Nvidia 950 power requirements: MSI Introduces two new GTX 950 2GB GPUs with 75W TDP: the OCV2 and OCV3

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A standard GTX 950 reference design comes in at a 90W TDP, which means it requires a 6-pin PCIe power connector as the standard PCIe slot is typically rated to only provide 75W. However, we have seen a couple of AIB partners introducing new 75W versions of the GTX 950 to come in under the limit, and as a result remove the 6-pin PCIe connector needed. One of those is MSI, who has introduced two new video cards that can be powered solely by the PCI Express connection. The low-power GeForce GTX 950 graphics boards from MSI follow similar graphics adapters from ASUS and indicate that there are NVIDIA’s GM206-251 GPUs. At this point we might conclude that the ‘251’ nomenclature refers to the specific silicon design which might afford lower power operation.

The two new cards from MSI are the GeForce GTX 950 2GD5T OCV3 and the MSI GeForce GTX 950 2GD5T OCV2 and are based on the GeForce GTX 950 (GM206) in its default configuration: 768 stream processors, 48 texture units, 32 ROPs as well as a 128-bit GDDR5 memory interface. The GPUs of both cards are clocked at 1076 MHz, but can increase their frequencies to 1253 MHz in boost mode. Both graphics adapters are equipped with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory clocked at 6.6 Gbps, a dual-slot cooling system with an aluminum heatsink, one DVI connector, one HDMI 2.0 port and one DisplayPort output. As mentioned above, neither of the boards require additional PCIe power connectors and their TDP does not exceed 75 W.

The two cards differ in their cooling and length. The first one is the GTX 950 2GD5T OCV3 uses a dual fan design and features a longer PCB which is designed to focus on a typical desktop PC. The shorter GTX 950 2GD5T OCV2 uses a single fan and seems to be designed for mini-ITX systems. Thanks to the fact that the GM206 GPU features hardware-accelerated decoding and encoding of H.265 (HEVC) video and fully supports HDCP 2.2 content protection over HDMI 2.0, the OCV2 card could be a fine choice for small form-factor home-theater PCs. 

That being said we have noticed that on the stock photographs that the smaller model eliminates some of the PCI Express pins for an unknown reason, so the exact feature-set is to be confirmed. We have put questions to MSI on this and will update when we have a response. 

Graphics cards based on the GeForce GTX 950 GPUs with lowered power consumption can be used not only to build SFF HTPCs, but also to upgrade cheap desktop systems, which sometimes do not have a spare PCIe power connector inside. Previously NVIDIA’s partners only offered GeForce GTX 750 Ti without auxiliary power connectors, but this adapter is already two years old, and its performance may not enough for modern titles.

Now there are (at least) two graphics cards suppliers who offer GeForce GTX 950 adapters with lowered power consumption, it is likely that other companies will follow them as well. It is unclear whether NVIDIA officially sells GM206 GPUs with low TDP to address the market of entry-level desktops, or companies like ASUS or MSI simply hand-pick GPUs that do not need more than 75 W of power to function properly. In any case, it is evident that such GPUs exist and are in demand enough that the AIB partners want to produce them.

NVIDIA Video Card Specification Comparison
	MSI GTX 950 OCV2/3	ASUS GTX950-2G	Ref GTX 950	Ref GTX 960	Ref GTX 750 Ti
CUDA Cores	768			1024	640
Texture Units	48			64	40
ROPs	32				16
Core Clock	1076 MHz	1026 MHz	1024 MHz	1126 MHz	1020 MHz
Boost Clock	1253 MHz	1190 MHz	1188 MHz	1178 MHz	1085 MHz
Memory Clock	6. 6 Gbps GDDR5			7 Gbps GDDR5	5.4 Gbps GDDR5
Memory Bus Width	128-bit
VRAM	2 GB			2/4 GB	2 GB
TDP	75 W		90 W	120 W	60 W
Architecture	Maxwell 2				Maxwell 1
GPU	GM206				GM107
Transistor Count	2. 94 B				1.87B
Manufacturing Process	TSMC 28nm				TSMC 28nm
Launch Date	03/16/16	03/16/16	08/20/15	01/22/15	02/18/14
Launch Price	unknown	unknown	$159	$199	$149

Exact prices and release dates of MSI’s GeForce GTX 950 2GD5T OCV3 and GeForce GTX 950 2GD5T OCV2 graphics cards are unknown. Keeping in mind that the boards are not exclusive products available only from MSI, their prices will hardly be very high and will be near the GTX 950’s MSRP of $159.

Gallery: MSI Introduces GeForce GTX 950 Graphics Cards with 75W Power Consumption

Source:
MSI

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Choosing the Best PSU for Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 950 GPU

Learn how to choose a power supply for Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 950 GPU based on power consumption and other factors.

In this article, I’ll go over the things you should consider when choosing a power supply for your computer with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 graphics card.

Check out my Recommended Power Supplies for GTX 950 GPUs below.

Best 650–1000 Watt PSU

EVGA SuperNOVA G5 Series Fully Modular Power Supply (220-G5-0650-X1)

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How to Choose a Power Supply for the GTX 950 GPU

The main job of a power supply is to convert the alternating current (AC) from your wall outlet into the direct current (DC) needed by the components inside your computer.

Power Output

An important factor when buying a PSU is the supported wattage.

You will need to add up the power consumption of each computer component to determine the total output power requirements for your power supply.

The peak power consumption of Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 950 GPU is 90 W.

You can estimate your power requirements by using the following chart.

By adding up these numbers, you can estimate peak power usage. Check out the top-tier and mid-tier example builds below.

It’s generally a good idea to add a 100–150 W buffer to your expected usage. This buffer will give you some flexibility in case of miscalculations and will allow you to add more drives, fans, or add-in cards in the future.

In most cases, buying a little more wattage than you need is a safer choice for ensuring system stability.

Don’t forget to account for the additional power required for overclocking if you intend to overclock your CPU or GPU. Overclocking could require roughly an extra 50–100 W, depending on how much you overclock these devices.

Check another Nvidia GPU:

GeForce RTX 4090 GeForce RTX 4080 GeForce RTX 4070 Ti GeForce RTX 3090 Ti GeForce RTX 3090 GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GeForce RTX 3080 GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GeForce RTX 3070 GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GeForce RTX 3060 GeForce RTX 3050 TITAN RTX GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GeForce RTX 2080 Super GeForce RTX 2080 GeForce RTX 2070 Super GeForce RTX 2070 GeForce RTX 2060 Super GeForce RTX 2060 GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GeForce GTX 1660 Super GeForce GTX 1650 Super GeForce GTX 1650 TITAN X Pascal TITAN Xp GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GeForce GTX 1080 GeForce GTX 1070 Ti GeForce GTX 1070 GeForce GTX 1060 GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GeForce GTX 1050 GeForce GT 1030 GeForce GTX TITAN X GeForce GTX 980 Ti GeForce GTX 980 GeForce GTX 970 GeForce GTX 960 GeForce GTX 950 GeForce GTX TITAN Z GeForce GTX TITAN Black GeForce GTX TITAN GeForce GTX 780 Ti GeForce GTX 780 GeForce GTX 770 GeForce GTX 760 Ti GeForce GTX 760 GeForce GTX 760 192-bit GeForce GTX 750 Ti GeForce GTX 750

Top-Tier Estimate:

Top-Tier Components	Peak Power Consumption
GTX 950 GPU	90 watts
Top-Tier CPU (e. g., Intel Core i9 13900K)	253 watts
Motherboard	80 watts
4 M.2 or 2.5″ SSDs	36 watts
3 Case Fans (120 mm)	18 watts
2 CPU Fans (120 mm)	12 watts
Total Estimate:	489 watts
Recommended Power Supply Wattage:	650 watts

Check the latest price of the 450–750 watt Corsair SF Power Supplies on Amazon (affiliate link).

Check out my Recommended Power Supplies for GTX 950 GPUs below.

Featured 750 Watt PSUs ›

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Corsair RMX Series (2021), RM750x, 750 Watt, Gold, Fully Modular Power Supply

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EVGA 750 N1, 750W, 2 Year Warranty, Power Supply 100-N1-0750-L1

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Mid-Tier Estimate:

Mid-Tier Components	Peak Power Consumption
GTX 950 GPU	90 watts
Mid-Tier CPU (e. g., Intel Core i5 13600K)	181 watts
Motherboard	80 watts
2 M.2 or 2.5″ SSDs	18 watts
2 Case Fans (120 mm)	12 watts
2 CPU Fans (120 mm)	12 watts
Total Estimate:	393 watts
Recommended Power Supply Wattage:	550 watts

Check the latest price of the 450–750 watt Corsair SF Power Supplies on Amazon (affiliate link).

Check out my Recommended Power Supplies for GTX 950 GPUs below.

Power Efficiency

PSUs with higher efficiency ratings use less energy and produce less heat, improving their reliability and reducing noise.

The 80 PLUS certification program for power supplies helps to promote energy efficiency by indicating its efficiency rating.

Higher efficiency power supplies may have a higher upfront cost. However, they could potentially save you money on electricity in the long run.

Lower wattage PSUs will be more power-efficient even when idle. For this reason, you may be able to save more on electricity by getting the correct wattage of PSU than by getting the one with the best 80 PLUS rating.

Cables

Connectors

Make sure your PSU has the correct connectors to support the hardware in your system. Cheaper PSUs may cut costs on connectors and cables by offering fewer options and shorter lengths.

Check with your motherboard and graphics card documentation to determine which connector types are needed. Buy a popular, recently-released PSU; it will likely have the necessary connectors for a new PC build. However, if you use old components or an old power supply, you may find some incompatibilities.

Here are some common connector types that power supplies support:

• 24-pin connector for the motherboard
• 4/8-pin connector for the CPU
• 6/8/16-pin connectors for graphics cards
• SATA Power connector for each SATA HDD or SDD storage device

The latest graphics cards and ATX 3.0 PSUs support a new 16-pin PCIe 5.0 connector that replaces multiple 8-pin connectors.

Modular Cables

Typical power supplies come with various cables to connect your components. However, extra unused power cables can work against you by interrupting airflow.

In comparison, modular and semi-modular power supplies allow for attaching only the cables you need. As the name implies, semi-modular power supplies have some wires soldered on, while you can optionally connect others.

Cable Lengths

Most power supplies will have cables long enough to support mid-sized towers comfortably. If you have a full-size tower, you may want to check reviews and documentation to ensure that the cables are long enough to allow good cable management.

Power Supply Form Factors

Various form factors are available for power supplies. However, a standard-size desktop PC build will use an ATX power supply.

Small form factor PSUs allow for usage in many computer case shapes, including mini-PCs.

Power Supply Features

Overvoltage protection and short circuit protection can help to save your components in the case of a surge or accident.

LED lighting is another feature you might consider, depending on your PC goals.

Choosing a Cost-Effective Power Supply for the GTX 950

Perhaps you live in a dorm or a family member’s house and don’t pay the power bill. Or maybe you don’t expect the computer to have heavy daily usage. In those cases, the lower upfront cost of a less efficient PSU may be the better choice.

On the other hand, if you care more about the electric bill or the environment and plan to maintain higher CPU or GPU usage, then a more efficient PSU may be better.

Don’t go too far over 150 W above your expected power needs. Rightsizing your power supply will keep electricity costs to a minimum, as higher wattage PSUs will consume some additional power, even when idle.

Recommended 750-1650 Watt ATX 3.0 PSU

• The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 ATX 3.0 Power Supply on Amazon (affiliate link) is our recommended 750-1650 watt ATX 3.0 PSU.
• GOLD 80 PLUS efficiency ratings.
• ATX 3.0 standard for supporting newer graphics cards.
• Fully modular cabling allows you to optimize airflow and minimize clutter.
• Ultra quiet design.
• 10-year warranty.
• This series of power supplies comes in power outputs including 750, 850, 1000, 1200, 1350 and 1650 watts.

  Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 Series 80+ Gold Full Modular ATX 3.0 PCIe Gen 5 Power Supply

  Check Price on Amazon

  Amazon Affiliate Link

Recommended 650–1000 Watt PSU

• The Corsair SF Series Power Supply on Amazon (affiliate link) is our recommended 650–1000 watt PSU.
• Gold 80 PLUS efficiency ratings.
• Fully modular cabling allows you to optimize airflow and minimize clutter.
• Near silent during low usage.
• 10-year warranty.
• This series of power supplies comes in power outputs including 650, 750, 850, and 1000 watts.

  EVGA SuperNOVA G5 Series Fully Modular Power Supply (220-G5-0650-X1)

  Check Price on Amazon

  Amazon Affiliate Link

Other Considerations When Building a PC

Want to brush up on other new technologies to consider when building a computer? Check out these articles:

• Cases:
  • How to Choose the Best PC Case
• CPUs:
  • The Best CPUs for Gaming
  • Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 5. 0?
  • Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 4.0?
  • LGA 1700 CPU List
  • LGA 1200 CPU List
  • Look up an Intel or AMD CPU on TechReviewer for related recommendations:
• CPU Coolers:
  • What is the Best Type of CPU cooler for a Gaming PC?
  • How to Choose a CPU Cooler for Your PC
  • Best LGA 1700 CPU Cooler for Intel’s 12th Gen Core Processors
  • Best AM4 CPU Cooler for AMD Processors
• Storage:
  • Can an SSD Improve PC Gaming Performance? and Does an SSD Increase FPS for PC Gaming?
  • Storage Type Comparison: M.2, U.2, NVMe, SATA, SSDs, HDDs
• Memory:
  • How to Choose the Best RAM for Your PC
  • How Much RAM Do You Need for Gaming? and Is 32 GB of RAM Worth It for Gaming?
  • DDR4 vs. DDR5? Which You Should Buy
  • Is DDR5 Worth It? The Benefits of DDR5 and What Is DDR5?
  • Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support DDR5?
• PCI-Express:
  • Is PCIe 5. 0 Worth It?
• Motherboards:
  • Which Motherboards Support PCIe 5.0?
  • Which Motherboards Support PCIe 4.0?
  • Which Motherboard Should You Buy for Intel’s 13th Gen CPUs?
  • Which Motherboard Should You Buy for Intel’s 12th Gen CPUs?
• Graphics Cards:
  • Which Graphics Cards Support PCIe 4.0?
• Power Supplies:
  • How to Choose the Best Power Supply for a Gaming PC
  • How to Choose a PC Power Supply
• Keyboards:
  • Best Mechanical Keyboard for Gaming
• Monitors:
  • How to Choose a Gaming Monitor

Have a suggestion or correction for this article? Send us an email at:

[email protected]

You can also contact the author at:

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GeForce GTX 950 | GeForce|NVIDIA

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Review

The GeForce GTX 950 is a graphics card for gamers. Transform your PC into a gaming machine that can match any gaming console to enjoy classic and modern games in 1080p resolution at 60 FPS. Built on the NVIDIA Maxwell™ architecture, the GeForce GTX 950 delivers up to 3x the performance of previous generation graphics cards.

GeForce GTX 950 Gameplay

See what the GeForce GTX 950 can do in the latest games. Watch Video >

MOBA Game Benefits

The GeForce GTX 950 is a high performance gaming GPU that delivers excellent performance and responsiveness for MOBA games such as Dota 2, League Of Legends, Heroes of the Storm. In addition, with the power of GeForce Experience, you can optimize your in-game settings to further reduce lag. NVIDIA technologies allow you to reduce the time from clicking the mouse to the appearance of the result on the screen by almost half.

Read more about optimizations in the IXBT review.

GeForce GTX 950 Performance Specifications

See how the GeForce GTX 950 performs in the latest PC games.

GeForce Experience™

The easiest way to optimize your games and keep your drivers up to date.

Watch the GeForce Experience video. A step-by-step guide to using the GeForce Experience app.

Capture every win with GeForce® ShadowPlay™

Automatically record all your best gaming moments. Download now.

Features

• Maxwell GPU Architecture
• Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR)
• Multi-frame anti-aliasing (MFAA)
• Voxel Global Illumination (VXGI)

• GeForce Experience™
• NVIDIA G-SYNC™ Technology
• SLI technology ^®
• NVIDIA Surround™ with support for up to four monitors

NVIDIA GameStream™

Stream extreme games from your GeForce GTX-powered PC to portable devices like NVIDIA SHIELD™ with super-smooth performance and low latency.

NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0

With precise controls, this revolutionary technology allows gamers to maximize PC performance. GPU Boost 2.0 monitors your graphics card, even better managing GPU temperature, CPU overclocking, and voltage to maximize GPU performance.

NVIDIA Adaptive Vertical Sync

Nothing is more distracting than jitter and tearing. The first occurs when the frame rate is low, the second occurs when it is too high. Adaptive V-Sync technology is a great way to process frames. At high frame rates, V-sync is enabled to eliminate tearing, and at low frame rates, V-sync is disabled to minimize judder.

Specifications

GeForce GTX 950

CUDA Core	768
Base clock	1024MHz
Boost clock	1188MHz
Texture Fill Rate	49. 2 GigaTexels/s

Height	11. 16 cm / 4.376 inches
Length	25.24 cm / 9.938 inches
Width	Two slots

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CONTACT

HARDWARE QUESTIONS

Technical support, warranty service requests, replacement and warranty repair questions for your NVIDIA products will be directed to NVIDIA.
Click here to access NVIDIA’s support page for GeForce graphics card users. If you purchased a GeForce graphics card from one of our reseller partners, click here.