Lenovo ThinkStation PGX Power Consumption
Our Lenovo ThinkStation PGX came with a 240W Lenovo power adapter that terminated into a USB PD Type-C connector.
At idle, we were in the 38-40W range. This is much higher than mobile-focused Arm CPUs and iGPUs. On the other hand, one should remember that this also includes the NVIDIA ConnectX-7 NIC. Removing the connection can save something like 18W, but you are likely going to have it connected if you scale up.
Officially, this is a 240W box, but we saw peaks just under 200W, and the sustained load was generally in the 104-160W range, depending on what was running. There is probably room to increase power consumption from where we were, but overall, this is a good result.
Final Words
While Lenovo’s GB10 system is largely tied to NVIDIA’s design specifications in terms of functionality and configuration, Lenovo has still managed to put together a corporate counterpart to NVIDIA’s flashy gold box.
Chassis aesthetics and colors aside, the other big differentiator for Lenovo at the moment is minimum configurations and pricing. While NVIDIA only sells its flagship DGX Spark in a 4TB storage configuration for $4699 (previously $3999), Lenovo also offers a 1TB configuration for around $4100, making it a good way to shave $500 off the price of a GB10 system if you do not need the extra storage. Notably, these are post-adjustment prices, so with NVIDIA’s changes already reflected in Lenovo’s official pricing, you will not find any especially good deals here. On the other hand, many organizations have corporate discounts with Lenovo, and there are often coupons that can adjust the pricing.
Still, for curious developers who could find utility in a DGX Spark but may not need all that storage space, the 1TB ThinkStation PGX offers a tantalizing, meaningfully cheaper option for stepping into NVIDIA’s Grace Blackwell ecosystem.
With the current price of DRAM and ConnectX-7 NICs, the 1TB model is like buying an ultra-fast Ubuntu-based Linux Arm mini-PC with an NVIDIA GPU for a few hundred dollars.
When we first saw NVIDIA roll out its partner GB10 systems, we were a bit skeptical of the vendors’ ability to differentiate. But at a $500 lower price point and great cooling, GB10 boxes such as the ThinkStation PGX have become a strong alternative to NVIDIA’s in-house design, especially if your domain is the corporate world.
Where to Buy
If you wanted to find the Lenovo ThinkStation PGX online, here is a Lenovo web store affiliate link.
