The RTX 3060 Ti is the mid-range entry to Nvidia’s new graphics card line up for 2021. This GPU uses the Ampere architecture to squeeze impressive performance from its 200 Watt thermal design, making it the most efficient GPU currently available in terms of performance per watt. Nvidia recommends a 600W power supply for this Graphics card, but this is necessarily an upper estimate as it must account for lower quality power supplies and a wide range of system specifications beyond the graphics card itself. Nevertheless, it’s always wise to stick to manufacturer guidelines wherever possible, and by choosing a high-quality power supply you can be assured of a stable system and long service life, as well as other benefits like improved efficiency and lower noise.
Power Supplies were one of the first components to suffer stock shortages in 2020 after the pandemic hit production in China and shipping globally. Many of the most popular power supplies have become harder to find or else are inflated in price. This means we have to consider other options but fear not: there are plenty of capable power supplies out there to get your build up and running. The RTX 3060 Ti is a great GPU option because of the value it offers: If we overspend on a power supply we begin to dilute that value proposition – we’ve kept our recommendations under the $100 price point for that reason with the exception of the small form factor option. So here are our recommendations for the best power supplies to pair with the RTX 3060 Ti, without overspending.
Best PSUs for RTX 3060 Ti – Our Recommendations
| Award | Design | Model |
|---|---|---|
| Best Budget PSU for RTX 3060 Ti |  | Cooler Master MasterWatt 650W Bronze |
| Best Budget Gold Rated PSU for RTX 3060 Ti |  | Antec EarthWatts Gold Pro 650W |
| Best Fully Modular (Gold) PSU for RTX 3060 Ti |  | Cooler Master MWE Gold 650W |
| Best SFX PSU for RTX 3060 Ti |  | Corsair SF600 Gold |
| Best Quiet PSU for RTX 3060 Ti |  | Be Quiet! Pure Power 11 600W Gold |
Best Budget PSU for RTX 3060 Ti
Cooler Master have a good range of affordable power supplies and if you’re maximising your budget this Bronze rated 650W output unit, the MasterWatt 650W Bronze, is a good place to start. At $85 this Power supply is semi-modular, so you can keep cable clutter down and fit only those cables you need in addition to the standard ATX 24pin, EPS 8Pin, and PCIe cables which are fixed to the supply. The 80+ Bronze efficiency rating means it meets 85% average efficiency (higher in 230V regions) so that induces less heat loading onto the supply itself. It’s also semi-fanless so the fan will only spin when it needs to cool the unit, reducing noise at idle. It uses 16AWG PCIe Cables meaning it will have no problem supplying ample current to the RTX 3060 Ti. There’s the full suite of protections in place including over current, over voltage and over temperature, so it will shut down to protect itself and the rest of your components should anything go wrong. Finally, it’s supplied with a 5-year warranty so you can be confident it will last. This PSU is the best budget option to support a build with the RTX 3060 Ti.
Best Budget Gold Rated PSU for RTX 3060 Ti
Antec is a lesser-known brand but this California based company have been in the components industry since 1986. The EarthWatts Gold Pro is a rebranded Seasonic Focus Gold design and as such a highly rated 650W power supply. The semi-modular design allows you to clean up your build minimising cable clutter whilst the compact length – just 140mm – maximises case space and options as well. The fan is of good quality and silent under most conditions, only speeding up when required by high temperatures. This unit has a 7-year warranty. We use this power supply in our bench test rig and it’s proven versatile and reliable throughout so we have no hesitation in recommending it as a great pairing with the RTX 3060 Ti.
Best Fully Modular (Gold) PSU for RTX 3060 Ti
If you want to spend a little more for a fully modular power supply, Cooler Master offer the Cooler Master MWE Gold 650W, stepping up to a fully modular design but staying below the $100 price point. This power supply allows you to fully customise your cabling with cables of any style, colour and length right back to the PSU. Custom cable kits are available from around $60, but you can still use the supplied flat cables if you wish and customise the look later or just want the flexibility of only fitting the exact cables you need. The core of the PSU is sound with the Gold rating meaning it is 90% efficient on average under load. The fan is quiet and high quality and is thermostatically controlled to keep noise to a minimum. It’s a great choice is you want more customisation options without spending more than $100.
Best SFX PSU for RTX 3060 Ti
The RTX 3060 Ti is well suited to a small form factor build owing to the availability of smaller models and its lower power requirements placing less heat load on a smaller case. If you’re looking for an SFX power supply then the choices are limited, and the Corsair SF600 Gold is the best option for an RTX 3060 Ti. This is a fully modular power supply so you can get customised cables, important in an SFF build where space is at a premium. Because it’s a popular model there are plenty of aftermarket custom cables, some even tailored to specific cases to ease the build process. It has zero fan mode for silent operation under light loads, and the full suite of protections and cut-outs for over current, over voltage and the rest. It’s manufactured with high-quality Japanese capacitors and backed up by a seven-year warranty for peace of mind. It has 2 PCIe cables allowing you to power even the most demanding GPUs, although the RTX 3060 Ti will only require one cable to its 8-pin power socket.
Best Quiet PSU for RTX 3060 Ti
If you’re looking for a low noise power supply then take a look at the Be Quiet! Pure Power 11 600W Gold. At $100 this supply offers a strong basic specification with Gold efficiency rating and 600W output. It’s semi-modular in design for a clean and simple build, and flat cables help you route them neatly. For noise suppression, it uses a high quality 120mm BeQuiet! fan with thermostatic control to keep fan speeds low. Combined with the high efficiency meaning less energy is wasted as heat, this ensures ‘near inaudible’ operation. BeQuiet state that below 50% load this PSU emits just 9.4 dB(A) and at full load it’s still under 20dB(A) – that’s equivalent to a whisper, or rustling leaves. It’s German designed and backed with a 5-year warranty for your peace of mind.
Conclusion: Pair the RTX 3060 Ti with any of the above power supplies for a great value combination
With the options above there’s a great value high performance PSU for all requirements. Any of the power supplies recommended here will make a perfect pairing with your new RTX 3060 Ti and ensure years of reliable high performance use.