System power usage is unusually high for the B560 model.
System power usage is unusually high for the B560 model.
Hey everyone, I'm really struggling with this machine lately. My ideas are running out, and I'm worried about its power usage. I updated the BIOS to the latest version (which wiped out all my custom settings from Gigabyte). After that, I adjusted several important parameters.
I turned off the onboard sound card, enabled the LED indicators, made sure SATA aggressive LPM was active, and activated CPU load line calibration for power saving. The CPU power performance was disabled, and Turbo Boost limits were turned on. I set the flex ratio override to true with an override value of 8 (the lowest setting). All C-states that aid in saving power were enabled.
The CPU fan shuts down when the temperature drops below 50°C, but it doesn’t actually do so. The case fans slow down until around 45°C, yet they still don’t stop. In Windows, it runs on a balanced power plan optimized to keep CPU usage at zero percent. The HDD spins down after 20 minutes. Everything else is fine, and sleep mode isn’t allowed.
I used Winearo Tweaker to strip as much of the OS as possible. I removed all preinstalled programs except Emby, HWMonitor, Winearo, and Parsec. Only Parsec and Emby are running now.
When checking HWMonitor, it shows the CPU clock drops to 880MHz and power draw falls below 1 watt after a short while. Yet the machine still reads 90 watts at startup. After about an hour with drives off, it hits 60 watts. I’ve seen it idle at 19 watts right after setup.
I reset the BIOS, reinstalled Windows, and even threw the PC out the window. What’s going on? I think I might be missing something simple. The specs are an i5-10400 (Boxed cooler), Gigabyte B560M Aorus Pro 2x WD Red Plus, plus drives and a couple of SSDs. It runs smoothly with Corsair RM550x and Windows 11 Pro.
Could it be the power supply unit? When I power it up from cold, it takes a few attempts (the PSU clicks) before starting. I was hoping for the SF450 model because of its lower wattage and better efficiency.
My best guess is that part of the system is stuck in a higher power mode than the absolute minimum. It could be the extra drives, some software (possibly interfering with idle power settings without any clear reason), or even Windows 11 acting as a major issue that can't run for days before shutting down completely.
Can you confirm if the CPU power readings in HWMonitor appear accurate, and did the drives slow down smoothly after being reduced for half an hour?
The PSU will only provide what it needs to deliver. During a cold start, it's typical for the system to restart 2-3 times as the BIOS adjusts certain settings to "Auto."
Even with a high Gold efficiency, it should handle around 20 watts from the wall. In a country with 230V, this makes sense. Your HX1200 V2 uses Platinum and handles more power, but you're curious if swapping would affect performance or if the cables are different. Your Corsair PSUs have been reliable, but the motherboard and fans show minimal usage—drives are in standby. You’re wondering if other factors like cables or power delivery are causing extra draw.