We take a closer look at today’s market to try and find the best PSU pairing for the latest RTX 30-series GPUs
Updated: Dec 9, 2022 4:28 pm
The RTX 30-series smashed onto the scene with a huge bang, unlocking new levels of gaming performance that were previously unheard of at this specific price range. The Ampere GPU lineup consists of three GPUs as of now; the RTX 3070, 3080, and 3090. However, that number will likely increase over the coming months as Nvidia work on a number of additional SKUs that will be unveiled sometime next year.
Whilst the main question on everyone’s mind is, where can I actually buy a 30-series GPU? Many additional questions are being raised in regard to build components and compatibility. One of the most common questions being asked is whether or not consumers will need to buy a new PSU for the RTX 30-series.
In the following article, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the best PSUs available for the RTX 30-series GPU range. Alongside this, we’ll be answering some of the most commonly asked questions when regarding PSUs and the new GPU lineup, including whether or not you actually have to upgrade your existing power supply.
So, with plenty to get through, let’s waste no further time and dive straight into it!
Our Top Picks
01
Best All-Round PSU For RTX 30-series
Corsair RM750x
02
A Great PSU That Offers Quality And Efficiency
be quiet! Straight Power 11 Platinum 750W
03
A Great Pairing For Any RTX 3070
EVGA SuperNOVA 650 GA 80+ GOLD Certified
How We Choose
Choosing the right components for our best of guides, whether it’s a high-end gaming monitor or the latest budget headset, is never an easy task.
It requires hours of product research, performance benchmarking, and user feedback to get anywhere close to a definitive conclusion. If you aren’t tech-savvy and struggle to put time aside to go through the above requirements, you may end up purchasing a GPU that isn’t right for you or your build.
Fear not though, friends! Here at WePC, we like to take the stress of product research away and transform it into an easy-to-follow, complete buyers guide. That’s right, our team of PC enthusiasts has done all the hard work, so you don’t have to.
How We Test
Testing the products we recommend is a huge part of the overall selection process in our best of guides. It’s a way to make sure what we recommend is the absolute best option in its specific category. To be sure a product is “the best,” it must show excellent performance in our tests and display better qualities over the competition it faces.
Most of the products we recommend here at WePC have gone through a strict testing process that involves everything from price and aesthetics to performance and efficiency. Each product is pushed to the limit to see how it performs under intense stress to make sure it warrants the top spot.
Doing this enables us to provide you with the most accurate review of how the product performs and, ultimately, decide whether it’s worth your hard-earned cash.
Things To Consider
Choosing the best PSU for your RTX 30-series GPU can be a strenuous process, usually littered with a ton of secondary considerations. For that reason, we’re going to be taking a closer look at some of the contributing factors that you may need to consider before purchasing a new PSU.
RTX 30-series Power Consumption
One of the big differences that separate the 20-series from the 30-series is the amount of power the two generations of cards consume. Looking at the RTX 2080 Ti, when it first arrived on shelves people were worried they’d have to upgrade their PSU thanks to the 260W power consumption it needed when under load. Compare that to the 320W consumption the RTX 3080 needs and the same questions start to crop up.
Nvidia has since come out and said that a 650W PSU will be more than enough power to accommodate the RTX 3080 and the rest of your components. That said, for the sake of the power efficiency curve, we’ll be recommending slightly higher. This will not only allow you to comfortably make hardware changes in the future but will also give you the peace of mind to overclock this GPU to its maximum potential.
Below, we’ve outlined our recommended PSU wattage for the entire RTX 30-series range:
| Power Consumption | Recommended Wattage | |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3070 | 220W | 650W |
| RTX 3080 | 320W | 750W |
| RTX 3090 | 350W | 750W |
12 Pin Power Connector
The Nvidia Founders Edition RTX 3080 and 3090 have both adopted a new 12 pin PCI-e power connector design. The new connector is only found on the Founders Edition cards but will require a specific adapter cable to be used. The reason Nvidia has used a new 12 pin power connector design is down to the cooling. The truncated circuit board used on the RTX 3080 and 3090 allows the cooling solution to extend further and air to blow right through them.
This compact design doesn’t offer the space required to utilize a standard PCI-e power connector, meaning Nvidia had to come up with something completely new. The new 12 pin power connector will be situated in the middle of the card and won’t require any additional purchases. Nvidia will be shipping the Founder Edition cards with the adapter included.
PSU Efficiency
Efficiency rating is extremely important when purchasing a PSU, even more so if you value the contents of your household. Whilst it’s unlikely that a less efficient PSU will randomly combust, there are obvious cons to purchasing the budget-oriented options.
A PSU’s efficiency doesn’t just end at stability, it also looks at power consumption/transfer and heat generated. Below is a chart to showcase the difference between each efficiency rating:
Modularity
Lastly, we have a PSU’s modularity. Modularity is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin, it looks how versatile a PSU’s cabling is. Modular PSUs allow the users to attach only the power cables they’re actually using. In contrast, a non-modular PSU comes with a heap of cables that can become messy and a pain to manage. Unlike a modular PSU, the non-modular cables can not be removed at all.
Whilst modularity isn’t the defining factor in your new PSU upgrade, it’s definitely something that must be considered when choosing your next PSU. Remember though, it will add a premium to the cost of your PSU.
Related PSU Guides
If you still haven’t decided which PSU is right for you, why not check out our related PSU guides below:
