[SOLVED] PCIe 45W max

[squee23]

I have a Lenovo M800 and am thinking about adding a dedicated GPU. In checking the MB specs, I noticed this line:

PCI Express 3.0 x16 (45W max)

Does this mean that I'm limited to GPUs with a 45W TDP?

 

[jay32267]

I have a Lenovo M800 and am thinking about adding a dedicated GPU. In checking the MB specs, I noticed this line:

PCI Express 3.0 x16 (45W max)

Does this mean that I'm limited to GPUs with a 45W TDP?

That's the way I read it.
Normally a pcie slot can deliver 75 watts.....but I think there must be something with that MB where it can only deliver 45.....without damage.

 

[drea.drechsler]

...
Does this mean that I'm limited to GPUs with a 45W TDP?

Most GPU's are powered through their 4,6 or 8 pin supplemental power connectors so that shouldn't be a problem though. Still, I'd check the GPU's spec to make sure max PCIe socket power drawn doesn't exceed that 45W limit.

 

[squee23]

jay32267 and drea.drechsler, thank you both for your replies.

That's the way I read it.
Normally a pcie slot can deliver 75 watts.....but I think there must be something with that MB where it can only deliver 45.....without damage.

This was my suspicion, but wasn't completely sure.

Most GPU's are powered through their 4,6 or 8 pin supplemental power connectors so that shouldn't be a problem though. Still, I'd check the GPU's spec to make sure max PCIe socket power drawn doesn't exceed that 45W limit.

This was my hope. I haven't investigated my PSU for available connectors yet, but will do so in the next few days. I wouldn't have thought to check the GPU for socket power draw, so thanks for that very good tip.

I wanted to upgrade RAM and add an SSD at the same time, so if it comes down to also upgrading the PSU or limiting to a 45W card, I'm thinking it's time for a new PC...

 

[jay32267]

jay32267 and drea.drechsler, thank you both for your replies.



This was my suspicion, but wasn't completely sure.



This was my hope. I haven't investigated my PSU for available connectors yet, but will do so in the next few days. I wouldn't have thought to check the GPU for socket power draw, so thanks for that very good tip.

I wanted to upgrade RAM and add an SSD at the same time, so if it comes down to also upgrading the PSU or limiting to a 45W card, I'm thinking it's time for a new PC...

Yeah...this is a good example of one of the problems you can come across with prebuilts.

 

[sizzling]

That's the way I read it.
Normally a pcie slot can deliver 75 watts.....but I think there must be something with that MB where it can only deliver 45.....without damage.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a gpu list the power draw through pcie slot and power cables. I think the only safe way is to keep to a gpu with a total of 45w.

I seem to recall there was a Tom’s article a few years back on a gpu that could take more than the standard 75w through the socket and the potential issues this could cause.

 

[hotaru.hino]

I seem to recall there was a Tom’s article a few years back on a gpu that could take more than the standard 75w through the socket and the potential issues this could cause.

This is certainly a problem with 150W TDP video cards that have a single 6-pin connector. I believe this was an issue with the Radeon RX 480.

 

[drea.drechsler]

.. I believe this was an issue with the Radeon RX 480.

I seem to remember the problem was with early versions that exceeded the 75W PCIe socket limit. I'm pretty sure they fixed that with BIOS updates and later cards didn't have it. I know my Gigabyte RX480 does not.