A 650-750 Watts power supply unit is fine for a system with 1080 Ti SLI (2-way). To run a computer with GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SLI in it, it will need a powerful motherboard that needs more power than usual motherboards.
Basically, the minimum power supply requirement for 1080 Ti is 600 Watts with one 8-pin and one 6-pin power connector. But here we are talking about the SLI configuration, and 750 Watts serves the best for 1080 Ti SLI Power Requirements under normal load.
We are going to concentrate more on 2-way 1080 Ti SLI in this article as it is the most usual one. For your information, 1050W PSU for 3-way 1080 Ti SLI and 1300W PSU for 4-way 1080 Ti SLI are suggested. Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti supports up to 4-way SLI. However, 1080 Ti SLI 3 or 4-way are not usually seen.
What Are the Power Requirements of Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SLI?
SLI technique has turned out to be quite a common usage among gamers. Thus any discussion on power requirement without breaking it down to the number of GPU cards used disregards much of the story. Therefore, let’s check out the power requirements for each way.
2-way 1080 Ti SLI Power Requirements
The thermal design power (TDP) of a GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is rated as 280 Watts, the same as 980 Ti and Titan X. Thus, a moderate system with 2-way 1080 Ti SLI needs at least 650 Watts to run the computer. To be safe, you can use a 750 Watts power supply unit to run the whole system properly.
Overclocking a single GTX 1080 Ti needs more than its usual power requirement. As a result, to overclock the GTX 1080 Ti SLI, you should need more than 750 watts. As a powerful motherboard is also needed to overclock the GPU, to run all the components along with the 1080 Ti SLI, 900W will be a safe option.
3-way 1080 Ti SLI Power Requirements
Though a 3-way 1080 Ti SLI rig is usually not seen, it is also an effective SLI configuration. A 3-way GTX 1080 Ti SLI needs around 930 Watts of PSU. To avoid any harm, it is a viable option to use a 1050 Watts PSU for 1080 Ti Sli (3-way).
4-way 1080 Ti SLI Power Requirements
It is advised to have a 1300 Watts PSU for 4-way 1080 Ti SLI. But actually, it needs almost 1177 Watts to operate. But as 1177W is a little too near the edge, so to be safe experts suggest using a little higher wattage PSU than needed.
Should You Consider The Power Efficiency Rating?
Efficiency rating measures how much DC power it transmits to the PC vs how much is lost to heat. Efficiency is vital since it determines how much you will pay to keep your computer running. The more efficient PSU you have, the cooler your components will be. Thus, an efficient PSU will keep your GPU healthy.
In the case of 1080 Ti SLI, your PC needs 750 watts PSU. If you use a 750 Watts PSU with 85% of efficiency, the PSU will consume around 882 Watts of power. When you use a 70% efficient PSU, it will take around 1071 Watts of power from the wall. So choosing the more power-efficient PSU will save cash.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happens when the PSU is less than 750 watts?
A little less than 750 Watts may not harm your PC, but less than the PSU of recommended wattage will surely do. If the GTX 1080 Ti SLI can not get enough power from the PSU, it will show unusual behaviors.
What are the signs of 1080 Ti SLI is not getting enough power?
The most common signs of 1080 Ti’s power lack are – Poor 3D performance (even though 1080 Ti SLI is great at 3D visualization), crashing games, frequent restart or shutdown of the PC, and freezing during gameplay or playing video.
What is the 80 PLUS Certification?
The 80 Plus certification indicates that a power supply is at least 80% efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% loads. At 100 percent load, a 500W 80 Plus rated PSU would draw a maximum of 625W. Anything less than 80 Plus is not suggested because of the comparatively minimal cost premium and benefits they bring.
Conclusion
As experts suggest, at half the PSU load (50% usage) your PSU is the most energy-efficient. Certainly, we list it down the same for 1080 Ti SLI power requirements. Considering the fact, 750 Watts for your 1080 Ti SLI is both energy-efficient and adequate for the system.
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