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Does power efficiency matter for GPUs?
When you see people comparing GPUs, things like FPS per watt aren't usually at the top. Users like to see how much performance they're getting for the price. Getting a more power-efficient GPU is always a bonus, but it's rarely a deal-breaker for gamers or enthusiasts. If you're a laptop user, however, things can look pretty different pretty fast. The same is the case with HTPC users or those running a workstation, where power bills might be a bigger concern.
Another thing to consider is that GPUs with typically poor efficiency are usually the top-tier SKUs of every generation. Consumers buying those models aren't worried about efficiency or whether their PC will be able to handle the power demands. This is a concern among budget GPU users, but those models rarely draw enough power for efficiency to matter.
GPU efficiency isn't a huge priority for most users
Unless you're running a laptop, HTPC, or workstation
Power efficiency doesn't exactly keep desktop users awake at night. If your PC has a quality power supply with enough wattage to handle your beefy GPU, you'll probably focus on driving the most demanding games or other intensive programs rather than worrying about its efficiency. And chances are that with a GPU like that, your PC has a case with good airflow and cooling hardware already. You're all set, efficiency be damned.
Some users might differ, especially those living in regions with high power costs, but those privileged enough to buy an RTX 5090 or RTX 4090 still won't care about their monthly power bills. On the other hand, efficiency is a big deal on laptop GPUs, where every ounce of power-saving counts. A more efficient architecture can deliver the same performance at a lower TDP, helping your gaming sessions last longer on battery power.
Similarly, GPU efficiency can be a crucial metric for someone creating their own HTPC or workstation. In either case, you'd like to have a GPU with high efficiency since the system would be running uninterrupted for long hours. An HTPC user would want minimal power consumption, while a workstation user would want to maximize their profits while enjoying the performance of a powerful GPU.
Performance has trumped efficiency time and again
FPS per watt only tells you so much
Power efficiency might be a prominent section in GPU reviews, but it only becomes a factor if the performance and price fail to impress users. Even if you consider CPUs, the poor efficiency of Intel's Raptor Lake chips didn't deter people from buying them. And when Intel improved the efficiency of their Arrow Lake CPUs, no one cared because the disappointing performance and pricing had already driven everyone away. Similarly, AMD's Zen 5 CPUs improved on the efficiency of their Zen 4 chips, but that didn't overshadow the middling gen-on-gen gains.
The same story plays out in the GPU space — a GPU powerful enough with a digestible price to match keeps efficiency concerns at bay. Only a handful of GPUs, historically, have been termed failures due to their poor efficiency (the GTX 480 and RX Vega 64 come to mind). Even the 575W RTX 5090, which is less efficient than the RTX 4090 (in most cases), has been panned mostly for other reasons, namely the crazy MSRP and poor generational gains. GPU efficiency is a factor when buying a GPU, but it is by no means one of the top ones, and certainly not a deal-breaker.
GPU efficiency is good to have, but far from necessary
For GPU buyers, power efficiency doesn't matter most of the time. As gamers, enthusiasts, and regular users, efficiency takes a backseat if performance, price, and features are desirable. Devices where power bills and battery life are more important, such as laptops, HTPCs, and workstations, need more efficient GPUs. Reviews and benchmarks might give considerable time to efficiency discussions, but it remains a supplementary factor, not the primary one.