The Power Race - where will it end ?

[J7SC_Orion]

I recently opened a thread re. > a glimpse at future desktop GPUs by briefly summarizing the latest enterprise-level models by the major GPU producers. Some of those enterprise models had a factory power rating of 560 W. I just read a funny (...if it wasn't happening to you) post at another forum about a chap with a RTX 4090 doing some OCCT GPU stress testing and tripping the master circuit breaker, with an ensuing 'comment' or three by his wife about the whole house going dark...

 

In any case, below you find my 4090 doing s.th. similar with OCCT at 661.5 W in GPUz - the lights stayed on -, and that wasn't even on full power budget (115% out of 121%) for that vbios. Even in regular gaming per the other parts of the pic, you can easily get to over 500W...then again, the 4090s are super-efficient and at s.th. like 380 W, you will get way more complex graphics fps than with the same 380 W used for prior gens by AMD and NVidia.

 

Still, with environmental and climate issues rightfully getting a lot of airtime (pun intended), what is your take on reasonable max power consumption for a single graphics card for home use ? Moar (like some Galax models with 2x 12VHPWR and > 1200W) ? Less ? 

 

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by J7SC_Orion

[pio]

600w GPU + 200w CPU + 100w for the rest of the system (typically), I mean that's 900w power draw right there before PSU efficiency (super rough estimate).  We've used 1000-1500w systems in the past.  It's not exactly anything new to be breaking this kind of power draw.  What IS however "new", is using this much power on a single CPU / GPU system.

 

With that said, YOUR results are one thing.  You probably have a newer home, or at least an electrically sound home.  Probably also not running a ton of other stuff on the same breaker (obviously or it'd pop).  The fella you read about could have been in an older home or had his system on a heavily loaded circuit.  Hard to say.  He probably would've had the same problems had he been running an e8500 Core 2 Duo at 4GHz with 3 or 4 way SLI 8800GTX's too like we used to do 15 years ago.  600w shouldn't be popping a circuit.  For that guy you read about, "welcome to enthusiast computing".   

I see no problems with power draw so long as we stay under 1000w or so for single CPU / GPU setups.  I think its a tad much, but whatever we don't use crossfire or SLI anymore.  We're getting pretty near that now with the 4090's, so hopefully Nvidia has a solution to that for next gen.  Otherwise, we're going to start seeing more examples of that person you read about.  US homes, typically don't have a dedicated 120v for just a single computer; nor do they have 240v like our friends across the pond which can handle a higher load like that.

[iamjanco]

My take on reasonable max power consumption for a single graphics card for home use?

 

I know what Buzz Lightyear would say...

 

But I think Pio's got it just about right. And even though I now have a second 4090 on the way (Strix 4090 OC), the wiring in my abode limits me to running only one at a time.

[Avacado]

1 hour ago, iamjanco said:

the wiring in my abode limits me to running only one at a time.

 

Has 2x4090's but can only run one on account of it may blackout the neighborhood. Sad, funny and scary all at the same time. 

 

Edited December 13, 2022 by Avacado

[J7SC_Orion]

I found out the hard way that ~5200 W total combined for everything is the limit for our place; 4x sub-ambient Classies w/ EVBot + Intel HEDT on LN2 pot (all on 4x PSUs) was the first time I triggered the master fuse switch since we lived here...however, that does not include the 240V dryer circuit in the laundry room I have been eyeing as of late . What is more, an older system (TR, 2x 20280 Ti) in another room pulls well over 1,100 W when on full song - 780W of which is just for the NVLink 2080 Ti GPUs combined.  From that perspective, the RTX 4090 and its 660W+ is an 'Energy Saver' 

 

@iamjanco ...since 4090s don't do NVL SLI (at least not officially), you may want to trade your 2x Asus 4090 for one of these...rumour has it up to 1320W w/the XOC vbios (note the 2x 12VHPWR connectors)...

 

Edited December 13, 2022 by J7SC_Orion

[iamjanco]

2 hours ago, Avacado said:

 

Has 2x4090's but can only run one on account of it may blackout the neighborhood. Sad, funny and scary all at the same time. 

 

 

...and there I was, waiting with baited breath, expecting to be let down 

 

2 hours ago, J7SC_Orion said:

 

@iamjanco ...since 4090s don't do NVL SLI (at least not officially), you may want to trade your 2x Asus 4090 for one of these...rumour has it up to 1320W w/the XOC vbios (note the 2x 12VHPWR connectors)...

 

 The problem with buying anything from Galax here in the States starts with their U.S. presence (view what's in the spoiler while listening to Follow the Yellow Brick Road ) :
 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, but no thanks. Besides, I don't care for white anything all that much now-a-daze, let alone something powered via dual 12VHPWR connectors. 

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2022 by iamjanco

[Avacado]

44 minutes ago, iamjanco said:

 

...and there I was, waiting with baited breath, expecting to be let down 

 

 

 The problem with buying anything from Galax here in the States starts with their U.S. presence (view what's in the spoiler while listening to Follow the Yellow Brick Road ) :
 

  Hide contents

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, but no thanks. Besides, I don't care for white anything all that much now-a-daze, let alone something powered via dual 12VHPWR connectors. 

 

 

 

HOLY *!!! Their RMA address is a UPS store po box?

[iamjanco]

5 minutes ago, Avacado said:

HOLY *!!! Their RMA address is a UPS store po box?

 

Yup. 

[J7SC_Orion]

1 hour ago, Avacado said:

HOLY *!!! Their RMA address is a UPS store po box?

   

...and their main GPU factory is just a block from the Yellow Brick Road, apparently. 

[iamjanco]

4 hours ago, J7SC_Orion said:

   

...and their main GPU factory is just a block from the Yellow Brick Road, apparently. 

 

no need to cry me a river, eh?; but maybe we should have been throwing saltwater on that fire all along?