GeForce RTX 3060 power consumption and electricity cost
The GeForce RTX 3060 has a rated board power of 170 W. In games it typically draws about 144 W (range 102–170 W) Estimate. Paired with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D and played 3 hours a day, the whole PC costs about €12.71 a month in Germany.
| Rated board power | 170 W |
|---|---|
| Typical gaming draw | 144 W |
| Light to heavy gaming | 102–170 W |
| Idle (desktop) | about 12 W |
| Recommended PSU with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D | 550 W |
| Released | 2021 |
Gaming draw is estimated from the rated board power (60% / 85% / 100% for light, typical and heavy loads). Measured this card with a wall meter? Share it.
Monthly electricity cost by region
Whole PC: GeForce RTX 3060, Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 27″ 1440p monitor, 80 Plus Gold. 3 hours of gaming and 2 hours of other use a day.
| Region | Price per kWh | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | €0.362 | €12.71 | €152 |
| Italy | €0.314 | €11.03 | €132 |
| Spain | €0.251 | €8.81 | €106 |
| France | €0.249 | €8.73 | €105 |
| United Kingdom | £0.263 | £9.24 | £111 |
| Netherlands | €0.244 | €8.57 | €103 |
| Poland | PLN 1.321 | PLN 46.38 | PLN 556 |
| California | $0.298 | $10.45 | $125 |
| Texas | $0.159 | $5.59 | $67.00 |
| New York | $0.287 | $10.06 | $121 |
| Florida | $0.150 | $5.26 | $63.13 |
Power limit and undervolt savings
At 3 hours of gaming a day in Germany. Performance kept is approximate.
| Power limit | Gaming draw | Speed kept | Saved per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90% | 130 W | 98% | €6.34 |
| 80% | 115 W | 96% | €12.68 |
| 70% | 101 W | 93% | €19.02 |
Calculate with your own usage Upgrade payback Undervolt calculator
Similar graphics cards
- Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB 160 W
- Radeon RX 6600 XT 160 W
- Radeon RX 7600 165 W
- Radeon RX 6650 XT 176 W
- GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 180 W
- Radeon RX 7600 XT 190 W
GeForce RTX 3060: common questions
How much power does the GeForce RTX 3060 use?
The GeForce RTX 3060 is rated at 170 W board power. In games it typically draws about 144 W, between roughly 102 W in light games and 170 W under heavy load, and about 12 W at the desktop. These gaming figures are estimates based on the rated board power.
What power supply do I need for the GeForce RTX 3060?
With a Ryzen 7 7800X3D we recommend a 550 W unit: the peak sustained load is about 407 W, plus 20% headroom for short spikes. A processor with a higher power limit may need a larger unit.
How much does it cost to run a GeForce RTX 3060 PC per month?
A whole PC with the GeForce RTX 3060, played 3 hours a day with 2 hours of other use, costs about €12.71 a month in Germany. The table above shows other countries and US states.
Can I lower the GeForce RTX 3060's power use?
Yes. Limiting it to about 80% power typically keeps around 96% of its performance and saves about €12.68 a year at 3 hours a day in Germany.
Tools for the GeForce RTX 3060
- How much does undervolting your GPU save?Pick a power limit and see the money saved per year and the performance you keep.
- Does a new graphics card pay for itself?See how much electricity a more efficient card saves and how long the upgrade takes to pay back.
- What does running AI on your own GPU cost?Electricity cost per million tokens on your graphics card, and how it compares with an API price.
- Your PC is a heater. What is that worth?In winter PC heat replaces some heating. In summer the air conditioning has to remove it.