How to understand GPU power usage?

[antonio2234]

Hi,

I am running 5x1070 and overclocked by "MSI After Burner".
I want to know if there is any way to check power usage for each card?

[iamnewhere]

Open a command line with (Windows Key + R > cmd > enter) and go to "C:\Program Files\ NVIDIA Corporation\NVSMI" and type in "nvidia-smi.exe" - you get the current power usage in W and the current TDP in W

[coin123123]

Sapphire TRIXX give you Amper Volt and Watt usage of each gpu but idk how accurate is it

best solution is wall meter cost like 10$

[antonio2234]

This is my results after overclocking.


Per this screen, my power usage is 138-147w, right? Whats 184w mean then?

"Volatile GPU-Until": 98-99% => Is it ok or too much?

[iamnewhere]

99% usage is normal if you are mining

the 184 is your TDP limit (if you didn't change it from 100% in Afterburner than this is the real TDP of your card).

depends from what you mine you can optimize your settings now in Afterburner.

[antonio2234]

99% usage is normal if you are mining

the 184 is your TDP limit (if you didn't change it from 100% in Afterburner than this is the real TDP of your card).

depends from what you mine you can optimize your settings now in Afterburner.

My power setting in Afterburner is 85%, not 100!

[Apneal]

GPU utilization is not power draw. Also you cant set "85%" power in MSI, you can adjust the power limit or the core voltage. "85% power" means nothing to anyone. Further, reported wattages are generally about 50W less than actual wattage at full load, maybe because it doesn't report PCIe draw.

[iamnewhere]

99% usage is normal if you are mining

the 184 is your TDP limit (if you didn't change it from 100% in Afterburner than this is the real TDP of your card).

depends from what you mine you can optimize your settings now in Afterburner.

My power setting in Afterburner is 85%, not 100!

So you have ~ 215W TDP, due to your setting down to 85% you are at 184 TDP but you are even not close to that limit.

And the values from that program seem to be correct as if i take ~ 50W for the rest of the computer + adding all values there from my GPU's im close to the W i take from wall - the few W on top are the normal loss through efficiency of PSU.