My RTX 5090 consistently draws around 602W while playing Alan Wake 2, and I've seen it briefly reach about 610W. I thought the card was not supposed to exceed 600W under heavy gaming loads. Should I be concerned about the GPU's health or the safety of my PC? I'm using a 1,200W power supply.
3 Answers
Some RTX 5090 models can briefly go above 600W, especially when their factory power limit allows it. Check the manufacturer’s specifications and monitoring software rather than treating 600W as a universal hard cutoff. If the card is stable and temperatures are controlled, a small amount over 600W is not automatically dangerous.
Alan Wake 2 can push a high-end GPU extremely hard, so seeing power usage around the card’s rated limit isn’t automatically a problem. A 1,200W quality power supply should provide plenty of overall capacity. The main thing to check is that the GPU power connector is fully inserted, routed without sharp bends near the plug, and free from damage. Also verify the exact power limit and temperatures against your card manufacturer’s specifications.
The most immediate consequence may be the electricity bill rather than damage to the card. Brief readings around 600–610W can be normal depending on the model, BIOS, workload, and measurement method, but sustained power above the official limit could indicate an increased power limit or an overclock.
So it’s generally safe as long as temperatures, connector condition, and the card’s documented power limits look normal?
I was under the impression that 600W was the absolute safe maximum, so I’ll check whether my specific model has a higher permitted limit instead of relying on a general number.