I'm currently using an RTX 4060 with a Ryzen 5 5600X, 16 GB of 3200 MHz RAM, a TUF B450M motherboard, and a 600 W 80+ Silver power supply. I play at 1440p and the 4060 performs reasonably well, although I need to use DLSS in some games. I'm considering replacing it with a non-Ti RTX 3080 for more raw performance, but I'm concerned about its much higher power consumption. I don't know the exact model of my power supply yet. Would this be a worthwhile upgrade, and would a 600 W PSU be safe enough?
4 Answers
The price matters a lot. A used RTX 3080 could make sense around $250–$350, assuming it’s in good condition. Above that, compare it with newer or more efficient used cards, since the 3080’s power draw and likely need for a new PSU add to the total cost.
There’s nothing wrong with using DLSS. It’s one of the features you paid for, and at 1440p it can provide a good balance of image quality and frame rate. If the 4060 is otherwise meeting your needs, keeping it may be more sensible than buying a much hotter and less efficient card just to avoid upscaling.
Undervolting a 3080 can reduce consumption considerably—for example, targeting around 1,800 MHz at roughly 825 mV may bring it closer to 200 W in many games. That still doesn’t eliminate transient spikes, though, and an undersized or low-quality 600 W PSU could still shut down. Identify the exact PSU model before considering this route.
The RTX 3080 is roughly 60% faster than the RTX 4060, so the performance increase at 1440p would be noticeable. However, it can draw around 320–350 W and has large power spikes, so I’d strongly prefer a quality 750 W PSU rather than relying on an unknown 600 W unit. Check the exact PSU model before making the upgrade.
I’ve seen people run a 3080 on 600 W, but I wasn’t sure whether that was actually safe. The power spikes are what worry me most.