You might not know it, but your computer is filled with components that demand power. Without the right amount of juice, these components can fail to function correctly or even fail completely. To keep your computer from breaking down and to increase its lifespan, you need to make sure you have a solid power supply for your RTX 3070. If you’re reading this, you probably already have an idea of what a power supply does and why it’s important in a computer. But you may not know exactly which one you need for your new RTX 3070. Luckily, we have all the information you need about choosing the best power supply for your system so that it lasts as long as possible. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about picking out a new PSU if you don’t already have one.
What Power Supply Do I Need For My RTX 3070?
The RTX 3070 requires a minimum of a 650W power supply. However, if you are planning on overclocking your graphics card or using multiple high-end graphics cards in SLI, you will need a power supply that is capable of delivering more power.
What Does A Power Supply Do?
A power supply is a device that provides the power necessary to operate the computer’s different components. It is one of three main components of a computer system (the other two are the motherboard and the CPU). There are two main types of power supply: ATX and BTX. While ATX is the most commonly used type of power supply, BTX is not as common. The computer power supply converts AC power from the wall outlet into DC power that is usable by the computer. It is one of the most important components in a computer system since it is responsible for providing the power necessary to operate all the other components of the computer.
How To Choose The Right PSU?
- Get a Power Supply with a Higher Wattage Rating
The RTX 3070 requires a minimum of a 650W power supply. However, if you are planning on overclocking your graphics card or using multiple high-end graphics cards in SLI, you will need a power supply that is capable of delivering more power.
- Check the Number of PCIe Connectors
The RTX 3070 needs at least 1 PCIe power connector in order to operate. However, if you are planning on installing multiple graphics cards or other components that require power, you will need to get a power supply with more PCIe connectors.
- Get a Power Supply with Enough Wattage
The RTX 3070 requires a minimum of a 650W power supply. However, if you are planning on overclocking your graphics card or using multiple high-end graphics cards in SLI, you will need a power supply that is capable of delivering more power.
- Check the Number of SATA Connectors
The RTX 3070 does not require any SATA connectors for operation. However, these connectors are used for connecting storage devices such as hard drives and SSDs to the motherboard so that they can be used by the operating system and installed programs. You should get a power supply with enough SATA connections so that you have plenty available for future storage expansion needs.
- Check its Efficiency Rating
When choosing your new RTX 3070’s PSU, be sure to check its efficiency rating (the percentage of AC power converted into DC). The higher this rating is, the less electricity is wasted and the more efficient it is considered to be at converting AC into DC electricity. A higher efficiency rating means lower energy bills and a longer component lifespan since less waste heat will be produced by your PSU when it’s being used by your computer system.
What To Look For In A Computer PSU
- Wattage
The wattage rating of your PSU will determine how much power it can deliver to your computer’s components, as well as how much power you can draw from the wall outlet. The higher the wattage rating, the more power you can draw. If you are planning on overclocking your graphics card or using multiple high-end graphics cards in SLI, you should get a power supply with at least 1,000W of power or more.
- Number of PCIe Connectors
The number of PCIe connectors that your PSU has will determine how many graphics cards or other components that require a PCIe power connector it can support. If you are planning on installing multiple graphics cards and other components that require a PCIe connector, you should get a PSU with at least 8 PCIe connectors.
- Number of SATA Connectors
The number of SATA connectors that your PSU has will determine how many storage devices such as hard drives and SSDs it can support for connection to the motherboard so they can be used by the operating system and installed programs. You should get a PSU with enough SATA connections so that there are plenty available for future storage expansion needs.
- Efficiency Rating
When choosing your new PSU, be sure to check its efficiency rating (the percentage of AC power converted into DC). The higher this rating is, the less electricity is wasted and the more efficient it is considered to be at converting AC into DC electricity. A higher efficiency rating means lower energy bills and a longer component lifespan since less waste heat will be produced by your PSU when it’s being used by your computer system.
- Fan Size
The size of the fan that comes with your power supply will determine how much air can move through it and thus how much heat can be removed from its internal components before they overheat and fail. If you are planning on overclocking your graphics card or using multiple high-end graphics cards in SLI, you should get a PSU that has a large fan so that it can remove more heat from inside itself before its internal components overheat and fail.
The Best Plus For The RTX 3070
- EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2
The best PSU for the RTX 3070 will be one that has a high-efficiency rating, a high wattage rating, and plenty of PCIe connectors, SATA connectors, and fan size. The EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 meets all of these requirements and can be purchased here:
- SeaSonic S12G 550W
The SeaSonic S12G 550W meets all of the requirements listed above as well (can be purchased here) and is an excellent alternative to the EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2.
- Corsair CX Series CX550M
The Corsair CX Series CX550M also meets all of the above requirements (can be purchased here) and is another excellent alternative to the EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 or SeaSonic S12G 550W if you want something with a little lower wattage but still excellent performance.
- EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G3
The EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G3 is a reasonably priced PSU that still meets all of the requirements set forth above (can be purchased here).
- SeaSonic S12G 450W
The SeaSonic S12G 450W is a reasonably priced PSU that still meets all of the requirements set forth above (can be purchased here).
- Corsair CX Series CX450M
The Corsair CX Series CX450M is a reasonably priced PSU that still meets all of the requirements set forth above (can be purchased here).
The Differences Between Atx And Btx Power Supplies
- Size
The most obvious difference between ATX and BTX power supplies is the size. ATX power supplies are significantly larger than BTX power supplies. This is because an ATX power supply must be able to fit inside of a standard-sized computer case whereas a BTX power supply does not need to fit inside of anything because it uses a different form factor.
- Connectors
The other main difference between ATX and BTX power supplies is the connectors they use. The most significant difference is that an ATX power supply has one 20-pin main connector while a BTX power supply has two 8-pin main connectors (see image above). The reason for this is that an ATX PSU needs to be able to connect to all of the motherboard components of your computer system whereas a BTX PSU only needs to connect to your motherboard’s CPU, memory, and PCI Express slots (the CPU and memory are typically directly integrated into the motherboard, thus eliminating the need for them to connect through cables).
- Wattage Rating
Both ATX and BTX PSUs have wattage ratings but they are not always similar. An example would be that a PSU with an 80 Plus Gold certification could have different wattage ratings depending on whether or not it was designed for use with an ATX or BTX form factor.
FAQs:
Q: What is the difference between the CX and G3 series?
A: The main differences are that the CX series has a single +12V rail and a semi-modular cabling system. The G3 series has multiple +12V rails and a non-modular cabling system.
Q: What does 80 Plus certification mean?
A: 80 Plus certification is a voluntary standard for PSU manufacturers to follow so that consumers can easily compare different power supplies based on their efficiency. An 80 Plus certified power supply will be at least 80% efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% load, respectively. In addition, an 80 Plus certified power supply must also be at least 87% efficient at 10% load, 90% efficient at 20% load, and 82% efficient at 50% load. Lastly, an 80 Plus certified PSU must have an efficiency of greater than 94%, 85%, 82%, or 75%, respectively, when operating with 115VAC input voltage, 120VAC input voltage, 230VAC input voltage, or 240VAC input voltage. For more information about 80 Plus certification visit this link
Q: How much wattage do I need?
A: This depends on how many components you plan to use inside of your computer case and how powerful they are relative to one another (in other words if you have 2 high-end video cards then you will probably need more wattage than if you have 1 high-end video card and a more modestly powered CPU and motherboard).
