RTX 3080 Power Consumption: How Much Power Does The RTX 3080 Use?
Last updated on March 19th, 2023 at 09:28 pm
If you happen to have an RTX 3080, or are planning on getting your hands on one, then you are going to have a very high-performance high power consumption system.
One thing to keep in mind with a really powerful GPU is that they will consume a lot more power than a less powerful one.
This is very important to keep in mind when building a PC because you will also need high-quality cooling and power output.
So, I have made this power consumption guide to help you build a computer with the power requirements without the risk of damaging your system.
How Many Watts Does an RTX 3080 Use?`
The RTX 3080 has a TGP or Total Graphics Power of 320-350 Watts, which is the typical wattage it produces. When gaming you should also hit around 320 Watts. However, when idle the GPU should only produce around 10 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 3080 graphics card will produce around 20 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 3080 is around 370-380 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 3080 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 3080.
| GPU | TGP |
| RTX 3070 Ti | 290 Watts |
| RTX 3080 | 320-350 Watts |
| RTX 3080 Ti | 350 Watts |
As you can see from this table the RTX 3080 is a pretty power-hungry 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 3080?
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 3080 with a TGP of 335 W which is an average of 320-350 W, 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 850 Watts, that way you won’t risk damaging your system even at max power.
If you are unable to get your hands on a 850 watt power supply, it is still possible to get by on a 750 watt one, but you risk damaging your system if your power spikes.
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 3080 FAQ
Can The RTX 3080 Run Games at 1440p With a 144 GHz Monitor?
The RTX 3080 can easily run games at 1440p with a 144 GHz monitor. This GPU actually has the power to run games at an even higher FPS than a 144 GHz monitor can handle, and you can use this graphics card with multiple monitors just fine.
Depending on what games you play at 1440p you can see FPS as high as 300 or even 400FPS.
How Many Monitors Can The RTX 3080 GPU Support?
The recommended amount of monitors that a 3080 can support is around 4 monitors. However, this also depends on the type of monitor you are using, what tasks you are using your computer for, and how much performance you would like to get out of your PC.
If you are using monitors that support over 200GHz and run at 4k, then you will see less of a performance increase than using a monitor of less quality and GHz, but either way a 3080 will run just fine.
Is a 650 Watt PSU Enough to Support an RTX 3080 Graphics Card?
Yes, it is possible to use a 650 watt power supply with an RTX 3080, however this is cutting it close.
You should opt for a PSU that is at least 750 watts or more.
Can An RTX 3080 Run Games at 4k and 144FPS?
Yes, the 3080 GPU will have no problem running any game at 4k, and will easily hit 144FPS.
Afterall this is a very powerful graphics card you are dealing with.
What Is The Average Power Consumption of an RTX 3080 Graphics Card?
The average power consumption of a Geforce RTX 3080 is around 320-350 watts, meaning the average TGP is 335 watts.
This is pretty high compared to other graphics cards, but the reason why it’s so high is because it is a very powerful GPU.
Does The Power Consumption of an RTX 3080 Change When it is Overclocked?
Yes, the RTX 3080s power consumption will change when you overclock it. The reason is because you are actually boosting the power output as well as the performance passed the recommended amount,.
You will see an increase of performance, but it will also consume a lot more power and produce a lot more heat. This is why it is important to monitor your systems power output, and heat when overclocking that way you do not damage your system.
