John Chad, Bachelor Degree in Computer Science & Computer Engineering.
Russel Collins
Power supplies are often one of the last things on people’s minds when buying new hardware components to improve their computers. But if it were as easy and straightforward as just plugging in some cables and turning on the PC, then everyone would do that! However, there are many factors that need consideration before purchasing any piece of hardware that affects its performance or lifespan, the PSU being one of them.
A big problem people face today is choosing between higher wattage PSUs versus more efficient ones. In general, most users prefer lower wattage processors simply because they cost less. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the right answer, although not necessarily the wrong answer either. Going with lower voltage power supplies means that your choice of processor & GPU is limited since a lower voltage/wattage PSU may not be able to sustain them at their maximum output while gaming. However, buying a high wattage PSU can be just as bad since you’ll spend a lot more money while having far too much power for what your system requires, as such, in this article we will tell you exactly how much wattage you should be going after for the RTX 3070 so that you save as much money as possible while ensuring that your PSU is high-quality & can sustain your system at its maximum output. We do recommend always getting an 80+ Gold Certified PSU though.
With all of those things considered, we will first tell you our recommended PSU for the RTX 3070 and afterward, we will take a closer look at the importance of getting a decent power supply unit.
Top 3 Best PSU For RTX 3070 & 3070 TI
| EVGA Supernova 650 GT 80+ Gold | 650w |  |
| EVGA 210-GQ-0650-V1 650 GQ, 80+ GOLD | 650w | |
| Corsair RM650x 80+ Gold | 650w | |
The EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3 is the next generation in performance power supplies. This power supply raises the bar with an 80 PLUS Gold efficiency rating, with ultra-quiet and fully modular design. A fully modular design lowers cable clutter and 100% Japanese Capacitors ensures that only the absolute best components are used. Lastly, a high amperage single-rail design is ideal for future high-end component upgrades.
Introducing the next generation in value; The EVGA 600 GQ series. These power supplies take some of the best features from EVGA’s award-winning power supply lineup; like an 80 PLUS, Gold rated efficiency, and modular design, and provide the ultimate value for a great price.
80 PLUS Gold rated, with 90 percent (115VAC) / 92 percent (220VAC240VAC) efficiency or higher under typical loads
Heavy-duty protections, including OVP (Over Voltage Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OCP (Over Current Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection), and OTP (Over Temperature Protection)
100 percent Japanese Capacitors ensure long-term reliability along with a Five-year warranty.
The Corsair RM650x is a fully modular power supply that uses premium materials, technology, and components to deliver 80 PLUS Gold certified energy efficiency, extremely tight voltage regulation, and quiet operation. Great performance is important–but so is reliability. The RM650x is built with components that can outperform and outlast the competition. An ultra-quiet, 140mm fan features a zero RPM mode.
When your PC is lightly loaded, the fan switches off entirely for the absolute minimum noise output. With 100 percent industrial-grade 105°C rated Japanese capacitors and dedicated single +12V rails, it’s guaranteed to deliver clean, stable power when you need it most.
What Is A Power Supply Unit
Although it sounds really fancy, the term ‘Power Supply’ isn’t anything particularly technical. As such, it doesn’t mean much to anyone unless they’ve spent years working in IT tech support roles. When I first started out in my career, I had no experience troubleshooting PC issues. Yet somehow, I still managed to troubleshoot hundreds of issues that came from faulty power sources, including random crashes or computers not turning on.
Simply put, a power supply unit provides electrical power to every major electronic part inside a personal computer. Without it, everything else breaks down.
Nowadays, having a reliable PSU is essential if you want to enjoy smooth gameplay without having your computer power off in the middle of a game because it can’t sustain the GPU & CPU Wattage requirements, not to mention that a low-quality PSU also increases the chance of permanently harming your hardware.
So if you haven’t already, now would be a great time to start researching proper PSUs. And after reading this article, you won’t have to worry about spending extra cash on unnecessary peripherals either.
What’s 80+ Gold PSU?
The reason behind this name stems from the rigorous testing procedure required to earn this certification. Each unit must pass two separate tests in order to receive the coveted gold stamp. First off, it needs to meet strict specifications regarding total harmonic distortion (THD) levels. Then, it has to pass specific load tests that simulate various scenarios, such as running multiple devices simultaneously or overclocking the mainboard. Lastly, the entire unit undergoes a series of stress tests specifically designed to test thermal stability, output regulation capability, ripple current reduction, etc. Only then does it become eligible to carry the aforementioned label.
This means that any PSU with the 80+ Gold label is a very high-quality PSU that actually delivers what is promised in terms of voltage & wattage.
As mentioned earlier, the 80PLUS GOLD logo appears beside the brand name you see on official marketing materials.
How Does The Quality Of My Power Supply Affect My PC?
Now that you understand how important a good power supply unit is, you probably wonder how exactly does the quality affect your PC.
A low-quality PSU is more likely to not be able to handle a powerful CPU & GPU at maximum output such as when gaming, this will likely lead to full system crash / turning off along with many other issues that may arise. It’s also quite common for unknown brands or low-quality power supplies to sometimes malfunction and completely destroy your whole hardware system, so we always recommend not going cheap on the power supply.
Finally, if you plan on doing serious overclocking, you should stick with higher wattage PSUs. High-quality PSUs usually come equipped with solid-state capacitors that provide longer lifespans, whereas low-quality PSUs feature electrolytic caps that degrade quickly. Also, high-quality PSUs typically operate at precise voltages that aren’t easily changed. Whereas, low-quality units are notorious for fluctuating voltages that cause instability.
Additionally, if you’re going to upgrade later, you should invest in a modular design. Modular PSUs consist of replaceable modules that allow owners to swap out aging power bricks for updated replacements. This way, you can change your PSU as frequently as desired.
High-Quality vs Low-Quality PSUs – What’s The Different?
After learning about the advantages and disadvantages associated with both types of PSUs, you can choose whichever suits your preferences best. Here’s a quick summary:
Low-quality PSUs: They’re inexpensive, lightweight, compact, and portable. They mostly come with standard connectors that are compatible with nearly every modern computer case. They lack features that help manage heat and noise, and thus cannot deliver consistent performance across all conditions. Moreover, their ratings are rarely verified by independent agencies, making them difficult to trust.
High-quality PSUs: On the contrary, high-quality PSUs are durable, powerful, hefty, and expensive. They come packed with tons of advanced features that help regulate temperature, reduce noise, and increase longevity. Furthermore, they’re tested extensively to ensure compliance with industry standards. In fact, you can compare them to cars; think Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Tesla Model 3, Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Kia Soul, Subaru BRZ….you get the point.
Recommended Wattage for RTX 3070 & 3070 TI?
According to Nvidia’s website, the recommended minimum requirement for installing a 3070 / 3070 TI GPU is 550W. However, the requirement increases if you plan to overclock, if you also have a powerful CPU, if you are running double monitors and so on, as such we always like to have a bit of lee-way and go for 650W PSU.