Does XFX RX 580 Need External Power? Quick Answer
The RX 580 is still a fantastic graphics card if you are low on budget and are okay with lowering the settings in high-end games, even though it is starting to show some signs of aging. It is powerful enough to support HD gaming and even a VR PC, albeit not for some more demanding titles. In this little guide, let’s go through Does XFX RX 580 Need External Power?
Knowing how much power an RX 580 consumes will help you to ensure that your gaming PC setup has the right power supply.
Does XFX RX 580 Need External Power?
Yes! It will be required for that card. An RX 580 will need more power than the 75w the PCI slot can supply to function correctly.
How Many Watts Does An RX 580 Use?
When used to its full potential, the RX 580 graphics card will consume about 220 watts of power. It will use much less power when idle, about 16 watts if nothing is being done or 18 watts if connected to several monitors.
Remember that the power consumption will change a little if you are using several monitors at various resolutions because the graphics card needs more power to figure out how to manage multiple displays at once.
A small amount of demand will be placed on your graphics card when you use your PC to watch films, consuming about 20 watts of electricity.
Ensure your power supply can support spikes of up to 238 watts if you put your RX 580 through its paces.
A small amount of demand will be placed on your graphics card when you use your PC to watch films, consuming about 20 watts of electricity.
Ensure your power supply can support spikes of up to 238 watts if you put your RX 580 through its paces. If you don’t, you risk underpowering your graphics card and even the entire PC.
But remember that this is only the power consumption of the graphics card if you’re buying a power supply and utilizing this information as guidance.
Your computer’s other parts will all use electricity as well. However, if you couple the graphics card with a powerful processor, which isn’t the best use of your money, they won’t draw as much as the RX 580.
However, if you plan to create a powerful computer but want a cheap graphics card as a temporary fix, be aware that even the greatest processors may consume about the same amount of power.
Is RX 580 Power-Hungry?
A 450W power supply should be sufficient, and the RX 580 may always be undervolted a bit. The RX 580 isn’t very “power-hungry,” though. In this case, Nvidia GPUs serve as a benchmark.
The short version of the long answer: a 14nm FinFET manufacturing method is used to create the RX580.
This indicates that while some components of the fundamental transistor unit are around 14nm in size, some components are greater than that.
An RX580’s ability to be overclocked demonstrates exactly how much power is required to make this beast function better.
AMD uses less expensive production technologies for its RX models, so we need a good PSU to power their products.
If you are dissatisfied with your RX580’s power usage, try under-violating your GPU using AMD software.
FurMark or other GPU testing software should be used to check under-volt stability, and the boost clock should be adjusted, if necessary, to a slightly lower number.
With a very low-performance cost of two to five frames per second, this approach may produce a substantially cooler GPU.
Aside: I have an Asus GTX980 Strix, and right now, I’m undervaluing it with Asus GPU TweakII to make it run cooler on these hot days. The “Power Target” feature in GPU TweakII allows me to pick 80% as my target.
The software then adjusts the clock speeds of the GPU and memory to a lower boost clock, making the card nearly silent under load compared to how loud it was before the operation.
What Power Supply Do I Need For An RX 580?
The suggested power supply for Radeon RX 580 has a minimum power capacity of 450 watts. However, acquiring one with a greater power capacity is preferable to accommodate any future upgrades and surges.
Aim for at least 500 watts, and ideally even more if you can. Since the graphics card uses less than half of the 450-watt draw that is advised, you would believe this needs to be revised.
However, you can easily employ components close to your limit at this low power level.
A good gaming motherboard may push 80 watts, whereas a typical one uses 40. Before you include the processor, RAM, storage, and anything else, that’s already 300 watts for the GPU and board alone.
Additionally, you’ll need a 20% ceiling just to be safe. Adding 20% will increase your total PC power consumption from 400 to 480 watts, so a 500-watt power supply is required.
Additionally, search for a power supply with an 80+ rating, preferably Gold or higher. An improved rating indicates the power supply spends less power when supplying electricity to the components. This refers to the power supply’s efficiency.
Choosing A Cost-Effective Power Supply For The RX 580
You might not have to pay power bills if you reside in a dorm or a relative’s home. Or you don’t intend to use your computer every day for a long time.
In those circumstances, a PSU with a cheaper upfront cost but poorer efficiency would be a better option.
I once had free electricity while living in a dorm. Given my moderate PC usage, I chose to test a less effective PSU to save money upfront. It was beneficial to me at that time.
A more efficient PSU, on the other hand, can be preferable if you have greater concern for the environment or your energy bill and want to maintain higher CPU or GPU utilization.
My high CPU and GPU consumption negatively influenced me as I grew more concerned about my electric bill and environmental impact.
I did some study and considered my alternatives. I invested in a more effective PSU based on my observations. I eventually noticed a discernible decrease in electricity costs, so it was a choice that paid off.
Stay within your anticipated power needs by 150 W. As larger power supplies use more power even when idle, downsizing your power supply will reduce electricity expenditures.
I once mistakenly selected a power supply unit (PSU) that was significantly more powerful than I needed.
Unfortunately, I had to discover how much extra power the high-wattage PSU used when my computer was not in use. I learned from this experience how crucial it is to correctly size my power supply to reduce my reliance on electricity.
I’ve realized how important it is to consider my demands and situations while selecting a PSU. Making a well-informed choice will pay me in the long run, whether it’s about lowering prices or my environmental impact.
Conclusion
To conclude, Does XFX RX 580 Need External Power? Yes! XFX RX 580 need external power. Depending on the model, the power cord you’ll need for your RX 580 will include one or two 6-pin connectors.
Early models occasionally used just one 6-pin connector for PCI-e power, while subsequent models required two for adequate power.
The card still requires some power despite having lower power consumption than certain later versions. Thus, ensuring every port is connected to the power source is crucial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the RX 580 need external power?
The 75 watts from the motherboard are insufficient to power this RX580. Hence, the card does require an extra power source. Your PSU must have an 8-pin connected to this RX580. This new RX580 included an 8-pin adaptor cable in case your current PSU doesn’t have one.
Is RX 580 power-hungry?
Although you can always undervolt the RX 580 a little, a 450W PSU should be plenty. The AMD Radeon RX 580 isn’t that “power-hungry,” though. They are in comparison to Nvidia GPUs.
Does RX 570 require external power?
Most RX 570 models have a power connector built in. Thus, having 650W or at least 600W for a 570 is preferable.
What power supply for XFX RX 580?
A 500-watt power supply should be adequate for an RX 580, but if you’re upgrading already, buying a 550-watt PSU or more makes sense to give yourself a little more wiggle room.
This is Mohammad Talha, a fervent tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree, has been reviewing products and assisting the digital community for over 6 years. My passion for technology is matched only by my dedication to helping others navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape.