# Can I trust these numbers I'm seeing from Tom's Hardware?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-trust-these-numbers-im-seeing-from-toms-hardware/584777>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 8, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-trust-these-numbers-im-seeing-from-toms-hardware/584777 "2011-06-08T20:41:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Another\_Stranger\_Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Another\_Stranger\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Another_Stranger_Me)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-trust-these-numbers-im-seeing-from-toms-hardware/584777/1 "2011-06-08T20:41:32Z")

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The reason I ask is because my power supply died and I need to buy a replacement. I could replace it with an equivalent PSU, but I figured I might as well get something that could carryover into the next new build I’m planning (a little down the road).

I went to [tom’s graphics benchmark chart](http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2011-gaming-graphics-charts/2D-Power-Draw,2677.html) to look at power consumption of newer cards. Am I crazy, or do these numbers look unrealistic? It says the chart is total system draw, but at the bottom there’s a card that is drawing 5W. Is this chart removing the rest of the system draw from the results?

So if anyone could help me interpret those numbers, I would be grateful. They aren’t even that critical except now I don’t trust the chart that shows the draw at 3D load.

Alternately, I’d welcome recommendations or personal experiences with sites that are better/comparable to tom’s. Especially sites that help with power consumption, PSU wattage recommendations, etc.

Thanks for your help, fellow PC builders!

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**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-trust-these-numbers-im-seeing-from-toms-hardware/584777/2 "2011-06-08T22:05:32Z")

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Thats chart is showing card power alone.

The site is generally OK, you just need to know what its measuring.

Otara

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**Author:** ![Another\_Stranger\_Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Another\_Stranger\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Another_Stranger_Me)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-trust-these-numbers-im-seeing-from-toms-hardware/584777/3 "2011-06-09T15:09:52Z")

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Thanks for the answer. That was the only explanation that made sense, so I’m glad you think so too.

In case anyone is interested, I found [this list](http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?showtopic=264). Someone put together a large list of cards and their power consumption, compiled from reviews and tech sites all over the internet. It seems pretty thorough, but tom’s is easier to read.