Touted as the RTX 2080 Ti killer, the RTX 3070 was released alongside the RTX 3060 Ti to become the premiere mid-range GPU of the Ampere generation. This is reflected directly in its power consumption, which has about the same value for much better rasterization performance. Because it is a mid-range product, it was not given the special 12-pin connector treatment.
Because of its theoretical MSRP and power efficiency, it was hailed as the GPU that effectively replaced the entire last generation. It could not even be directly compared to the RTX 2070, as it is leaps and bounds ahead in every single way.
How Many Watts Does an RTX 3070 Use?
The RTX 3070 power consumption averages around 220 watts with momentary transient spikes upwards of 250 watts. This is a very excellent power draw level for a modern GPU, as it easily caters to all standard graphics workload requirements without the need to invest in a very expensive PSU. It also manages to keep the same consumption without huge spikes, which is quite impressive.
There seems to be no significant power consumption variance when comparing the founder’s addition to other AiB models, all of which also stay more or less at the 220-250 watt range during gaming. When overlocking, most models will provide at least 350 watts as a base upper power limit for the RTX 3070.
How Many Watts Does an RTX 3070 Use Per Hour?
When time is taken into consideration, the RTX 3070 will typically consume about 0.25 kilowatt-hours per hour. As such, playing modern triple-A games using this GPU for at least two hours every single day will have a total value of 3.5-kilowatt hours per week (does not include regular browsing use).
RTX 3070 Power Supply Requirements
Nvidia requires RTX 3070 users to have a 650-watt power supply. This value is averaged across potential multiple PSU models with differing qualities and provides enough headroom to pair it with a CPU with potentially the same power draw. Moderate overclocking is also taken into consideration in this official estimate.
AiB partner model users are recommended to aim slightly higher. As a mid-range GPU, there is always the possibility of upgrades for the next few generations. Having a higher-wattage, higher-tier PSU means that you can upgrade without replacing the unit, and still be covered by its long warranty.
Recommended RTX 3070 Graphics Card
Gigabyte Gaming OC RTX 3070 (Rev 2.0)
We recommended the Gigabyte Gaming OC RTX 3070 (Rev 2.0). It is one of the most widely available RTX 3070 that performs great at 1440p gaming with its 1815 MHz clock and 8 GB of memory yet still has a relatively reasonable price point when compared to other 3070s.
Additionally, the Gaming OC variants are usually only a step up in quality when compared to Eagle variants. But the RTX 3070 is much easier to cool, and this model is generally still configured with better-integrated fin stacks so it cools quite more efficiently.
Recommended Power Supply for RTX 3070
Corsair RM750x
Our PSU recommendation for the RTX 3070 is the Corsair RM750x. It is quite a bit more on the fancier side, but this Gold 80 Plus efficiency fully modular PSU guarantees stable performance for any enthusiast tweaks for your RTX 3070. It’s also supported by a 10-year warranty and is categorized as an A-tier unit.
As part of the RMX series, it also features the same reliable efficiency features, such as its quiet and robust cooling fans, up-to-bottom port layout, and industrial-grade components. It also has its modern Standby mode for maintained efficiency at low loads.
RTX 3070 Power Connector
RTX 3070 will feature either one or two 8-pin PCI connectors, depending on the intended enthusiast overclocking headroom that specific model will have. Make sure to double-check each model before purchase. Even the Founders Edition model does not have the 12-pin connector the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 have.
