GPU disabled in hardware/device manager = power consumption?

[FrizzleFry]

Let's say I can't stand high idle power consumption, and I'm willing to put up with all the hassle involved with disabling one of 2 gtx295's in device manager during regular use, only to enable it and re-enable sli before gaming.

Will this stop that second video card from drawing it's ~60 (assumption) watts of idle power? Or would I literally have to rip the thing out and just leave it ontop the case?

 

[jaguarskx]

As long as any device is still connected, it will draw some amount of power.

 

[orangegator]

You're running quad sli and you are concerned with power consumption? :lol:

 

[VTOLfreak]

You are asking how to save power on a +$400 video card? ROFLMAO

Serious answer: No, zero difference whatsoever. The GPU runs through its startup routine at system startup and stays running with or without an OS claiming control. If it didn't do this you wouldn't be able to see your BIOS for example.

 

[FrizzleFry]

You are asking how to save power on a +$400 video card? ROFLMAO

Serious answer: No, zero difference whatsoever. The GPU runs through its startup routine at system startup and stays running with or without an OS claiming control. If it didn't do this you wouldn't be able to see your BIOS for example.

Over where I live it would make the difference between paying an extra $400 a month or not.

And for context the quad SLI is for CUDA.

 

[orangegator]

Over where I live it would make the difference between paying an extra $400 a month or not.

And for context the quad SLI is for CUDA.

I very much doubt that. At a high $0.17/kwh, the extra 60W idle running 24/7 would cost you $7.40 per month.