HiGame

AMD has released an updated driver for its RX 480 GPUs that should permanently resolve the GPU’s power draw issue. For those of you just tuning in, the brand-new Radeon RX 480 launched last week with an unusual power configuration. Specifically, it drew more current from the PCI Express slot on the motherboard than is allowed by the official PCI-SIG specification. While the chances of a problem or failure were low, AMD promised an updated driver that would resolve these issues permanently. The company released Catalyst 16.7.1 yesterday afternoon, and we’ve put the driver through its paces.

What the new driver changes

There are two changes being introduced in the 16.7.1 driver (the launch driver for the RX 480 was Catalyst 16.6.2 for those of you keeping score at home). First, AMD has changed how the GPU draws power from the system. Instead of splitting the load roughly 50/50 between the PCI Express slot and the six-pin power connector, the card now draws more power from the six-pin slot and less from the PCI Express slot. This change is baked into the driver and automatic. Testing from sites like PC Perspective and THG has confirmed that this shifts roughly 10W of power over to the PCI Express six-pin connector and reduces the amount of current being pulled off the PCI Express slot. While the six-pin connector is now operating somewhat out of spec, it’s also designed to handle 8-9 amps per pin and is overengineered by a considerable margin.

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