Nvidia’s always been a little unusual with its lower-end graphics cards. Across the range, it has standard cards and then the Titanium range (Ti), which are slightly enhanced versions. In the -70 and -80 cards (2070, 2080, 3070, 3080) the Ti version is released a few months after the original.
But with the lower-end -60 cards (2060 and 3060), the Titanium model launches first, and then a few months later a slightly less powerful version is released at a lower price point, without the Ti branding.
So, the RTX 3060 Ti was produced before the RTX 3060, and became the entry-level graphics card of choice for gamers who wanted high-quality gaming without spending a huge sum. And now that they’re more widely available they’re still a great choice for budget builds or anyone upgrading from an older card.
Read this guide to learn more about the RTX 3060 Ti and its power consumption, so you can make sure you’ve got everything you need to run it properly.
How Many Watts Does An RTX 3060 Ti Use?
An RTX 3060 Ti graphics card will use around 200 watts of power when you’re using it for gaming. As with all graphics cards, even when ‘idle’ they still draw power, though nowhere near as much – around 9 watts for a single-monitor PC setup.
By idle, I don’t mean when the PC is off, but rather when it’s on but you aren’t using the graphics card for anything. The graphics card is needed to either run existing visual content (so watching videos, using streaming apps) or to create visual content when you’re gaming or animating something.
So, if you have your PC on and you’re running two monitors or more, the card will use around 17 watts when idle. Watching video content draws the same level of power, 17 watts. It’s only when gaming that it really gets going and that’s when it needs around 195-200 watts.
It’s rated at a maximum of 200 watts, but that ‘maximum’ is what you can expect from a consistent top power draw. It can exceed the maximum with short power spikes, usually lasting less than a second. RTX 3060 Ti cards have been recorded at 215 watts during a spike (Source).
How Many Watts Does An RTX 3060 Ti Use Per Hour?
The RTX 3060 Ti uses around 200 watt-hours per hour when you’re gaming, which is the same as 0.2 kilowatt-hours per hour. Based on global averages of 8.5 hours of gaming time a week, that works out at 1.7 kilowatt-hours per week.
Of course, that’s just the graphics card. Your processor, motherboard, RAM, storage drives, cooling fans, and any RGB lighting also draw power too, so you need to bear all that in mind if you’re calculating the power draw of your PC.
And don’t forget that the graphics card draws power whenever your PC is on, regardless of whether you’re working on a spreadsheet or playing the latest games. True, it draws a lot less power when idle, but you still need to factor that into your calculations.
Read more: How Many Watts Does A Gaming PC Use?
What Is The Difference Between RTX 3060 And RTX 3060 Ti?
The RTX 3060 Ti is the slightly more powerful version of the RTX 3060 range. It was actually released first, with the RTX 3060 following a couple of months later. The RTX 3060 Ti has 4864 CUDA cores compared to 3584 on the RTX 3060, making it considerably more powerful.
The following table shows how the power draw of the RTX 3060 Ti compares with the power consumption of the RTX 3060.
| Graphics Card | Idle | Idle (multi-monitor) | Streaming video | Gaming | Max-rated | Spikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 | 8 watts | 13 watts | 15 watts | 170-180 watts | 180 watts | 195 watts |
| RTX 3060 Ti | 9 watts | 17 watts | 17 watts | 195-200 watts | 200 watts | 215 watts |
You can see how the two models compare in price here:
What Power Supply Do I Need For An RTX 3060 Ti?
Recommendations for a power supply when running an RTX 3060 Ti vary but some manufacturers suggest a minimum of 600 watts. Depending on your setup that can cut things a little fine if you get a power spike, so 650 watts is the safer choice.
A lot of people don’t realise that you need a bit of extra leeway from your power supply. If you total the power draw of all your components then you might get to somewhere between 450 and 500 watts, and assume that you only need a PSU that beats that.
But for safety, it’s best to choose one with at least 20% headroom above the max consumption of your PC, so that if there are spikes it won’t instantly overload and switch your PC off, or misbehave in other ways.
The Best Power Supply For An RTX 3060 Ti
The best power supply for an RTX 3060 Ti would be a 650-watt option. This will get you ample power for your system, with plenty of leeway for power spikes. There’s no need to go for a more expensive one unless you plan to change your GPU later.
The EVGA Supernova 650 GT is a really solid option for a 650-watt power supply that won’t wreck your budget.
It’s 80+ Gold rated for efficiency, which is pretty good (so you won’t waste a load of power just from running the PSU). It’s fully modular too., so there’s no need to find a hiding spot for cables you aren’t using.
Read more: Power Supply Ratings Explained
What RTX 3060 Ti Power Cable Do I Need?
The power connector you’ll need for your RTX 3060 Ti depends entirely on which model you get. Some of them come with a single 8-pin connector while others have two of them. There are also some that come with Nvidia’s newer 12-pin connector.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a 12-pin cable on your PSU, as these will come with a 12 to 8 pin adapter in the box. Just plug the adapter into the graphics card, and then plug the cable into the other end.
RTX 3060 Ti Power FAQs
A 500-watt power supply is probably not enough for an RTX 3060 Ti unless the rest of your PC is a real budget build. The minimum recommended wattage from manufacturers is 600, so with a 500 watt PSU, you risk overloading it, which will cause your PC problems.
Nvidia recommends a power supply of at least 600 watts to run an RTX 3060 Ti so a 650-watt PSU will be sufficient to ensure that your PC functions as it should.
Nvidia recommends a power supply with a minimum wattage of 600 watts to run an RTX 3060 Ti. A 700-watt power supply unit will be more than enough for what you need and is a good choice.
A 750-watt power supply is ample for a system running an RTX 3060 Ti graphics card. Even with a high-end processor, you shouldn’t have any problems with power spikes if you choose a power supply that can provide this level of wattage.
You can use an RTX 3060 Ti graphics card if you want to try crypto mining. It’s best to stick to Ethereum mining if you’re using a PC with a single graphics card. Make sure you monitor that your mining is profitable against the power you’re using.