall when contrasted with the Xbox One. Furthermore, the PS4’s Rest Mode provides greater customization options.

Optimizing Rest Mode for Energy Efficiency

Users can actively minimize the energy draw of Rest Mode by selectively disabling features that are not frequently used.

This allows for a balance between the convenience of quick startup and the desire to conserve energy. Adjusting these settings can significantly impact the overall power consumption.

• Consider disabling features like network connectivity if not needed.
• Adjust automatic download settings to limit background activity.
• Ensure the console is adequately ventilated to prevent overheating, which can increase energy use.

By tailoring the Rest Mode settings, players can optimize their PlayStation 4 experience while mitigating the potential for excessive energy expenditure.

Understanding PlayStation 4 Rest Mode

A common question for PS4 owners is what Rest Mode actually does. It’s important to understand the differences between fully shutting down, sleeping, and utilizing Rest Mode for optimal performance and energy consumption.

Unlike a complete shutdown, Rest Mode doesn't fully power down your PlayStation 4 console. Instead, it maintains a low-power state, allowing for quicker startup times – typically just a couple of seconds – compared to the standard boot-up sequence which can take 30 seconds or more.

Key Benefits of Rest Mode

Rest Mode offers several advantages for PS4 users. It enables background downloads of both game updates and system software updates, ensuring your games are consistently current.

Furthermore, if you purchase a game digitally, the PS4 can automatically begin the installation process while in Rest Mode. This means the game will be ready to play when you next power on the console.

With the introduction of PS4 System Update 2.5, a significant enhancement was added: game suspension. Now, when Rest Mode is engaged, your games will pause at your last point of play.

This allows you to resume gameplay instantly upon powering on the console, bypassing lengthy load screens and the need to load from a saved game file. Essentially, Rest Mode streamlines the gaming experience.

In essence, Rest Mode prioritizes convenience. The PS4 is engineered to be readily available through this low-power state when not in active use. However, it’s worth noting that maintaining Rest Mode does consume more electrical power than a complete shutdown.

Energy Consumption in PS4 Rest Mode

The power draw of a PlayStation 4 in Rest Mode is approximately 10W, utilizing the standard configurations. Conversely, when fully powered down, the console consumes around 0.3W; a small amount of energy is still required to enable it to respond to controller input for activation.

Let's consider a scenario where a PS4 remains in Rest Mode continuously for a year. Assuming a consistent 10W power usage, what would be the associated cost? The precise expense is dependent on local electricity pricing, but a calculation can be performed to determine this.

Electricity costs are typically expressed in cents per Kilowatthour (kWh). Initially, we need to convert the 10W usage into kWh, representing the hourly electricity consumption of a PS4 in Rest Mode.

The conversion is as follows:

10W / 1000 = 0.01kWh

To ascertain the total kWh used annually, we multiply this value by the number of hours in a day (24) and the number of days in a year (365). This yields the annual energy consumption in Rest Mode:

0.01kWh * 24 * 365 = 87.6kWh

Multiplying this result by the electricity rate in your region will reveal the total cost. Utilizing the average US electricity cost of 12.15 cents per kWh, as reported by the US Energy Information Administration in February 2016, serves as an example. Your specific rate can be found on your electricity bill or provider’s website.

The calculation is:

87.6kWh * 12.15 = 1064.34 cents

Converting this to dollars involves shifting the decimal point two places to the left:

1064.34 cents / 100 = $10.64

Therefore, maintaining a PlayStation 4 in Rest Mode for a full year in the United States typically costs around $10.64. To obtain a more accurate figure for your location, simply multiply 87.6kWh by your local electricity rate.

A PS4 that is powered off, but remains plugged into an outlet, consumes approximately 4.38kWh annually, resulting in an average cost of $0.32 per year.

It's important to note that this is an estimated value. The calculation assumes continuous Rest Mode usage throughout the year. Furthermore, it utilizes the maximum power consumption of 10W; this can be reduced through adjustments to the console’s settings, leading to energy savings. Actual power usage in Rest Mode can vary.

Optimizing Rest Mode Energy Consumption

It is possible to minimize the energy utilized by Rest Mode through adjustments to various settings. Navigate to Settings > Power Save Settings > Set Features Available in Rest Mode to access these options.

Rest Mode Feature Adjustments

Several features contribute to Rest Mode’s power draw. Modifying these can significantly reduce energy usage.

• USB Port Power Delivery: The PlayStation 4 can provide power to USB ports for charging controllers while in Rest Mode. Options include Always, 3 Hours, or Off. Selecting ‘Always’ ensures continuous power. ‘3 Hours’ provides power for a limited duration after entering Rest Mode, sufficient for controller charging. Choosing ‘Off’ disables power delivery to the USB ports entirely. A 3-hour setting offers a balance between convenience and energy conservation.
• Internet Connection Maintenance: This setting determines whether the PS4 remains connected to the internet during Rest Mode. Maintaining a connection allows for background downloads of game updates, system software, and purchased games.
• Network Wake-Up Capability: Enabling this feature permits remote activation of your PS4 over the network. This is especially beneficial for users of PS4 Remote Play on devices like Windows PCs, Macs, or Android devices.
• Application Suspension: With this enabled, the currently running game or application is kept in a suspended state. This allows for a seamless continuation of gameplay upon exiting Rest Mode.

Data from Ars Technica indicates that supplying power to USB ports consumes approximately 6.3W when active. Maintaining internet connectivity and enabling network wake-up collectively use around 2.4W. Keeping an application suspended requires an additional 1.2W. Unlike Microsoft, Sony does not publicly disclose detailed power consumption figures, necessitating reliance on independent testing.

Configuring your PS4 to supply USB power for only 3 hours results in a Rest Mode power consumption of roughly 3.7W, compared to 10W with continuous power. This translates to an estimated annual savings of approximately $3.94, while still preserving network connectivity and application suspension functionality.

PS4 Rest Mode vs. Turning Off: Which is Best?

For PlayStation 4 owners who infrequently utilize their console, completely powering it down may be preferable to utilizing Rest Mode. The convenience of quick game resumption offered by Rest Mode becomes irrelevant if the system remains unused for extended periods.

However, in the vast majority of scenarios, allowing your PS4 to remain in Rest Mode is the more advantageous option. Configuring the system to limit power supplied to USB ports to a duration of three hours can reduce Rest Mode’s energy consumption – and associated costs – by over 50%.

Rest Mode provides a significant time-saving benefit for regular users. Even with infrequent use, the system will automatically download and install updates for your games and applications, eliminating waiting times when you next decide to play.

Understanding PS4 Power Options

The choice between Rest Mode and a full shutdown hinges on your usage patterns. Rest Mode offers a balance between convenience and energy efficiency.

Conversely, a complete power-off ensures minimal energy draw, but necessitates a full system boot-up each time you wish to play. Consider these factors when deciding which approach best suits your needs.

• Rest Mode: Quick resume, automatic updates, moderate power consumption.
• Power Off: Minimal power consumption, requires full system startup.

Optimizing your PS4’s power settings can contribute to both a smoother gaming experience and reduced electricity bills. Adjusting the USB power supply duration within Rest Mode is a simple yet effective way to achieve this.

Disabling PS4 Rest Mode and Powering Down Completely

By default, the PlayStation 4 utilizes Rest Mode. If this functionality aligns with your preferences, no further action is required. However, to fully power off your PS4, a prolonged press of the PlayStation button – located in the controller’s center – is necessary.

Following this, navigate to "Power Options" and specifically select "Turn Off PS4" rather than opting for "Enter Rest Mode."

Adjusting Default Power Behavior

Selecting "Turn Off PS4" only powers down the console for that single instance. To ensure the PS4 consistently powers off instead of entering Rest Mode, all Rest Mode features must be disabled.

Access the settings menu by going to Settings > Power Save Settings > Set Features Available in Rest Mode. From here, deactivate each of the available features.

Configuring the Power Off Timer

The duration before your PS4 automatically powers down can also be adjusted. Within the Power Save Settings menu, select "Set Time Until PS4 Turns Off."

This allows you to define the idle period after which the console will shut down, instead of entering Rest Mode, particularly if all Rest Mode features have been disabled.

Manual Override and Safe Shutdown

Even with Rest Mode configured as the default, a long press of the PlayStation button followed by selecting "Turn Off PS4" will immediately power down the console.

Rest Mode will not be re-engaged until the PS4 is powered on again. It is crucial to always properly shut down your PS4 through the system menu before disconnecting it from the power source.