RTX 3060 Power Consumption: How Much Power Does The RTX 3060 Use?
Last updated on February 25th, 2023 at 12:52 pm
The NVIDIA RTX 3060 is a powerful graphics card that is designed for gaming enthusiasts and professionals alike.
With its cutting-edge technology, it promises to deliver high-quality graphics and smooth gameplay. However, power consumption is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a graphics card.
The RTX 3060’s power consumption is a crucial aspect to consider when building a gaming PC or workstation.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the RTX 3060’s power consumption and its impact on performance. We will compare this graphics card’s power consumption to other cards that way you can understand what you are looking for.
As well as how much overall wattage you will need for a computer that uses this type of GPU.
This article will provide a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to purchase an RTX 3060.
How Many Watts Does an RTX 3060 Use?
The RTX 3060 has a TGP or Total Graphics Power of 170 Watts, which is the typical wattage it produces. When gaming you should also hit around 170 Watts. However, when idle the GPU should only produce around 8 Watts of power.
The wattage that this card uses can change depending on how powerful your gaming setup is, as well as the types of games and tasks you are doing.
For example, if you use more than one monitor expect your graphics card to have a higher idle power consumption.
Typically, with an extra monitor the idle power consumption will be just under double what you would see with just one monitor.
In this instance, the Geforce RTX 3060 graphics card will produce around 13 Watts of power when idle in a dual monitor setup.
When looking at the power consumption of a GPU you want to look at the TGP (Total Graphics Power) because this shows the maximum power draw you will usually get when using your GPU for intensive tasks such as gaming.
However, it is not actually the true maximum of the graphics card. The true maximum of the RTX 3060 is around 190-200 Watts, but this only happens, when you see a spike in your performance and it is there as a safety mechanism, so that card doesn’t get damaged.
RTX 3060 Power Consumption Compared to Other GPUs
The GPUs power consumption is compared using TGP. It is very important to know and compare your graphics cards to other similar models because it will help you get a grasp on the amount of power your system is going to use.
Here is a comparison of a few graphics cards that are around the performance range of the RTX 3060.
| GPU | TGP |
|---|---|
| RTX 3050 | 130 Watts |
| RTX 3060 | 170 Watts |
| RTX 3060 Ti | 200 Watts |
As you can see from this table the RTX 3060 is a pretty power-efficient card.
If you want to compare more graphics cards on their power consumption and TGP I have provided a database where you can look at dozens of different GPUs and their power consumption, that way you don’t have to do the research yourself.
Check out the Database.
I have also provided the average power consumption when gaming, as well as the average power consumption when idle, that way you can get a better understanding.
What Power Supply Do I Need to Use For an RTX 3060?
Having a good power supply is essential when building a PC. When purchasing a power supply; the quality of the power supply isn’t the only thing that matters, but also how much wattage it has as well.
If you have a really high-quality power supply, that doesn’t produce enough power for your system, you could run into some problems.
First, either your power supply or another component in your computer could break and become damaged, or you will experience frequent shut-offs, and stuttering when playing games and running tasks.
When looking for a power supply you want to aim for around 20% extra wattage that way you have some wiggling room when your system’s power spikes while you are doing intensive tasks.
If your PC uses an RTX 3060 with a TGP of 170, you also need to remember the other hardware in your computer.
Your motherboard will consume around 80 Watts of power, the CPU can consume anywhere from 120-200 watts of power, plus any additional hardware you are using in the rig. All these things add up so it’s good to go a little above what you think is required.
I would recommend getting a power supply that supports around 650 Watts, that way you won’t risk damaging your system even at max power.
It would help if you also considered the grade rating of your power supply.
You want to find something that is at least 80 Plus Bronze certified.
You should read: “How Do Power Supply Ratings Work?”
RTX 3060 FAQ
How Much Power Does the RTX 3060 Consume?
The RTX 3060 has a TGP of 170 Watts. This is the amount of power it should consume under typical conditions.
Is The RTX 3060 Power Efficient?
Yes, the RTX 3060 is very power efficient compared to many other high-end graphics cards, such as the RTX 3080 Ti and RTX 3090.
How Does The RTX 3060s Power Consumption Compare to Other Graphics Cards?
The RTX 3060 has a TGP of 170 Watts, whereas other cards can range anywhere from 250 watts to 450 watts.
Can I Run The RTX 3060 on a Low-Wattage Power Supply?
The RTX requires a 450-watt power supply as the minimum. However, this is cutting it really close, you should look for a power supply that’s at least 550 watts, but I recommend getting one that’s 650 watts.
Can I Overclock The RTX 3060 to Increase Its Performance?
Yes, you can overclock the RTX 3060 to increase its performance. You should keep in mind that this will also increase its power consumption.
How Can I Reduce The RTX 3060s Power Consumption?
You can reduce an RTX 3060s power consumption by going into your power-saving settings and reducing the graphics in games and applications.
Also, with Nvidia cards, they have a built-in power reduction system installed for the graphics card.
