author: Bart Woldanski
GeForce RTX 3090 Rules But For the Price of Massive Power Consumption
The launch of Nvidia Ampere GPU is approaching. This is suggested by rumors, which have recently been multiplying on the web. From the latest leak, we learned more about GeForce RTX 3090 with 24GB VRAM, which is to replace Titan RTX and is characterized by huge power consumption.
We recently informed of new details about the specs of the most powerful Ampere family GPUs, according to which GeForce RTX 3090 would be equivalent to Titan RTX. The German website Igor'sLab, which is considered a reliable source of leaks, revealed that TGP (Total Graphics Power) of the top model is as high as 350 W and the core (GA102) alone takes 230 W. This is despite the chip being made in 7-nanometer lithography, but Nvidia apparently does not want to compromise on performance. By comparison, the maximum power consumption of the selected non-reference GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is "only" 260 W. To tame this beast, the company must try to get the right cooling (this is what the new Nvidia card might look like). Igor'sLab has tried to disassemble the RTX 3090 in terms of power consumption of individual components, which you can read below.
GeForce RTX 3090 - Indicative power consumption and losses:
- TGP (total power consumption): 350 W
- 24 GB GDDR6X memory (384-bit bus): 60 W (2.5 W per module)
- MOSFET, inductor, caps NVDD (GPU voltage): 26 W
- MOSFET, inductor, caps FBVDDQ (framebuffer voltage): 6 W
- MOSFET, inductor, caps PEXVDD (PCI-Express voltage): 2 W
- Other voltages, input section (AUX): 4 W
- Fans and other components: 7 W
- PCB losses: 15 W
- GPU power: approx. 230 W
As can be seen from the above analysis, the difference in TGP compared to Nvidia's strongest card of the previous generation is very big, which should also translate into a clear increase in performance in Ampere chipsets (rumors say of as much as 40-50%), which are planned for this year. It should also be kept in mind that in this case we are talking about GeForce RTX 3090 in Founders Edition. In the top non-reference models, power consumption could be even higher.
Igor'sLab also suggests that mass production of GeForce RTX 3000 is to start in August, this year. The launch of the first cards would take place in September. At this date, according to unofficial reports, GeForce RTX 3070 and 3080 would appear on the market. A little later, in the fourth quarter, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti card would come out, while in the first quarter of 2021 the weakest GeForce RTX 3060 would make its debut. It is not known when the premiere of GeForce RTX 3090 would take place. It remains to arm oneself with patience.