That's where the driver's other new feature comes in: A new (badly named) 'Compatibility Mode' that throttles the GPU back slightly to ensure that the chip never exceeds PCI-SIG specifications in any particular. While this is much closer to the 5.5 amp specification defined by the PCI-SIG, it doesn't pull the GPU 100% into compliance. Image by Tom's Hardware Tom's Hardware's testing (Opens in a new window) shows that the amount of current pulled from the mainboard has fallen from 6.7 amps to 5.9 amps. While the six-pin connector is now operating somewhat out of spec, it's also designed to handle 8-9 amps per pin and is overengineered by a considerable margin. Testing from sites like PC Perspective (Opens in a new window) and THG has confirmed that this shifts roughly 10W of power over to the PCI Express six-pin connector and reduces the amount of current being pulled off the PCI Express slot. This change is baked into the driver and automatic. Instead of splitting the load roughly 50/50 between the PCI Express slot and the six-pin power connector, the card now draws more power from the six-pin slot and less from the PCI Express slot.

First, AMD has changed how the GPU draws power from the system. There are two changes being introduced in the 16.7.1 driver (the launch driver for the RX 480 was Catalyst 16.6.2 for those of you keeping score at home). The company released Catalyst 16.7.1 yesterday afternoon, and we've put the driver through its paces. While the chances of a problem or failure were low, AMD promised an updated driver that would resolve these issues permanently.

Specifically, it drew more current from the PCI Express slot on the motherboard than is allowed by the official PCI-SIG specification. For those of you just tuning in, the brand-new Radeon RX 480 launched last week with an unusual power configuration. AMD has released an updated driver for its RX 480 GPUs that should permanently resolve the GPU's power draw issue.

Radeon drivers