Get ready for a power surge. Rumors are circulating about Nvidia’s upcoming RTX 50-series GPUs, suggesting they’ll push power consumption to new heights. Reports indicate that the flagship RTX 5090 could draw a whopping 600 watts, eclipsing the already power-hungry RTX 4090’s 450 watts.
While Nvidia hasn’t officially announced the RTX 50-series, whispers are rife about their power demands. Known leaker kopite7kimi, active on X (formerly Twitter), claims the RTX 5090 will reach 600W, with the RTX 5080 requiring 400W. These figures, while not impossible given the 600W capacity of the 16-pin power connector used by current Nvidia GPUs, remain unconfirmed.
The RTX 4080 Super already consumes a hefty 320W, so these figures aren’t entirely surprising. However, it’s crucial to remember that power draw specifications can be adjusted by Nvidia right up until the GPUs launch. The power consumption is defined by the firmware loaded onto the graphics card before it leaves the factory.
Nvidia will need to provide power ranges to its partners like Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte. They could easily modify the power rating for the RTX 50-series GPUs before release. Even if kopite7kimi’s current estimations are accurate, they are subject to change.
Furthermore, pinpointing the exact power draw is challenging due to different measurement metrics. Nvidia uses TDP (Thermal Design Power), but other metrics exist. TGP (Total Graphics Power) is commonly used for laptop GPUs, while TBP (Total Board Power) considers the entire board’s capability, including the VRAM. The leaker hasn’t specified which metric they’re using, making it difficult to interpret their claims.
Other sources also support the notion of increased power requirements for the RTX 50-series. Seasonic, a power supply manufacturer, briefly listed RTX 50-series GPUs in their power supply calculator, suggesting the RTX 5090 would demand 500W and the RTX 5080, 350W. Conversely, some companies claim that lower-end cards, like the RTX 5060, will see a power reduction.
Nvidia has yet to disclose a release date for the RTX 50-series GPUs. Typically, new generations are launched every two years, suggesting a late 2024 release window. However, some leakers anticipate a delay into 2025. Based on current information, a release sometime between late 2024 and early 2025 seems plausible.
The potential power demands of the RTX 50-series GPUs will undoubtedly impact system requirements and potentially energy consumption. It will be interesting to see how Nvidia navigates these challenges and what power solutions they offer to ensure smooth and efficient performance for gamers and enthusiasts.
