We used GPUz logging to measure the card’s power consumption with the Metro:Exodus benchmark running at 2560 x 1440 using the default Ultra settings. The tested card is warmed up prior to testing and started after settling to an idle temperature (after about 10 minutes). The benchmark is looped a total of five times which yields around 10 minutes of testing. In the charts you will see a few blips in power use which is a result of the benchmark ending one loop and starting the next.
We also use Furmark to capture worst-case power readings. Although both Nvidia and AMD consider the application to be a “power virus,” or program that deliberately taxes the components beyond normal limits, the data we can gather from it offers useful information about a card’s capabilities outside of typical gaming loads.
Power Draw
Looking at the power charts, we compared the Sapphire 5600 XT Pulse OC with its reference configuration as well as the OC bios. We saw significant differences between them. Where the reference card peaked at 121W, averaging around 110W, with the new BIOS it peaked at 156W while averaging 140W. Quite a difference, but still averaging well under the listed board power (160W in the case of the Pulse OC).
What is interesting, though not surprising, is that both the reference-clocked RX 5700 and this 5600 XT Pulse using the OC bios both used the same amount of power in this test. We are not surprised since this is the same Navi 10 silicon/specifications, minus 2GB of RAM. Meanwhile the RTX 2060, which the 5600 XT compares best with performance-wise, uses about 20W more power. This brings things more in line in the performance per watt conversation, where previously the older Nvidia architecture tended to be a bit more efficient. AMD mentions a 2.1x increase in performance per watt over the Polaris parts as well.
Swapping over to Furmark, here we see the Pulse OC hitting averaging 160W throughout testing, right up against the power limit. As we saw in gaming, chances are you will not run into this value, but now we know where the power limit is set. Just as with the gaming results, the RTX 2060 also uses its power budget up at 160W as well.
Temperatures, Fan Speeds and Clock Rates
In order to see how each video card behaves, like the power testing, we use GPUz logging in one-second intervals to capture data. As with testing for power, testing for these items is also done by looping the Metro: Exodus benchmark five times at Ultra settings running at 2560x1440 resolution.
Additionally, we also used Furmark to capture some of the data below, which offers a more consistent load and uses slightly more power, regardless of the fact that the clock speeds and voltages are limited. These data sets give insight into worst-case situations along with a load other than gaming.
The Dual-X cooler on the Sapphire RX 5600 XT Pulse OC proved plenty capable of keeping the card at 70C or less through our testing. If the test lasted a bit longer, temps would likely still rise, but temperatures were beginning to flatten out.
Fan speeds during the game testing varied and ran generally between 1,100 and 1,300 RPM to maintain that 70C temperature we peaked at. The two 90mm fans are generally quiet without harsh acoustics and we did not hear the fan ramping up and down during this testing. The Dual-X cooling solution does a good job managing thermals and not being intrusive while doing so.
Clock speeds using the OC BIOS averaged almost 1,700 MHz (1,693 Mhz to be exact) during the game testing. Compare this to the reference clocked BIOS’ result of 1,563 MHz during gaming and we can see why the OC BIOS adds so much performance. Of course, the increase in memory speeds certainly adds to it. AMD’s game clock is listed at 1,615 MHz and the 1,693 MHz result is well over their expected clock. We didn’t hit 1,750 MHz boost clock, but as we know by now, this rarely happens.
Temperatures when using Furmark didn’t change much, peaking only 3 degrees Celsius higher, at 74C. Just as with gaming, we also see this curve start to really flatten out towards the end of the testing, showing the cooler is just about saturated and temperatures shouldn’t vary much assuming loads and environmentals remain the same.
Fan RPM did not change much as the average stayed the same (around 1,200 RPM). Due to the more-consistent loads, we saw a tighter range of speeds, hanging around 1,150 to 1,250 RPM.
Clock speeds when running Furmark dropped considerably to 1,547 MHz. Compared to other RDNA-based video cards, this was a more significant drop. While in the real world this doesn’t matter for gaming performance, what this does tell us is the card uses every bit of the power allowance it has to reach the higher clocks when gaming. Furmark’s loads are too much at the same clock.
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