I recently upgraded my PC with an i3-10320 processor and a 3060 Ti graphics card. I calculated my power needs using a PSU calculator and it suggested a peak usage of 480W with my CPU, GPU, two SATA SSDs, and two case fans. Since this is very close to the PSU's limit, I'm wondering if I can save around £70 by sticking with my current 500W PSU instead of upgrading to a 650W unit. Will the 500W be sufficient if I use DLSS and under-volt slightly, or should I definitely look into a bigger PSU?
4 Answers
You should be fine with a 500W PSU for your 3060 Ti. Typically, it draws under 200W at most, so you have a bit of headroom for your other components too.
Absolutely, 500W should cover you. The Founders Edition of the RTX 3060 Ti peaks around 200W under stress tests, so with the rest of your setup, you shouldn't hit 300W total. What's the exact model of your 3060 Ti?
Both your CPU and GPU are relatively low power, so a 500W supply should suffice. If you start experiencing unexpected shutdowns during gameplay, then it might be worth looking into a PSU upgrade due to potential over current protection issues.
Those PSU calculators tend to overestimate. The 3060 Ti is a 200W card, and your CPU is around 65W max. Other components won't pull more than 50-75W in total. Unless you’re maxing everything out—which is unlikely—you should be good with 500W.
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