Gamers and computer enthusiasts often ask this question, and the answer may surprise you.
A regular motherboard’s power consumption will be in the range of 25 to 40 W while a high-end motherboard’s power consumption can reach even 80 W. A motherboard’s power consumption is highly influenced by its features, the type of voltage regulator, integrated chipsets and modules, and BIOS power-saving features.
Does The Motherboard Use Power Or Is It Just A PCB?
Modern motherboards come packed with a lot of features and have many chipsets integrated (the LAN chipset, sound chipset, wireless, etc.) that require energy.
A motherboard’s primary function is to provide a platform for other components to connect to and use power.
For example, the CPU uses power to run its calculations, and the RAM uses power to store data.
The graphics card also uses power to render images on the screen. Some high-end motherboards may use more power than others due to built-in WiFi or LED lighting.
The power a motherboard uses depends on the number and type of components connected to it. A basic desktop computer with a few peripherals will use less power than a gaming PC with multiple graphics cards.
Computers are becoming increasingly energy efficient, by reducing the power consumption of individual components, the overall power consumption of a system can be reduced.
How Much Power Is Actually Consumed By The Motherboard?
The motherboard is in charge of linking all the other parts of the system and ensuring they all work correctly. The motherboard is also essential in regulating the power that flows through the system.
The average gaming motherboard will consume around 300 watts of power. However, this number can be lower for more energy-efficient models or higher for models with more features.
Keep in mind that the above-average power takes into consideration all the other components connected and powered by the motherboard, the motherboard itself requires little power for its components and integrated chipsets, usually, you can consider that your motherboard will require 25 to 40 W of power.
How Much Power Does RAM Use?
You can generally expect your RAM to consume between 2 and 10 watts of power per memory module.
To be on the safe side you can consider that each RAM module will require 10 watts, so if you have 2 8GB modules (16 GB of RAM) consider that you need your power supply to provide 20 watts of power for your RAM memory.
As you can see, RAM memory doesn’t require a lot of power for this reason it is mostly overlooked when cloning the power supply.
What Is The Lowest Power-Consuming Gaming Motherboards On The Market?
These are two examples of low-power-consuming gaming motherboards available on the market. When choosing a motherboard for your gaming PC, it is essential to consider all options to find the best balance of features and performance for your needs.
| Motherboard | Power Consumption |
|---|---|
| MSI B350M Bazooka | 35 watts |
| ASUS ROG Strix B350-F Gaming | 40 watts |
Conclusion
A motherboard uses power to operate. The power a motherboard uses depends on its model and make and the variety and quantity of connected devices.
When choosing a gaming motherboard, it’s essential to consider its features and how much power it will consume. Energy-efficient models can save you money in the long run, both in terms of your electricity bill and heat output. With so many possibilities available, there’s bound to be a gaming motherboard for you and your requirements.
I started building and fixing PCs in high school. After a couple of years of offering consultancy to a PC repair shop, I became the goto guy for all my acquaintances for PC/Laptop related buying advice or troubleshooting.
