Does my system power usage seem normal?

Ornatus · 19 May 2021 at 02:10

I've just upgraded my 6600k/z170 mobo/16GB 2400mhz/2 SATA SSD's, to a 5600x/B550 tomahawk/16GB 3600mhz/2 m.2 SSD's. My previous system at idle used about 80 watts idling but my new system is using 110watts while idling. My full current system specs:

5600x at stock
B550 Tomahawk
16GB's 3600mhz Ram
2 (no) m.2 drives
1 (no) 3TB platter drive
GTX 1070
H115i AIO
1(no) 120mm fan
4(no)140mm fans
No RGB (I'm not a fan)

I've looked at multiple review sites and most of them run a very similar system but they idle from anywhere between 60watts and 80 watts. I've checked HWMonitor and the program's reports that my CPU is using 34watts and my GPU is using 34watts with 1% utilization. I'm struggling to find where the other 40 watts are being used. Any insight from AMD owners (this is my first AMD system) would be appreciated.

Hotwired · 19 May 2021 at 03:32

motherboard
fans
storage
psu inefficiency %
aio pump

Ornatus · 19 May 2021 at 03:53

Hotwired said:
motherboard
fans
storage
psu inefficiency %
aio pump

Still doesn't explain how review sites systems are idling at 60-80 watts. I've even read through the system specs and apart from 1 platter drive, they are the same. I've researched the power consumption of the fans which equals 8.5 watts at 1000rpm, the storage uses 6 watts at full power and 2 watts max at idle (when the computer is idling the only drive that should be running anything is the OS drive) and the AIO pump uses 3/4 watts. Hopefully, someone with a similar system will shed some light.

Rroff · 19 May 2021 at 04:10

While on the higher side - most of the performance spec systems I've built idle more like 80-110 watt (measured at the wall rather than after PSU and/or software) depending on spec, etc. I wouldn't say it was necessarily unusual - few tweaks of CPU power state options in the BIOS or whatever will probably make some difference.

EsaT · 19 May 2021 at 21:21

Your graphics card is drawing 20W too much for genuine idling.

lsg1r · 19 May 2021 at 23:54

Are all the 'low power' states enabled in the OS and/or drivers?

Although personally I wouldn't say 110w is high even for idle these days.

Ornatus · 20 May 2021 at 03:53

EsaT said:
Your graphics card is drawing 20W too much for genuine idling.

I actually changed my power state on my card to "Adaptive" and have been testing it in a few games and it seems to ramp up with no issues, went from idling at 34 watts to idling at 7 watts with no downside, even when watching a stream and having an Eve Online client open, it still only uses about 12 watts which is 70% of the time.