GPU Power Consumption and Running Cost

34 graphics cards across 5 generations, using the manufacturers' own power figures. Total Graphics Power is a limit rather than an average, so every cost here applies a 85% load factor and counts idle hours separately — the honest version of the sum, not the scary one.

Thirstiest cards

Graphics cards with the highest power draw
Card	TGP	System draw	Suggested PSU	Per year
GeForce RTX 5090	575 W	609 W	1000 W	$202
GeForce RTX 4090	450 W	502 W	850 W	$172
GeForce RTX 3090 Ti	450 W	502 W	850 W	$172
GeForce RTX 5080	360 W	426 W	850 W	$151
Radeon RX 7900 XTX	355 W	422 W	800 W	$149
GeForce RTX 3090	350 W	418 W	750 W	$148

Leanest cards

Graphics cards with the lowest power draw
Card	TGP	System draw	Suggested PSU	Per year
GeForce RTX 4060	115 W	218 W	550 W	$92
GeForce RTX 3050	130 W	230 W	550 W	$95
GeForce RTX 5050	130 W	230 W	550 W	$95
GeForce RTX 5060	145 W	243 W	550 W	$99
Radeon RX 9060 XT	160 W	256 W	550 W	$102
Radeon RX 7600	165 W	260 W	550 W	$104

Annual cost for the whole machine at the 19.42-cent national average, 4 h gaming and 6 h idle a day.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a graphics card add to my electricity bill?

Less than the wattage on the box suggests, and more than most people assume once idle hours are counted. At the US average of 19.42 cents per kWh with 4 hours of gaming a day, a whole gaming PC costs roughly $92 to $202 a year depending on the card — and the card itself is only part of that.

Is Total Graphics Power the same as actual power draw?

No, and treating it as such is the commonest mistake in these calculations. TGP is a limit. A real game at a real frame rate sits below it, which is why every figure here applies a 85% load factor by default and lets you change it. Cap your frame rate and the draw falls further.

Why does the recommended power supply exceed the card wattage by so much?

Because the card is not alone in the case, and because modern GPUs draw brief transient spikes well above their rated limit. A mainstream CPU, board, drives and fans add roughly 120 W under load, and the vendor recommendation leaves headroom on top of that.

Does the state I live in really matter?

More than the card does, at the margins. The same RTX 5090 costs $137 a year in Nevada and $549 in Hawaii — a 4.0 times difference for identical use, which is a wider gap than between many cards.

Power figures: nvidia.com GeForce specifications (Total Graphics Power); AMD published Typical Board Power at launch. Electricity: EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, residential, June 2026.

Estimates for informational purposes only. Total Graphics Power is a power limit, not an average: real draw depends on the game, resolution, frame cap, board partner design and any factory overclock. Electricity prices are state residential averages and your tariff will differ.