RTX 4070 Power Consumption: How Much Power Does The RTX 4070 Use?
Last updated on October 16th, 2023 at 04:25 pm
Thinking about purchasing an RTX 4070 might be a concern, especially if you are upgrading an older computer build.
One of the most important things to consider when purchasing a new graphics card is its power consumption and whether or not the rest of your system can handle it.
Especially if you want to use a powerful GPU like the RTX 4070.
So, how much power does the RTX 4070 use, and how does it match up against other GPUs?
These are some of the questions we will answer next.
How Many Watts Does The RTX 4070 Use?
The Nvidia RTX 4070 has a power draw of 200 watts. However, although unlikely, you should expect power spikes that exceed its advertised power draw. When idle you can also expect to see the RTX 4070 to consume around 12 watts of power.
When looking at the power draw of any GPU, the manufacturer provides a TGP or TDP of the base power and wattage that the GPU will use.
- TGP means (Total Graphics Power)
- TDP means (Thermal Design Power)
These can be used interchangeably as they mean the same thing when talking about graphics cards!
However, you should know that every GPU is different, and each one will have its own individual wattage, that’s why it’s good to look not only at the TGP of that specific model but also at the average power draw of the GPUs in certain tasks.
We will look at:
- Idle Power Consumption
- Multi-monitor power consumption
- Media Playback
- Gaming wattage
- Peak Maximum Wattage
| GPU | TGP/TDP | Watts Used When Gaming | Watts Used When Idle | Multi-Monitor Usage | Media Playback Wattage | Transient Power Spikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4070 | 200 Watts | 200 Watts | 12 Watts | 20 Watts | 20 Watts | 235 Watts |
The idle power consumption of the RTX 4070 will be around 12 Watts. This is the lowest your GPU will run at when it is on, but no tasks are being performed.
You should also note that the idle power draw increases when you connect a second monitor, increasing the power consumption to around 20 watts.
Another thing to consider with this GPU is the amount of power it uses for media playback. When you are watching things such as YouTube, Netflix, HULU, etc. You should expect your GPU to produce around 20 watts of power.
Looking back up at the table you can see that the average wattage used when gaming is the same amount as the TGP. This is honestly the most important thing to consider because I am guessing that most people looking to use a graphics card like this are probably going to use it for gaming.
Although 200 watts isn’t a massive number, when you factor in the power consumption of the other components in your computer build, it can add up.
The most important thing you have to consider is the transient power spikes produced by your graphics card. Transient power spikes occur when the power inside of your GPU spikes to higher-than-normal levels for a couple of seconds.
If this factor isn’t considered when purchasing a power supply, it can not only cause problems with your GPU but also with other hardware components inside of your PC.
After running some tests, we found that the RTX 4070 only spikes to around 235 watts, (which is fairly low for a power spike.) However, depending on the situation transient power spikes can peak at higher wattages as well.
RTX 4070 Power Consumption Compared to Other GPUs
The GPU power consumption is compared using TGP. It is essential 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 4070.
| GPU | TGP/TDP | Average Power Consumption When Gaming | Idle Power Consumption | Multi-Monitor Usage | Media Playback | Transient Power Spike |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RX 6900 XT | 300 Watts | 300 Watts | 20 Watts | 40 Watts | 48 Watts | 325 Watts |
| RX 6950 XT | 335 Watts | 335 Watts | 7 Watts | 48 Watts | 50 Watts | 445 Watts |
| RTX 4070 | 200 Watts | 200 Watts | 12 Watts | 22 Watts | 20 Watts | 235 Watts |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 285 Watts | 226 Watts | 12 Watts | 22 Watts | 20 Watts | 510 Watts |
| RTX 4080 | 320 Watts | 251 Watts | 13 Watts | 25 Watts | 21 Watts | 490 Watts |
The GPUs I am using in this comparison are other GPUs that have the same or similar performance to the RTX 4070.
By doing it this way you will get a better idea of how much power draw you should get with a GPU in this performance range.
When comparing the RTX 4070 to other GPUs, you can see that it is very power efficient in its performance range.
Comparing Nvidias RTX 4070 to AMDs RX 6950 XT, and 6900 XT, there is over a 100-watt difference which is a lot considering these GPUs produce very similar performance to each other.
There is an even more significant change when we compare the 4070 to its Ti version, the RTX 4070 Ti.
An 85-watt difference between the normal 4070 and the Ti version which is slightly better so it makes sense that it has a higher power consumption. However, when it comes to power consumption 85 watts is a lot.
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.
Power Supply Recommendations For The RTX 4070
EVGA 220-G5-0650-X1 Super Nova
Nvidia recommends a 650-watt power supply for the RTX 4070. You want to always make sure you purchase a power supply that will have a slightly higher wattage than your whole PC needs not just your GPU alone.
For this reason, I would recommend buying EVGA 220-G5-0650-X1 Super Nova 650 G5, 80 Plus Gold 650W.
The reason why I recommended this PSU from EVGA is because EVGA is a very reliable company when it comes to power supply units.
And having a reliable PSU is very important. Yes, you can cheap out and purchase from a third-party company, but you need to be careful when doing so because if your PSU gets damaged other parts of your computer can get damaged as well.
Another reason is that this PSU is 80 Plus Gold Certified, which will save you money on your electricity bill, and it is fully modular.
EVGA 700 GD
Although a 650-watt PSU would typically be enough power. If you are using a higher-end CPU such as a Ryzen 9 or Core i9 processor, then you will also have to keep in mind that these CPUs have a higher power consumption as well.
The EVGA 700 GD is a higher-end reliable power supply unit, that allows you to have a premium PSU at a very fair price.
Why is Your Power Supply So Important?
The reason why your power supply is so important is because it is what powers your whole system. Without the PSU your computer wouldn’t be able to function.
This is also why it is very important to pick a reliable PSU that won’t break down. If something happens with your electricity it can spike all the hardware in your computer. When you are using a reliable power supply, it will protect the rest of your PC from being short-circuited.
If you don’t believe me let me just tell you a story of something that happened to me.
When I built my first PC, I didn’t see the importance of needing to buy a super reliable PSU, so I purchased the cheapest one I could find.
How did this end up?
Not too good…
The power supply broke and I was left with a computer that didn’t function for 6 months. I am just glad the PSU didn’t break any other components in my system.
When looking for a reliable power supply you should always look at the rating and the brand you are buying from. Here is an article that explains how power supply ratings work.
FAQ Section: RTX 4070 Power Consumption
What is the primary concern when upgrading to an RTX 4070?
One of the main concerns is the power consumption of the RTX 4070 and ensuring that your system can support it.
Are TGP and TDP the same for graphics cards?
Yes, TGP (Total Graphics Power) and TDP (Thermal Design Power) can be used interchangeably when discussing graphics cards.
Does the RTX 4070’s power consumption change based on the task it’s performing?
Yes, the power consumption varies depending on whether the GPU is idle, being used for gaming, media playback, or other tasks.
How does the RTX 4070’s power efficiency compare to other GPUs in its range?
The RTX 4070 is quite power-efficient when compared to GPUs with similar performance, such as the RX 6950 XT and 6900 XT.
Why is it essential to choose a reliable power supply unit (PSU)?
A reliable PSU ensures that your entire system is powered correctly and protects your components from potential electrical spikes or failures.
Is the manufacturer’s recommended PSU wattage always sufficient for the RTX 4070?
While Nvidia recommends a 650-watt PSU for the RTX 4070, it’s essential to consider the power consumption of other components in your build, especially if you have a high-end CPU.
