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***GPU PSU Power Usage Thread***

Nickolp1974

Nickolp1974

Nickolp1974

Soldato
Joined
15 May 2012
Posts
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After replacing various high end psu's as OCP is being triggered because of pushing Graphics cards to there limit (psu power dependent) I thought i'd compile a thread of test results of my own and hopefully others, then recommendations of PSU size/power can be made depending on requirements of the user.

So today i purchased one of these

As this thread progress's i will add useful/relevant information to the OP and possibly add a recommendations table for single to multi card setups.

so to begin with, some tests, all of which were carried out on 3D marks Firestrike Extreme

3D MARK/FSX Download link HERE
Link to FSX bench thread HERE

Meter was plugged in to PC only

Please add your system specs in spoiler, excluding GPU/s like so

SuperFlower 1200w Platinum
Asus RIVBE
4930k
4x4 DDR3 @2400
1x SSD
2x 18w DDC pumps
Aquaero 6 controller
15x High perf fans

TEST 1

cpu@ 4.5GHz 780(classy)SLI @ stock

636W

TEST 2

cpu@ 4.8GHz 780(single)@ 1280/1750

667W

TEST 3

[email protected] 780([email protected])@ 1500/2000

841W

TEST 4

cpu@ 4.8GHz 780 SLI @ 1400/2000(1.3625v)

1395W


To work out actual power/wattage used by the PC please use the table as a guide and times your max W by your efficiency,
so in my case 1395 x .89= 1241W being used.



I did manage to run with slightly higher clocks but was getting lock ups, no doubt due to lack of power/instability, i know that on my cards i can run them individually at 1520/2027 and 1420/2027 on FSX but as you can see my psu is at its limits, so to push on i need a bigger psu or 2!!!

Thanks for taking the time and i look forward to your results ;)


PSU RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations are based on test/bench results, the rated wattage figures allow for a little overhead to allow for capacitor ageing etc.
If you have NO intentions of overclocking your card and will use purely for gaming then 100w can be knocked off the stock figure.

Stock= as it says + a mild overclock
Moderate= will suffice for most users whom like to have a little bench with average clocking GPU's
Extreme= For those fortunate to own good clocking examples and who like to push to there limits.

CARD-User Level-Wattage

780-stock/moderate OC-750W
780 -Extreme OC-850W

780 Sli-stock-850w
780 Sli-moderate OC-1000w
780 Sli-Extreme OC-1500W

780 Tri Sli-stock-1000w

Titan Tri Sli-Extreme OC-1600W+

290X-Stock- OC-850W
 
Last edited:
Nice one Nick and informative as there aren't many SLI Classified owners least of all using one PSU.

Your final test is 30w more than I pull with similar setup and three Titan Blacks at 1.212v :p

Will update post with settings later :)
 
Nice idea Nick.

I'm surprised at 1395W for 780SLI OC'd. Highest i managed to get was 1250W with my 290's and that was in Sleeping Dogs, which pulls more wattage than Firestrike.

I will contribute something soon. Am i allowed to undervolt or must the cards be at stock voltage?
 
ideally i'd like 3 tests, one at stock then average max clock for your particular card which is why i included the sli one at 1280/1750 and one at your max clocks.


MjFrosty said:
Nice one Nick and informative as there aren't many SLI Classified owners least of all using one PSU.

Your final test is 30w more than I pull with similar setup and three Titan Blacks at 1.212v :p

Will update post with settings later :)
Click to expand...

looks like i will need that 2nd PSU!!!
 
LtMatt said:
Nice idea Nick.

I'm surprised at 1395W for 780SLI OC'd.
Click to expand...

You shouldn't be :p Classifieds once off the leash are ridiculous. Or Kepler over 1.3v in general. Wait for Greg and Neil's input as it's a similar story.

780Ti and Titan Black share the same PCB and are volt locked in at 1.212v at resister level, which is why with three I'm not able to push more than 1360w. There is an interesting thread on the subject from our friends across the pond.
 
Max power draw during Firestrike GFX test 1

[email protected] (1.495v) TriSli Titans@ 1319/1852 (1.3v) = 1600watts plus :D

@ Nick

I'll do some 780 classies on my lads 4770k to compare when I get chance



Ayahuasca said:
Always fun to see how much wattage some setups can actually draw.
Still have nutters running dual cards on 600w PSU's.
Click to expand...

You can do it as TTL says so
 
Last edited:
whyscotty said:
Max power draw during Firestrike GFX test 1

[email protected] (1.495v) TriSli Titans@ 1319/1852 (1.3v) = 1600watts plus :D

@ Nick

I'll do some 780 classies on my lads 4770k to compare when I get chance





You can do it as TTL says so
Click to expand...

cheers Neil, can you also do "normal clocks" for cpu and titans when you have time!!

Admiral Huddy said:
I have one of those.. I'll take mine to i52 and get a reading or if anyone's going and fancies a reading.. of their power usage not their palms or anything.
Click to expand...

Just remember Huddy to make sure someones PC is off before you sneak the meter in!!!


@a mod, can a post be squeezed in between OP and 2nd post(frosty's) he beat me too it and want to do a clear table for recommendations, is this possible??????
thanks
 
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