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Gaming Power Consumption

Partner Cards: One Radeon R9 290 And Three 290Xes, Reviewed
By

Benchmark System And Procedure

We collaborated with HAMEG (Rohde & Schwarz) to upgrade our power consumption measurement system. It’s now one step away from being complete. Our final goal is to replace the remaining multimetre measurements and only use them to confirm our results. There's a little bit of soldering work left in order to get wires permanently attached to the system, and then installed in a dedicated space. I simply haven't had time for this with all of the different launches happening over the past couple of months.

We record all channels and the corresponding oscilloscope value/curves for our measurements. The very precise and, more important, fast current clamps yield 100 mV/A, making it easy to calculate the power based on the voltage. We also record the supply voltage to multiply its value with the recorded amperage. Depending on the resolution we choose, this procedure yields a very detailed power consumption history. We generally set this to 1 ms, allowing us to capture all fluctuations attributable to AMD’s PowerTune or Nvidia’s GPU Boost technology.

Tom's Hardware Power Measurement - 1 Loop Metro Last Light - 1ms Power Draw

Measurement Procedure

Non-Contact Direct Current Measurement at the PCIe Slot
Non-Contact Direct Current Measurement at the External PCIe Power Supply
Direct Voltage Measurement 3.3 V / 12 V

Measurement Apparatus

Oscilloscope:
HAMEG HMO1024 Four-Channel Digital Oscilloscope with Memory and Ethernet Remote Control

Power Clamp:
HAMEG HZO50 (1 mA-30 A, 100 kHz DC, Resolution 1 mA), Voltcraft VC-511

Voltage Divider Probe:
HAMEG HZ154 (1:1, 1:10), Assorted Adapters

Digital Multimetre:
Voltcraft VC-950 with Multi-Channel Data Logger

Bench Table
Microcool Banchetto 101
Test Hardware

AMD FX-8350 (Piledriver), Overclocked to 4.5 GHz

Corsair H100i Compact Water Cooling Solution

16 GB (2 x 8) Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1866

Asus 990FX Sabertooth + Modified PCIe Adapter with Current Loops
Power Supply
Corsair AX860i with Modified Plugs (Pickup)

Power Consumption While Running A Gaming Loop

"How much power does a graphics card draw during gaming?" and "How much heat does it generate under load?" are the most commonly asked questions once we wrap up our analysis of 3D performance. Our testing is made as real-world as possible by measuring cards that have already been warmed up.

This high-resolution measurement shows why power supplies can be overwhelmed unless they have ample output headroom. Even if a PSU's specs suggest it should be able to handle a given card, some very brief (often less than 10 ms), but very high peaks can cause a power supply's protection circuitry to engage.

Power Consumption: Radeon R9 290

Power Consumption: Radeon R9 290X

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  • 2 Hide
    DragonChase , 27 January 2014 09:03
    Wow sapphire is actually doing pretty good! i was actually waiting for the Direct CU2, but 8 deggree's diffrence in temps is huge.
  • 0 Hide
    Aphala , 28 January 2014 01:11
    Ahh GOOD! Was wondering when Aftermarket coolers/card where going to be released!Sapphire TRI-OC for me then!! Got myself an ATI 6970 2gb Sapphire and its amazing! Next on the line Sapphire 290X
  • 0 Hide
    athonline , 28 January 2014 12:21
    I wanted the Sapphire, but it is nowhere to be found! It is selling like crazy, so I settle down to a Gigabyte. Saved 30 pounds, but tempted to send it back for a Sapphire.
  • 0 Hide
    Aphala , 28 January 2014 18:05
    Quote:
    I wanted the Sapphire, but it is nowhere to be found! It is selling like crazy, so I settle down to a Gigabyte. Saved 30 pounds, but tempted to send it back for a Sapphire.


    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-TRI-X-Battlefield-Edition-Graphics/dp/B00HFA44GE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390932273&sr=8-2&keywords=290x+sapphire

    ^290 Version

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-TRI-X-Graphics-512-Bit-PCI-E/dp/B00HFA45FY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1390932289&sr=8-4&keywords=290x+sapphire

    ^290X version.

    Few in stock!
  • 0 Hide
    athonline , 28 January 2014 18:13
    Quote:
    Quote:
    I wanted the Sapphire, but it is nowhere to be found! It is selling like crazy, so I settle down to a Gigabyte. Saved 30 pounds, but tempted to send it back for a Sapphire.


    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-TRI-X-Battlefield-Edition-Graphics/dp/B00HFA44GE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390932273&sr=8-2&keywords=290x+sapphire

    ^290 Version

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-TRI-X-Graphics-512-Bit-PCI-E/dp/B00HFA45FY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1390932289&sr=8-4&keywords=290x+sapphire

    ^290X version.

    Few in stock!


    I bought the Gigabyte last week. I saw those and OcUK brought a few back in-stock. But the GB costed me like 440, so we are talking more than 60 quid for a couple of frames from the extra frames. Plus the trouble of sending the other one back
  • 0 Hide
    Aphala , 29 January 2014 00:02
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:
    I wanted the Sapphire, but it is nowhere to be found! It is selling like crazy, so I settle down to a Gigabyte. Saved 30 pounds, but tempted to send it back for a Sapphire.


    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-TRI-X-Battlefield-Edition-Graphics/dp/B00HFA44GE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390932273&sr=8-2&keywords=290x+sapphire

    ^290 Version

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-TRI-X-Graphics-512-Bit-PCI-E/dp/B00HFA45FY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1390932289&sr=8-4&keywords=290x+sapphire

    ^290X version.

    Few in stock!


    I bought the Gigabyte last week. I saw those and OcUK brought a few back in-stock. But the GB costed me like 440, so we are talking more than 60 quid for a couple of frames from the extra frames. Plus the trouble of sending the other one back


    I suppose some people just have the money to spend, I hopefully will be getting a 290X Sapphire. But I am doing a mass upgrade on the visual department.
  • 0 Hide
    athonline , 29 January 2014 07:47
    Quote:

    I suppose some people just have the money to spend, I hopefully will be getting a 290X Sapphire. But I am doing a mass upgrade on the visual department.


    If you are from the UK, get it from Dabs. Cheapest one and Dabs' customer service is excellent.

    I am tempted returning the GPU due to its' temps and either trying my luck with the Sapphire from Dabs or 780 (Ti). I just built a mini-ATX rig, I don't mind 80c, but trying to CF them after will be a suicide I guess.
  • 0 Hide
    Aphala , 29 January 2014 16:55
    Quote:
    Quote:

    I suppose some people just have the money to spend, I hopefully will be getting a 290X Sapphire. But I am doing a mass upgrade on the visual department.


    If you are from the UK, get it from Dabs. Cheapest one and Dabs' customer service is excellent.

    I am tempted returning the GPU due to its' temps and either trying my luck with the Sapphire from Dabs or 780 (Ti). I just built a mini-ATX rig, I don't mind 80c, but trying to CF them after will be a suicide I guess.


    I guess the aftermarket cards don't seem to do much, for temps but still of a lot better than the base card.
  • 0 Hide
    athonline , 29 January 2014 17:07
    Quote:


    I guess the aftermarket cards don't seem to do much, for temps but still of a lot better than the base card.


    I am wondering if CF is possible. Tempted to get a 2nd one to try and then return it.

    Defientely better than the base card.
  • 0 Hide
    Aphala , 29 January 2014 19:11
    Quote:
    Quote:


    I guess the aftermarket cards don't seem to do much, for temps but still of a lot better than the base card.


    I am wondering if CF is possible. Tempted to get a 2nd one to try and then return it.

    Defientely better than the base card.


    If you do this, let me know would be interesting to find out of it works.
  • 0 Hide
    athonline , 29 January 2014 20:21
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:


    I guess the aftermarket cards don't seem to do much, for temps but still of a lot better than the base card.


    I am wondering if CF is possible. Tempted to get a 2nd one to try and then return it.

    Defientely better than the base card.


    If you do this, let me know would be interesting to find out of it works.


    Just run the Tomp Raider benchmark. Got 73 FPS min, 86 average and 103 max! Running on 1080p, maxxed with TressFx. The card is OCed at 1150MHz/6000MHz, with average 85c during it and the fans around 70%.
  • 0 Hide
    Aphala , 29 January 2014 23:12
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:


    I guess the aftermarket cards don't seem to do much, for temps but still of a lot better than the base card.


    I am wondering if CF is possible. Tempted to get a 2nd one to try and then return it.

    Defientely better than the base card.


    If you do this, let me know would be interesting to find out of it works.


    Just run the Tomp Raider benchmark. Got 73 FPS min, 86 average and 103 max! Running on 1080p, maxxed with TressFx. The card is OCed at 1150MHz/6000MHz, with average 85c during it and the fans around 70%.


    Temps seem pretty mad with all the FX run with the benchmark. I am still on the fence about the R9 290X Gigabyte or Sapphire. Sapphire is around £501 whilst Gb are £380~.
  • 0 Hide
    athonline , 29 January 2014 23:18
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:


    I guess the aftermarket cards don't seem to do much, for temps but still of a lot better than the base card.


    I am wondering if CF is possible. Tempted to get a 2nd one to try and then return it.

    Defientely better than the base card.


    If you do this, let me know would be interesting to find out of it works.


    Just run the Tomp Raider benchmark. Got 73 FPS min, 86 average and 103 max! Running on 1080p, maxxed with TressFx. The card is OCed at 1150MHz/6000MHz, with average 85c during it and the fans around 70%.


    Temps seem pretty mad with all the FX run with the benchmark. I am still on the fence about the R9 290X Gigabyte or Sapphire. Sapphire is around £501 whilst Gb are £380~.


    Where is it 380? I found it 440 with BF4 (the one I got) and 430 without BF4. Go with the Gigabyte, not worth the extra 120 pounds.

    Hitman Absolution: My 4470K at 4.6GHz, GPU running on stock and I got 73 average on the benchmark. Did it 3 times. Settings were maxed out, expect MSAA set at x2. Based on GPU-Z my average temps were around 75c.
  • 0 Hide
    Aphala , 11 February 2014 15:50
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:
    Quote:


    I guess the aftermarket cards don't seem to do much, for temps but still of a lot better than the base card.


    I am wondering if CF is possible. Tempted to get a 2nd one to try and then return it.

    Defientely better than the base card.


    Amazon.co.uk was where it was at £380, but not bad!

    If you do this, let me know would be interesting to find out of it works.


    Just run the Tomp Raider benchmark. Got 73 FPS min, 86 average and 103 max! Running on 1080p, maxxed with TressFx. The card is OCed at 1150MHz/6000MHz, with average 85c during it and the fans around 70%.


    Temps seem pretty mad with all the FX run with the benchmark. I am still on the fence about the R9 290X Gigabyte or Sapphire. Sapphire is around £501 whilst Gb are £380~.


    Where is it 380? I found it 440 with BF4 (the one I got) and 430 without BF4. Go with the Gigabyte, not worth the extra 120 pounds.

    Hitman Absolution: My 4470K at 4.6GHz, GPU running on stock and I got 73 average on the benchmark. Did it 3 times. Settings were maxed out, expect MSAA set at x2. Based on GPU-Z my average temps were around 75c.