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How we rank products

The formula is the same on every comparison: official ENERGY STAR figures, published weights, and no paid placement.

1. Specs come from official ENERGY STAR records

We enter only figures published on the ENERGY STAR Certified Computers V9.0 dataset, and we link the product-finder search and the public dataset under every product. If a figure isn't published we show "Not listed" instead of guessing. Official ratings are for the certified configuration shown; when more than one official configuration is certified we score the official configuration with the lowest official TEC and list the others as extra details. Official battery capacity, official display size, official processor name and official PSU rating are shown as extra details when the record lists them.

2. Scores use a fixed reference range

Each criterion has a fixed reference range, from a "weakest reasonable" value to a "best in class" value (for example official laptop TEC from 25 kWh to 7 kWh). A product's figure is placed on that range and clamped between 0 and 1, so scores stay meaningful as products are added. Official values outside a category's reference range are clamped at those ends. The official figures still appear on the product page. The ranges are listed below.

Laptops

  • Official TEC · weight 35 · range 25–7 kWh (lower is better) — The official Typical Energy Consumption (TEC) of the certified configuration, in kWh, published on the ENERGY STAR Computers V9.0 record. Lower official TEC is a lower certified annual-energy figure. It is a laboratory result for the configuration shown, not a utility bill we measured. Official values outside the reference range are clamped at the range ends for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official sleep power · weight 25 · range 2–0.3 W (lower is better) — The official Sleep Mode power published on the ENERGY STAR record, in watts. Lower official sleep power means less certified power while the computer is in sleep. If the field is blank it is shown as Not listed. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official short-idle power · weight 20 · range 10–3 W (lower is better) — The official Short Idle power published on the ENERGY STAR record, in watts. Lower official short-idle power means less certified power in that idle test state. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official system memory · weight 20 · range 8–64 GB — The official system memory (RAM) published for the certified configuration on the ENERGY STAR record, in GB. A different official configuration of the same model can list a different official memory figure. Official values above the reference best are clamped at that best for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.

Desktop PCs

  • Official TEC · weight 35 · range 120–15 kWh (lower is better) — The official Typical Energy Consumption (TEC) of the certified configuration, in kWh, published on the ENERGY STAR Computers V9.0 record. Lower official TEC is a lower certified annual-energy figure. It is a laboratory result for the configuration shown, not a utility bill we measured. Official values outside the reference range are clamped at the range ends for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official sleep power · weight 25 · range 10–0.5 W (lower is better) — The official Sleep Mode power published on the ENERGY STAR record, in watts. Lower official sleep power means less certified power while the computer is in sleep. If the field is blank it is shown as Not listed. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official short-idle power · weight 20 · range 50–4 W (lower is better) — The official Short Idle power published on the ENERGY STAR record, in watts. Lower official short-idle power means less certified power in that idle test state. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official system memory · weight 20 · range 8–128 GB — The official system memory (RAM) published for the certified configuration on the ENERGY STAR record, in GB. A different official configuration of the same model can list a different official memory figure. Official values above the reference best are clamped at that best for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.

All-in-one PCs

  • Official TEC · weight 35 · range 85–20 kWh (lower is better) — The official Typical Energy Consumption (TEC) of the certified configuration, in kWh, published on the ENERGY STAR Computers V9.0 record. Lower official TEC is a lower certified annual-energy figure. It is a laboratory result for the configuration shown, not a utility bill we measured. Official values outside the reference range are clamped at the range ends for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official sleep power · weight 25 · range 4–0.5 W (lower is better) — The official Sleep Mode power published on the ENERGY STAR record, in watts. Lower official sleep power means less certified power while the computer is in sleep. If the field is blank it is shown as Not listed. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official short-idle power · weight 20 · range 25–6 W (lower is better) — The official Short Idle power published on the ENERGY STAR record, in watts. Lower official short-idle power means less certified power in that idle test state. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official system memory · weight 20 · range 8–64 GB — The official system memory (RAM) published for the certified configuration on the ENERGY STAR record, in GB. A different official configuration of the same model can list a different official memory figure. Official values above the reference best are clamped at that best for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.

3. Missing official figures never beat published ones

When a scored field is Not listed, it receives the category minimum for that criterion. An unpublished number cannot outrank a published one. We do not use prices or customer ratings, even if a retailer later lists them.

4. What the score cannot tell you

Specs don't capture keyboard feel, display quality, or whether the official processor and official memory match the work you want to do. Official TEC is a certified laboratory annual-energy figure, not a bill we measured. Official system memory is for the certified configuration shown. Use the score to shortlist, then read the pros, cons, safety notes and sources, and confirm the current official specification with the maker and the retailer. When we add hands-on testing notes, we label them clearly.