MSI AMD Radeon HD 6870 Video Card Power Consumption Linus Tech Tips

The video presents a practical assessment of the MSI AMD Radeon HD 6870’s power consumption within a typical enthusiast PC build and provides guidance on power supply sizing. The host begins by noting the system-wide power draw with the 6870 under a full load, reporting around 300 watts drawn from the wall, and then suggests running Prime95 to stress the CPU for a more representative worst-case scenario. He estimates a complete system draw around 360 watts under modest load and up to about 400 watts when additional drives are added, emphasizing that for SSDs, RAM, and future upgrades a 500 to 600 watt PSU is a sensible baseline. He compares the 6870 to the Radeon 5870 and GTX 480, explaining that while the 5870 is faster, the power draw difference is not simply proportional due to manufacturing similarities. The discussion moves to real-world headroom, recommending a high-quality 80 Plus Silver PSU like an 850 watt unit for quiet operation and future expansion, including the possibility of adding another GTX 480 if desired, which would push total wall power toward 600 watts. The video reinforces the idea that a PSU operating at roughly 50 to 60 percent load (75 percent in extreme cases) tends to be quieter and more efficient, with emphasis on allowing headroom for peak loads such as Firmark and Prime95 combined testing. Finally, the host wraps with practical takeaways on power planning for mid to high-end gaming rigs and summarizes the comparative power characteristics of the HD 6870, 5870, and GTX 480. The overall conclusion is that the 6870 offers an evolutionary step in performance with a manageable power footprint, and careful PSU sizing remains essential for stability and acoustics under load.

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