We rated, reviewed, & compared 15 of the best power supplies across various budgets. These top gaming PSUs are perfect for gamers who are looking to build a new gaming PC.
One component that often gets overlooked during the component-choosing process is the power supply. However, without a power supply there is no way that your computer can even run. And, your power supply is also important because the quality of the PSU you choose now will dictate what other components you can put into your computer right now and down the road.
If you choose a low-end power supply you won’t be able to a high-end graphics card into your system.
So, even though your gaming power supply won’t give you a higher framerate or allow you to play on a 1440p monitor, it’s still a very important component. Therefore, you need to take your time in order to make sure that you choose a high-quality gaming computer power supply.
In this post, we will take a look at the best gaming power supplies for 2022. I’ve broken down the categories into wattage mainly because there are a ton of different PSU tier lists out there and I feel like it would be easier for builders to search by the wattage they need. So, there are four different categories: the best power supplies over 1000W, the best power supplies between 800W-1000W, the best power supplies between 600W-800W, and the best power supplies between 400W-600W.
There are multiple options for each wattage range, but know that this list doesn’t include every quality power supply out there. Some have been omitted, not because they aren’t quality units, but rather in order to keep this list from getting out of control. I will continue to update this list on a regular basis to ensure that choosing a power supply is easy as possible.
Table of Contents
1. Quick-Look: The Best Power Supplies
2. 6 Questions to Ask Before Buying A PSU
3. Extreme 1000W+ Power Supplies
A Quick Look at the Best Power Supplies for Gaming
If you want to skip all of the detailed overviews and just find a power supply that will work for you, the four power supplies below are our picks for the best options for various scenarios. We’ve picked the best PSU for extreme users, the best unit for users who are building a high-end computer, the best power supply for those who are looking for an option that offers excellent value for the performance it offers, and the best option for anyone who needs an affordable power supply that is good enough to run a single GPU setup with no problems.
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NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
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EXTREME
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EVGA SN 1600 T2 |
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/10 | |
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HIGH-END
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EVGA SN 850 T2 |
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/10 | |
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VALUE
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Seasonic FOCUS 750 |
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/10 | |
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BUDGET
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EVGA BR 600 |
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/10 |
*If you want to read our full overviews on our top picks, just click the “Read Review »” button. You can also keep scrolling down to find more options based on your specific budget.
FAQ: Questions to Ask Before You Buy A Power Supply
Below, we’ve put together a list of four important questions to ask before your purchase a power supply. The answers to these questions will give you a better understanding of how to differentiate between the various power supplies that are available on the market.
1. How Many Watts Do I Need for My Gaming PC? One of the biggest areas where first-time builders get confused is on how many watts they need for the PC they are building. In the most simplest of terms, a typical single graphics card gaming PC will require anywhere from a 400W to a 650W power supply in order to run. However, the exact wattage range of power supplies you should be looking at will be determined by the kind of components you will put into your system. And, the main component that will draw the most power (and, thus, determine how big of a power supply you will need) is your graphics card. The bigger the graphics card you get, the higher the power capacity you will need from your power supply. But it’s also important to note that a power supply’s wattage rating isn’t always a good determining factor on whether or not it will work for you. Many low-quality brands put out “800W” power supplies by bending the rules of testing their units, when in reality, their power supply might really be what other companies are calling a 500W power supply. So, it’s important that you not only look for a power supply that will provide enough power to your components, but also one that is a quality unit that displays an accurate wattage rating. Fortunately, in the guide below, we’ve given you a bunch of different options at various wattage capacities that you can choose between. This will allow you to rest assured that you aren’t choosing a cheap low-quality power supply that is marketed as a high-end unit.
2. What is the +12V Rail? The +12V rail on a power supply is, in a lot of ways, a much better indicator of what kind of system that power supply can handle. This is because the +12V rail on a power supply is responsible for delivering power to your two most power-hungry components (as well as other components): your GPU and CPU. So, one way to tell if a power supply is a cheap unit is to compare its +12V rating to other power supplies in the same price range. For instance, if an 850W power supply from an unknown manufacturer has a +12V rail of 28A, and you see that other 850W power supplies have over 60A on their +12V rail, then it’s safe to say that the unit from the unknown manufacturer is lying about the true capacity of their power supply. The +12V rail rating of the PSU you are looking at is also a better way to determine what graphics cards it can support, rather than relying simply on wattage. Most graphics card manufacturers put out minimum power supply recommendations that are actually higher than what the graphics card will draw. And, they likely do this because there are a lot of power supplies out there that list higher wattage capacities than they can truly deliver under extreme situations. But if you don’t want to overspend on a power supply, you can check the minimum +12V rail rating required for the graphics card you are considering purchasing by using this list. And, then from there you can look for a power supply that has a +12V rail that has a higher rating than the graphics card you are looking at has.
3. What is an 80Plus Rating? The 80Plus certification is a voluntary program that power supply manufacturers can use to determine the efficiency of their units. PSU manufacturers that want to get their power supplies 80Plus rated send in their units to an independent lab who then tests the units to determine their efficiency. The efficiency of a power supply is determined by how much power is lost during the conversion from AC power (from your wall) to DC power (which goes to your components). The more power that is lost during this conversion, the less efficient the power supply is and vice-versa. And, the test looks at how efficient the power supply is when it is under different loads. The higher load any power supply is under, the less efficient it will become. But some higher-end power supplies are able to minimize the amount of power that is lost during the conversion even at higher loads. And, those units will earn a higher 80Plus rating (Gold, Platinum, or Titanium). So, the 80Plus rating on a power supply essentially lets you know how efficient that power supply is. It isn’t the end-all-be-all determiner of power supply quality—especially at the lower 80Plus ratings (like Bronze and Standard). However, if a power supply has a higher 80Plus rating (typically above Silver), then it is likely a solid unit. For people who are looking to build a budget-friendly gaming PC, though, you’ll likely be forced to choose between 80Plus Bronze units. And, there are a lot of 80Plus Bronze units that aren’t the greatest options and there are other 80Plus Bronze units that are really good options (especially when price is factored in). If you look through the list below you’ll see my recommendation for units like Corsair’s CXM series, which are Bronze rated units that are great options for the price. Ultimately, though, the 80Plus rating will give you a little bit better idea of what kind of efficiency a power supply will bring to the table, but it isn’t a perfect indicator of power supply quality.
4. Should I Get A Modular Power Supply? Modular power supplies come with one big upside and one downside. The upside, obviously, is that modular power supplies are easier to work with. Non-modular power supplies come with a big bundle of cables and if you build a system that doesn’t need some of those cables, you’re then forced to figure out how to hide them and get them out of the way of your build. The downside is that modular power supplies cost more than non-modular power supplies. So, some first-time builders who are working with a tight budget may have to choose between paying more for a modular power supply or saving money and getting a non-modular power supply. The difference in money-saved in some cases could be the difference between the builder being able to get a better graphics card—which is going to have a bigger impact on that gamer’s in-game performance. So, the bottom line is that, whether or not you should get a modular power supply will come down to how much you have to spend on a new build or upgrade, and if you have a tight budget, whether or not you are willing to sacrifice some convenience and aesthetics in order to put more money towards other components.
5. Do You Need A Good Power Supply for Gaming? While a power supply won’t really have a direct impact on your in-game performance, it is an important component that will determine the quality of the system you can put together. A cheap 400W power supply will limit the kind of graphics card you can get, which, in turn, will limit the kind of in-game performance you’ll get. So, in short, yes, you need a solid power supply if you are planning on building a gaming computer. But, that doesn’t mean that you need to spend more on your power supply than on your other components. If you are looking to put together a moderately priced gaming PC, (say, an $800 PC build), you don’t need to spend over $100 to get a high-quality 800W power supply. At that budget range, you’ll really only be able to afford a mid-range graphics card and so you’ll be just fine spending ~$50-$70 on a decent 550W+ power supply. But, the bottom line is that, while a power supply won’t directly influence your frame rate and in-game performance, it will play a significant role in determining how powerful your system is. So, don’t skimp on your power supply.
6. Can You Have Too Much Wattage? One common question first-time builders have when they are choosing a power supply is, “Is it possible to choose too big of a power supply?” The answer to that is: not really. If you are building a system that will only require a maximum of 450-watts, you won’t need a high-end 1000W power supply. You could just as easily get a decent 550W-650W power supply. If you’re setting up a multi-GPU system that will draw a lot more power, then a 1000W (or greater) PSU will make more sense. So, while you can’t really have too much wattage, buying a larger power supply when it isn’t necessary will cost you more money than you could have spent and the savings difference between opting for a PSU better-suited for your system could have cost you upgrades on more important components.
If you are considering building your own PC and you need help choosing a power supply for your build, please post your questions in the comment section below so that we can help you out!
1000W+ POWER SUPPLIES
There aren’t a whole lot of gamers out there who will ever have the need to use a power supply larger than 1000W in their gaming computers.
Really, the power supplies in this range are monsters and are best suited for enthusiasts looking to build extreme setups.
So, if you’re not looking to run 3-way or 4-way SLI/CrossFire and overclock your CPU and video card to record-breaking levels, there really isn’t need for such a large power supply.
However, if you are one of the few immortals that require enough power to run a small village, then these 1000W+ units will serve you well.
1000W+ PSU REVIEWS (CLICK ‘READ REVIEW’ TO EXPAND)
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EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
If you are looking to set overclocking records, or you want to run multiple RTX 3080 Tis in SLI, then the EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2 might be what you’re looking for. With 1600W of power, an 80Plus Titanium rating, and 133.3A on its +12v rail, the SuperNOVA 1600 T2 is in a tier of its own and will be more than enough for even the biggest of builds.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 1600W |
| +12V RAIL | 133.3A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Titanium |
| WARRANTY | 10-Years |
EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2 Review
A half a decade ago, EVGA power supplies weren’t highly regarded. Now, though, it seems like every power supply they make is winning awards and being raved over.
They can now claim to have one of the biggest and best power supplies on the market with the SuperNOVA 1600W T2.
The 1600W T2 sports a whopping 133.3A on the 12v rail, it’s rated 80Plus Titanium, and it comes with an industry-leading 10-year warranty.
In reality, the SuperNOVA 1600W T2 won’t be practical for 99% of users, but if you’re looking to build an extreme quad video card setup and you’re trying to overclock your CPU to ungodly levels, then this thing should do the trick.
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Corsair AX1600i |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The Corsair AX1600i has the rare 80Plus Titanium rating, which makes it one of the most efficient PSUs in the world. If you’re looking for a high-end PSU, this one will do the trick.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 1600W |
| +12V RAIL | 133.3A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Titanium |
| WARRANTY | 10-Years |
Corsair AX1600i Review
The Corsair AX1600i is so good at what it does, that it has earned the rare 80Plus Titanium rating.
Essentially what that means is that the Corsair AX1600i is one of the most efficient power supplies on the planet and rightly deserves a spot as a tier 1 PSU.
However, it’s not just efficiency that helps the AX1600i stand out…. it’s the fact that it delivers an incredible 133.3A across a single 12v rail and that it comes with a 10-year warranty.
A 10-year warranty is rare for any industry, let alone the computer power supply industry.
In any case, while the EVGA SuperNOVA T2 and the Seasonic SSR-1200PD are amazing options, if you’re looking for the absolute best power supply, then the Corsair AX1600i should definitely be considered as well.
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Seasonic SSR-1200PD |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The Seasonic SSR-1200 PD is a 1200W full modular power supply with 100A+ 12V and an 80Plus Platinum rating. It delivers the stable output you expect from the Seasonic Prime series. The built-in 135mm fan and 12-year warranty set it apart from others in this category.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 1200W |
| +12V RAIL | 100A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Platimum |
| WARRANTY | 12-Year Limited |
Seasonic SSR-1200PD Review
The latest from Seasonic’s Prime Series, the SSR-1200 PD is a 1200W full modular power supply that boasts an 80 PLUS Platinum certification which guarantees it will operate at a high level of efficiency no matter what you throw at it.
This model has an Intel ATX 12V form factor and can operate EPS 12V. The SSR-1200 comes with a 135mm FDB fan to keep it cool and performing well under pressure. Like other models in Seasonic’s PRIME series, it uses advanced circuit design and utilizes the best possible components to minimize the sound output of the system, making it a quiet choice for your build.
The fully modular cables give you full control over your build, and the gold-plated connector terminals give you increased overall power efficiency by lowering transmission resistance.
Seasonic achieves their near perfect violate regulation (under 0.5% and under 1% for 1000W and above) with this new design, combining electoral performance and dynamic response for the impressive results.
The +12V rail can run 100A, making it capable of handling even the largest setup and advanced gaming technology. If you run multiple GPU’s, this power supply can give you the juice you need to do it without compromising your system.
While it is pricier than its predecessors, it comes with a 12-year manufacturer warranty which is one of the best the industry.
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EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 T2 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 T2 is another Titanium-rated power supply that will work well for dual or triple SLI systems. There is the P2 version (platinum) that costs quite a bit less, though, that should work well for most users.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 1000W |
| +12V RAIL | 83.3A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Titanium |
| WARRANTY | 10-Years |
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 T2 Review
There are only a handful 80Plus Titanium-rated power supplies currently on the market and EVGA has a couple of them.
The EVGA SuperNOVA 1000W T2 is a great option for anyone who is looking for one of the best—if not the best—1000W power supplies on the market.
The 1000 T2 comes with a very respectable 83.3A on the 12V rail that are capable of delivering a max of 1200W of power at 50°C. That’s not anything like what the 1500W and 1600W units listed above can provide, but for 99% of gamers looking to build a system, 83.3A on the 12V rail will be ridiculously overkill.
Essentially, though, if you’re looking to run two or three of today’s top video cards in SLI or CrossFire, then this 1000 watt power supply will be enough to get the job done.
And, with a 10-year warranty you can rest assured that this will be the only power supply you have to buy for the next decade or so…
It should also be noted, that there is the P2 version, which is the “ECO” friendly versions. It’s not Titanium-rated, but it is Platinum rated and it costs over $100 less. So, if you don’t want to spend nearly $300 on this 1000W power supply, definitely take a look at the P2 version.
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Corsair RM1000x |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The Corsair RMx 1000 is a serious PSU for the gamer who wants high performance without the noise. It is a very efficient unit unless tested at higher ambient temperatures and loads.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 1000W |
| +12V RAIL | 83.3A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Gold |
| WARRANTY | 10-Years |
Corsair RM1000x Review
The Corsair RMx 1000 PSU is an 80 Plus Gold certification unit with a rated output of 1000W at 40°C ambient that takes on the challenge of high and silent performance. It’s a tall order no matter how you slice it. Corsair succeeded with a highly efficient and well-made product—and at an affordable price for what it delivers.
The RMx Series includes six models from 450W to 1000W. At the high end, this PSU is aimed at the serious gamer. It has a 135mm rifle-bearing fan with a “zero-RPM fan mode” that kicks in at about a 40 percent load, in keeping with its emphasis on silent operation. A sticker on the front of the PSU reminds users that it’s normal for the fan not to spin unless under a heavier load.
The RMx 1000 features a fully modular cabling design with connectors galore with eight PCIe and two EPS connectors like all the RM units. The RM 1000 uses a single +12V rail which delivers more than 83 A to feed power-hungry systems. The OEM is CWT (Channel Well Technology).
In terms of performance, it operates efficiently even at low loads. In transient load tests, the RM 1000’s +12 V rail had minimal deviation, meaning it stayed well within the regulation limits of ATX specs. On the downside, it fell short with ripple on +12V rail exceeding 90 mV. And full power taps out at about 45°C ambient.
Visually, it’s a slick-looking unit with embossed ridges, a rimmed bottom, and chamfered edges on its matte black chassis. However, it is longer than typical ATX PSUs at 180mm long. The overall design is mean without going over the top.
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800-1000W POWER SUPPLIES
Even a power supply in the 800W-1000W range is going to be overkill for 90% of gamers.
Again, unless you’re planning on running multiple video card configurations now or in the future and getting into some extreme system tuning, there really isn’t a need for this much power.
If, however, you want to run a 2-way SLI/CrossFire setup with two high-end video cards, then a solid 850W power supply will do the trick. And, these units will give you plenty of headroom to build a ridiculous setup.
It should be noted, too, that while the EVGA SuperNOVA T2 is listed here, the EVGA SuperNOVA P2 is excluded. It’s not that the P2 version isn’t a good power supply… in fact, it’s a very solid option…
However, it doesn’t have the quite the efficiency that the T2 has and, so, in order to include the best, I went with the T2 option instead. But, if you’re looking to save some money, the P2 line is a good choice as well.
800-1000W+ PSU REVIEWS (CLICK ‘READ REVIEW’ TO EXPAND)
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EVGA SuperNOVA 850 T2 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
If you’re building a dual SLI or CrossFire setup, then a quality 850W PSU will be a good option. And, if you’re looking for the best 850W PSU on the market, the EVGA SuperNOVA 850 T2 is definitely an option you want to look at. With 70.8A on the +12v rail and an 80Plus Titanium rating, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 850W |
| +12V RAIL | 70.8A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Titanium |
| WARRANTY | 10-Years |
EVGA SuperNOVA 850 T2 Review
To continue on with EVGA’s dominance on this list, we have the SuperNOVA 850W T2. Again, I could also include the SuperNOVA P2 on this list, as it will offer similar performance, but it has a lower efficiency rating and so I wanted to include the best option possible.
Of course, if you’re looking to save some money without sacrificing too much, then the P2 version will definitely be a worthy option.
Ultimately, though, the 850W T2 offers an incredibly efficient power supply that has the ability to run just about any dual video card setup you could possibly want to go with.
And, just like the other SuperNOVAs listed above, it comes with an astounding 10-year warranty.
Or, in other words, EVGA is so sure of the product they are selling, that they are betting on it not failing after an entire decade of use.
That sounds pretty good to me…
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Corsair AX860 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The Corsair AX860 has 71A on its +12V rail and it has an 80Plus Platinum rating. And, despite not earning as high of an efficiency rating as the EVGA unit listed above, it does come in at a lower cost. Ultimately, it’s a great option for dual GPU setups.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 860W |
| +12V RAIL | 71A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Platinum |
| WARRANTY | 7-Year Limited |
Corsair AX860 Review
Another phenomenal power supply for all of you Corsair diehards out there is the Corsair AX860. It doesn’t reach the Titanium rating that the Corsair AX1500i reaches, but it is still Platinum rated, which means that, aside from the handful of Titanium-rated units on the market, it is one of the most efficient options available.
It comes with 71A on the 12V rail, a 7-year limited warranty, and a fully modular design… or, in other words, even if you want to build the best gaming PC possible with a single video card (or even dual video cards), then this unit will be more than enough for your needs.
Despite not having an 80Plus Titanium rating like the EVGA SuperNOVA 850 T2 listed above, it does come in at a lower price, despite being able to deliver similar performance.
On the other, hand, though, the options listed below are even less expensive, and while they don’t quite have the efficiency rating, they are still good enough to run most dual video card systems quite easily.
However, if you’re a Corsair fan, or you are building a Black and Red themed build, then this unit does make sense and you definitely won’t be disappointed with it if you decide to go with it over the other options listed here.
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SeaSonic X-850 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
Another solid ~850W power supply is the SeaSonic X-850. It’s not nearly as expensive as the two options listed above and it comes with 70A on the +12V rail. It’s not as efficient (80Plus Gold) as the other options listed above, but it should still handle any dual GPU system just fine.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 850W |
| +12V RAIL | 70A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Gold |
| WARRANTY | 7-Years |
SeaSonic X-850 Review
Here’s another exceptional SeaSonic unit… the X-850. At under $130, it is an incredibly affordable high-end unit that can be used for even the most extreme setups (running dual video cards.)
It has 70A on the 12V rail, it comes fully modular, and it achieves the 80Plus Gold rating. It also comes with a 7-year warranty.
It’s not quite as polished as the EVGA SuperNOVA T2, but it is much cheaper, and it will meet the needs of pretty much any gamer looking to build a single or dual video card system.
If you are looking for the most efficiency possible, though, then the SuperNOVA T2 is probably the better option. Ultimately, it is another solid tier 2 PSU option to consider if you need the best power supply for gaming.
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600-800W POWER SUPPLIES
The 600W-800W range is the high-end for single video card setups and the low-end for 2-way SLI/CrossFire setups.
A quality 700W-750W power supply will allow you to run two moderate video cards in SLI/CrossFire configuration. So, that makes PSUs in this range great for anyone who wants the option to upgrade in the future.
These power supplies will also give you quite a bit of headroom for system tuning if you’re building a high-end single video card setup.
However, even if you do want to use a high-end video card like the RTX 3080 Ti, a quality 700 watt power supply will give you enough power as well.
600-800W+ PSU REVIEWS (CLICK ‘READ REVIEW’ TO EXPAND)
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EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
EVGA has a ton of quality power supplies in the 600-800W range. However, I chose the SuperNOVA 750 P2 as the top option due to its price and performance. It’s not quite as efficient as the 750 T2, but it does come in at a significantly lower price and it is solid enough to run most dual-GPU setups.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 750W |
| +12V RAIL | 62.4A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Platinum |
| WARRANTY | 10-Years |
EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2 Review
In all honesty, I could list 5-6 different EVGA power supplies in this wattage range simply because EVGA has so many good options available.
There’s the EVGA SuperNOVA T2 750, the P2 750 (listed), the P2 650, the G2 750, the G2 650, the GS 650 and 750, and the GQ 650 and 750.
However, to present a wide range of options I’ve dediced to only list the 750W P2 and 650W G2 version of the SuperNOVA series, even though all of the above-mentioned are worthy.
Ultimately, though, with 62.4 A on the 12V rail, the SuperNOVA 750 P2 has more than enough power to handle any single card setup out there and even most dual card setups as well.
And, of course, it’s backed with a 10-year warranty from EVGA, which is incredible as it gives you peace of mind in knowing that your power supply is being backed for an entire decade.
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Corsair RM750x |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The Corsair RM750x is a very similar unit to the EVGA SuperNOVA P2. However, it comes with a lower 80PLUS Gold rating instead of a Platinum rating. But, that also makes it quite a bit less expensive as well. So, if you’re looking to save some money, it’s worth considering over the SN P2.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 750W |
| +12V RAIL | 63A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Gold |
| WARRANTY | 10-Years |
Corsair RM750x Review
Another sub-800 watt power supply that is 80Plus Gold rated is Corsair’s RM750x. It has 63A on its 12V rail and will power any single graphics card setup out there (and just about any dual graphics card setup as well.)
And, at right about ~$120, it’s a solid alternative to the more-expesnive SN P2. While the SN P2 does come with the higher Platinum rating, 80Plus Gold rated efficiency will still suffice for the majority of system builders.
Corsair is a popular brand for a reason and they do not lack for a large crowd of loyal fans. So if you are one of those loyal fans, the Corsair RM750x is definitely a solid option….
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SeaSonic FOCUS 750 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
If you want a really good quality power supply, but you don’t have a large budget, the Seasonic FOCUS 750W is a quality unit. The one downside, though, is that the unit is not fully modular. But if you don’t mind having a fully-modular unit, then this is definitely a solid option.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 750W |
| +12V RAIL | 62A |
| MODULAR? | Semi |
| RATING | 80Plus Gold |
| WARRANTY | 5-Years |
SeaSonic FOCUS 750 Review
We originally had the SeaSonic S12G unit here, but it has since gone out of stock. No worries, though, as the SeaSonic FOCUS 750 is essentially the same power supply, but a bit newer, and it is semi-modular instead of non-modular.
The FOCUS 750 is a solid option for anyone who is looking for a power supply that will allow them to run dual video cards but that won’t cost them over $100.
This power supply has 62A on the 12V rail and comes with a 5-year warranty. It’s also 80Plus Gold rated, so while not quite as efficient as the two Platinum units listed above, it’s still pretty darn efficient.
And, it’s also quite a bit more affordable than the other units listed above, despite offering similar performance. The semi-modular design is also a nice addition and will help anyone who wants to have really clean cable management.
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Corsair CX650M |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
If you’re looking for an affordable power supply that has a big enough capacity to run most single video card setups, then the Corsair CX650M is a great option. It’s affordable, has a 54A rating on its +12V rail, is semi-modular, and comes with an 80Plus Bronze rating.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 650W |
| +12V RAIL | 54A |
| MODULAR? | Semi |
| RATING | 80Plus Bronze |
| WARRANTY | 5-Years |
Corsair CX650M Review
Corsair’s CX650M rounds out this list and while it’s not the best overall power supply in this range, it is solid enough for most single video card setups and it won’t break the bank as well.
It is only 80Plus Bronze certified, but it does have a +12V rail with a rating of 54A, which, again, will be suffice for most single video card setups.
It also comes semi-modular and with a 5-year warranty. And, since Corsair typically has excellent customer support for their products, if something should go wrong, you can rest assure that they will take care of the problem.
Ultimately, though, even if you’re going with a high-end video card like an RTX 3070, a quality 600W power supply will still provide enough power to allow you to do so. So, if you want to save even more money, you definitely can.
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400-600W POWER SUPPLIES
This range of power supplies is the most practical for the majority of gamers.
If you’re building a budget system, a 450W power supply will more than do the trick.
Even if you’re going with a powerful video card like the RX 5700 XT or RTX 2070 Super, a quality 550W-600W unit like the ones listed in the chart below will get the job done.
So, the bottom line is that, unless you’re building an extreme setup that utilizes multiple video cards (or plan to in the future) the power supplies in this list are probably the route you want to go.
400-600W PSU REVIEWS (CLICK ‘READ REVIEW’ TO EXPAND)
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EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G3 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The EVGA SuperNOVA 550 GS is the perfect combination of affordability, performance, and efficiency. With 45A on the +12V rail, a fully modular design, and an 80Plus Gold rating, you can’t go wrong with this unit at the price it comes in at.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 550W |
| +12V RAIL | 45A |
| MODULAR? | Fully |
| RATING | 80Plus Gold |
| WARRANTY | 5-Years |
EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G3 Review
EVGA has pretty much dominated this list… and rightfully so as their SuperNOVA line of power supplies are well-made, extremely efficient, perform well, and are affordable for what they provide.
The EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G3 is no different…
At 550W it provides 45A on the 12V rail, which is plenty for just about any single card setup. And, it comes with a fully modular design and an 80Plus Gold rating.
Throw on top of that a 5-year warranty and you have a really solid unit for under ~$70.
The 650W unit, though, is sometimes only a few bucks more. So, definitely check out the difference between the two when you go to buy, just in case you can get the next unit up for a similar price.
However, if the price is considerably lower on this 550W version than on the 650W version, going with the 550W unit is a good choice.
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EVGA 600 BR |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The EVGA 600 BR PSU is a solid option overall, but it doesn’t come fully modular like the EVGA SN unit listed above and it also has a lower 80Plus rating. However, it’s also quite a bit cheaper and offers a little more power on the +12v rail. So, if you want to save some money, the EVGA 600 BR is worth checking out.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 600W |
| +12V RAIL | 50A |
| MODULAR? | Non-Modular |
| RATING | 80Plus Bronze |
| WARRANTY | 3-Year Limited |
EVGA 600 BR Review
The EVGA 600 BR is also a solid option if you just need a high quality and dependable power supply that doesn’t cost a ton and will allow you to build a single video card setup.
It’s similarly specced to the EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G3 with the exception that the EVGA 600 BR comes non-modular and with a lower 80Plus rating, whereas the EVGA unit comes fully modular and has the higher Gold rating.
However, the EVGA 600 BR is ~$30 cheaper than the SN 550 G3 and offers a higher +12v rating. So, while it isn’t as efficient, it does offer a little more power and it comes in at a much lower price.
And, that makes it a perfect option for budget-oriented gamers who are looking to cut costs elsewhere so that they can afford a higher-end graphics card.
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Corsair CX550M |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The Corsair CX550M is a 550-watt power supply with an 80 Plus Bronze rating. It has a 45.8A+12V capacity and an internal thermally-controlled fan to keep the performance stable. It works with all modern-day chipsets and GPU’s, comes with cables that are long enough to work with full-height tower cases, and is less than a $60 investment.
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TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 550W |
| +12V RAIL | 45.8A |
| MODULAR? | Semi |
| RATING | 80Plus Bronze |
| WARRANTY | 5-Year Limited |
CORSAIR CX550M Review
If you’re looking for a modern power supply at a competitive price point, the Corsair CX550M is worth considering. It has an 80 Plus Bronze rating, which doesn’t make it the most efficient unit on the market, but certainly good enough—efficiency-wise—for budget-friendly builds.
This power supply has +12V rating of 45.8A and it comes with a thermally controlled 120mm fan to keep it quiet even while it’s processing larger loads.
It’s also a semi-modular unit, which will help out quite a bit with cable management and will contribute to a much cleaner-looking build. Also, at this price-point, there aren’t a whole lot of semi-modular options available, so this is one of the more affordable options that does allow for some modularity.
In terms of what kind of system this unit will work well in, it can easily accommodate a GTX 1660 Ti or RTX 2060 Super, or an RX 5700 or 5700 XT with no problems. It’s not meant for high-end systems with power-hungry graphics cards or multi-GPU setups, but you can build a pretty powerful single-GPU setup with this unit.
It comes with a five-year warranty which is pretty standard for economical options like what you see in this category. The thermally controlled fan helps to preserve the life of the power supply, and it’s engineered to work at up to a 40-degree C, or 104 degrees F.
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SeaSonic S12III 550 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
An affordable PSU you can use if you are building a budget-friendly PC is the SeaSonic S12III 550. It has a 45A +12V rail and comes with an 80Plus Bronze rating. It won’t serve as a high-end option by any means, but it should handle most single card setups just fine.
Learn More
TECH SPECS
| WATTS | 550W |
| +12V RAIL | 45A |
| MODULAR? | No |
| RATING | 80Plus Bronze |
| WARRANTY | 5-Years |
SeaSonic S12III 550 Review
The SeaSonic S12III 550 Bronze is another viable sub-600W power supply. It has a 45A 12V rail and it can accommodate pretty much any single graphics card setup.
It does not come modular, so if you don’t want to deal with hiding extra cables, or don’t want to have a little bit more difficult of a time doing cable management, then you’ll probably want to consider one of the options above.
However, the S12III 550 is a bit cheaper than the other units listed above and if you need to save every penny you can, but still need a quality power supply, it would be a good option.
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WHICH POWER SUPPLY IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
It would be silly to say that this is an end-all-be-all list of power supplies. There are simply too many great options on the market to list and provide a brief overview for every single one.
However, by taking price-to-performance into consideration, this list gives you 3-5 very solid options for each wattage range to help you make choosing a quality power supply for your next build that much easier.
Ultimately, you will need a quality power supply if you are planning on building a new gaming computer. Skimping on your power supply is never a good idea. Fortunately, if you stick to this list, you can’t go wrong.
Kevin Dunn says
Hi, I am looking for a good gaming PSU for my rig. When I say gaming that is because it will be the primary usage of my computer, but I may dabble with a stable OC, but I will probably leave things default.
Ryzen 5 5600x
B550 AM4 ATX mobo + RGB Corsair i115 hyrdo CPU cooler
4x8GB DDR4 3600(PC4 28800) RGB
WD SN850 M.2 2280 1TB
Gigabyte 12GB gaming OC RTX 3060 GDDR6 PCIe 4.0
Corsair 7000x full tower with the ique RGB 5×140 fans
The calculator I use said 650w I believe, but that seems low. I didn’t know if the all the lighting and OC possiblity called for more power or not. The store by my house has sesonic-focus and corsair power supply options in the gold to platinum range. Even a seasonic-Focus Titanium 1000w Quality buit and reliablity is my main goal.
Thank you for your time!
Carol Samways says
I am trying to choose a PSU best suited for my son’s needs for the Build he wants to follow. My son wants to get a NVIDIA GeForce RTX Founders Edition Graphics Card, but I can’t find reference to the +12 V Rail rating for it.
Jason says
If I use this specification, what Power Supply wattage would be good for me ?
CPU : AMD Ryzen 5800x
GPU : AMD Raden 6900XT
Motherboard : B550 Asrock Phantom Gaming 4
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What is the best power supply for those kind of specs ?