How Much Power Does Your Graphics Card Need?

Features
By
published

Connector Requirements For PCI Express Graphics Cards

The following tables show the number of the necessary connectors for the graphics card power supply. Exceptions are possible, but in general, the larger graphics cards hold to a reference design. SLI and CrossFire double the port requirements, since obviously you are using several graphics cards.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Supply Connectors Nvidia Graphics CardsPCI Express 6-PinPCI Express 8-Pin
GeForce GTX 280 (1024 MB)11
GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB)2-
GeForce 9800 GX2 (2x512 MB)11
GeForce 9800 GTX+ (512 MB)2-
GeForce 9800 GTX (512 MB)2-
GeForce 9600 GT (1024 MB)1-
GeForce 9600 GT (512 MB)1-
GeForce 8800 GTS OC (512 MB)1-
GeForce 8800 GTS (512 MB)1-
GeForce 8800 GT (1024 MB)1-
GeForce 8800 GT (512 MB)1-
GeForce 8800 ULTRA (768 MB)2-
GeForce 8800 GTX (768 MB)2-
GeForce 8800 GTS (640 MB)1-
GeForce 8800 GTS (320 MB)1-
GeForce 8600 GTS (512 MB)1-
GeForce 8600 GTS (256 MB)1-
GeForce 8600 GT (256 MB)--
GeForce 8500 GT (256 MB)--
GeForce 8400 GS (256 MB)--
GeForce 7950 GX2 (2x512 MB)1-
GeForce 7950 GT (512 MB)1-
GeForce 7900 GTX (512 MB)1-
GeForce 7900 GTO (512 MB)1-
GeForce 7900 GT (256 MB)1-
GeForce 7900 GS (256 MB)1-
GeForce 7800 GTX (512 MB)1-
GeForce 7800 GTX (256 MB)1-
GeForce 7800 GT (256 MB)1-
GeForce 7600 GT (256 MB)--
GeForce 7600 GS (256 MB)--
GeForce 7300 GT (256 MB)--
GeForce 7300 GS (128 MB)--
GeForce 6800 ULTRA (256 MB)1-
GeForce 6800 GT (256 MB)1-
GeForce 6600 GT (128 MB)--
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Supply Connectors Nvidia Graphics Cards (SLI)PCI Express 6-PinPCI Express 8-Pin
GeForce GTX 280 SLI (1024 MB)22
GeForce GTX 260 SLI (896 MB)4-
GeForce 9800 GTX SLI (512 MB)4-
GeForce 9600 GT SLI (1024 MB)2-
GeForce 8800 GTS SLI (512 MB)2-
GeForce 8800 GT SLI (1024 MB)2-
GeForce 8800 GT SLI (512 MB)2-
GeForce 8800 ULTRA 3SLI (768 MB)6-
GeForce 8800 ULTRA SLI (768 MB)4-
GeForce 8800 GTS SLI (320 MB)2-
GeForce 8600 GTS SLI (256 MB)2-
GeForce 8600 GT SLI (256 MB)--
GeForce 7950 GX2 SLI (4x512 MB)2-
GeForce 7950 GT SLI (512 MB)2-
GeForce 7900 GT SLI (256 MB)2-
GeForce 7900 GS SLI (256 MB)2-
GeForce 7800 GTX SLI (256 MB)2-
GeForce 7800 GT SLI (256 MB)2-
GeForce 7600 GT SLI (256 MB)--
GeForce 7600 GS SLI (256 MB)--

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Supply Connectors AMD Graphics CardsPCI Express 6-PinPCI Express 8-Pin
Radeon HD 4870 X2 (2x1024 MB)11
Radeon HD 4870 (512 MB)2Row 1 - Cell 2
Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB)1Row 2 - Cell 2
Radeon HD 4670 (512 MB)--
Radeon HD 4550 (512 MB)--
Radeon HD 3870 X2 (2x512 MB)11
Radeon HD 3870 (512 MB)1-
Radeon HD 3850 (256 MB)1-
Radeon HD 3650 (512 MB)--
Radeon HD 3470 (256 MB)--
Radeon HD 3450 (256 MB)--
Radeon HD 2900 XT (512 MB)11
Radeon  HD 2600 XT (512 MB)--
Radeon  HD 2600 XT (256 MB)--
Radeon  HD 2600 Pro (256 MB)--
Radeon  HD 2400 XT (256 MB)--
Radeon  HD 2400 Pro (256 MB)--
Radeon  X1950 XTX (512 MB)1-
Radeon X1950 XT (256 MB)1-
Radeon  X1950 Pro (256 MB)1-
Radeon  X1950 GT (256 MB)1-
Radeon  X1900 XT (512 MB)1-
Radeon  X1900 XT (256 MB)1-
Radeon  X1900 GT (256 MB)1-
Radeon  X1800 XT (512 MB)1-
Radeon  X1800 XT (256 MB)1-
Radeon  X1800 XL (256 MB)1-
Radeon  X1800 GTO (256 MB)1-
Radeon  X1650 XT (256 MB)--
Radeon  X1650 Pro (256 MB)--
Radeon  X1600 XT (256 MB)--
Radeon  X1600 Pro (256 MB)--
Radeon  X1300 XT (256 MB)--
Radeon  X1300 Pro (128 MB)--
Radeon X1300 (256 MB)--
Radeon X800 XT (256 MB)1-
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Supply Connectors AMD Graphics Cards (CrossFire)PCI Express 6-PinPCI Express 8-Pin
Radeon HD 4870 CF (512 MB)4-
Radeon HD 4850 CF (512 MB)2-
Radeon HD 3870 X2 CF (4x 512 MB)22
Radeon HD 3870 3CF (3x512 MB)21
Radeon HD 3870 CF (512 MB)2-
Radeon HD 3850 CF (256MB)2-
Radeon HD 3650 CF (512 MB)--
Radeon HD 2900 XT CF (512 MB)22
Radeon HD 2600 XT CF (512 MB)--
Radeon HD 2600 Pro (256 MB)--
Radeon X1950 XTX (512 MB)2-
Radeon X1900 XT CF (512 MB)2-
Radeon X1600 XT CF (256 MB)--
Radeon X1600 Pro CF (256 MB)--
Tino Kreiss
129 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Inktfish
    Could you please add the Radeon 4830? :)
    Reply
  • sepuko
    Took the words right out of my mouth.
    Reply
  • since Core i7 920 has TDP = 130W, how can it consume 85W only?
    Reply
  • 1.21 Jigawatts !!!
    Reply
  • nukemaster
    This article was due. No more you need an 800 watt psu for the 4870 , core2 quad ad 1 hard drive anymore :p

    Guest11since Core i7 920 has TDP = 130W, how can it consume 85W only?The TDP is more of a design thing. Almost all of Intels initial Core2 line had a TDP of 65 watts yet many took much less power. Intel gives a worst case of that type number and does not measure every cpu.

    AMD does the same thing. They listed almost all the initial Athlon 64's at 89 watts yet many did not take that or give off that amount.

    zxv9511.21 Jigawatts !!!You act like you would need a small fusion reactor or maybe a bolt of lightning to get that?
    Reply
  • neiroatopelcc
    So my system actually has a too big power supply to be effective?
    I'm running a 3,4ghz c2d with 5x500gb sata drives, a dvdrw and a 4870 on a p35 board.
    According to the article that's not going to draw the ~400W needed to get within effective range of my corsair 620 ....
    Reply
  • cynewulf
    There's a mistake in the power under load for the 3870X2. It shows the same as the idle consumption. If only that were true! :D
    Reply
  • Inneandar
    The TDP (thermal design power) is meant to be a guideline for the cooling solution, not the power consumption. To qualify for a cpu with a TDP of 120W, a cooler must be able to dissipate 120W. Practically, of course, this means it is an upper bound to (sensible) power consumption.

    also small note: Is it just me or is it strange to see the 260 SLI consume more than the 280 SLI. maybe in need of a beefier test scene...
    Reply
  • zodiacfml
    nice collection of data. i hope many learn from this and avoid recommending too powerful supplies.
    Reply
  • roofus
    better off with too much power supply than not enough. at least if you over-spec the power supply you leave some breathing room for any additional components.
    Reply