As the next generation of GPUs from major manufacturers like AMD and Nvidia introduce substantial changes in power consumption, power supply makers are swiftly updating their online wattage calculators to assist users in determining the correct power supply units (PSUs) for their builds.
Wattage Requirements for Next-Gen GPUs
The advent of new GPUs has traditionally necessitated an examination of PSU requirements to ensure sufficient power and system stability. With the expected release of AMD’s Radeon RX 7000 series and Nvidia’s RTX 40 series, the power demands appear to be following the precedent set by their predecessors, but with some increases noted. For instance, Nvidia’s RTX 4090 is projected to have a Total Graphics Power (TGP) of 450W, while the RTX 4080 models draw around 320W and 285W respectively.
Adjusting Wattage Calculators
Companies like Seasonic have promptly incorporated these new GPUs into their PSU calculators. This adjustment helps users forecast the power supply needs based on the combined load of GPUs and other system components like CPUs and memory. For example, the Radeon RX 7900 XT from AMD is suggested to require a PSU of 750W or higher when combined with typical system components.
The Role of New Power Connectors
An important factor in these updates is the integration of new power connector standards such as the 16-pin connector required by Nvidia’s latest GPUs, which supports up to 600W power delivery, hinting at higher future power demands. This connector, along with PCIe 5.0 compatibility, is crucial as it indicates the direction of future power requirements and compatibility issues with older PSUs.
Guidance for Builders
Online PSU calculators are invaluable for both new builders and seasoned enthusiasts, offering a straightforward method to estimate necessary wattage. These tools consider various configurations and recommend PSUs that can handle the total expected load with a margin for reliability and future upgrades. Cooler Master and other PSU manufacturers have refined these calculators to provide more precise estimates tailored to the latest hardware specifications.
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