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The Best Power Supplies for 2023

Best PSU - Tier ListWe rated, reviewed, & compared some 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.

Also Read: Five Things to Know Before Buying A PSU

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 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 power supplies for gaming currently available. We’ve listed a handful of options across a range of categories to help you find an option that will suit your needs.

However, 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.

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 mid-range single graphics card gaming PC will require anywhere from a 500W to a 700W+ 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 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).

Also Read: 80 PLUS Bronze vs Gold vs Platinum vs Titanium: Which PSU Rating do you Need?

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.

Also Read: What is A Modular Power Supply? Modular vs Non-Modular PSUs

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.

Quick Look: The Best PSUs for Gaming PCs

The table below shows our picks for the best PSU overall, the best 1000W+ unit, the best RGB power supply, an excellent value option, a budget-friendly option, and an ultra-cheap (but still solid) PSU.

NAME SPECS RATING
TOP PICK
EVGA Supernova 850 T2

EVGA Supernova T2

  • 850W
  • 70.8A +12V
  • Titanium
  • Fully Modular
9.4/10

Check Price

Read Review »

1000W+
Corsair AXi Series AX1600i

Corsair AX1600i

  • 1600W
  • 133.3A +12V
  • Titanium
  • Fully Modular
9.7/10

Check Price

Read Review »

RGB
Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 850W

Thermaltake Grand RGB

  • 850W
  • 70.8A +12V
  • Platinum
  • Fully Modular
9.3/10

Check Price

Read Review »

VALUE
EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G+

EVGA SuperNOVA G+

  • 650W
  • 54.0A +12V
  • Gold
  • Fully Modular
9.0/10

Check Price

Read Review »

BUDGET
be quiet! Pure Power 11 600W

be quiet! Pure Power

  • 600W
  • 32A/28A +12V
  • Gold
  • Non-Modular
8.7/10

Check Price

Read Review »

CHEAP
Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 80+ Gold 600W

Thermaltake GX2

  • 600W
  • 49A +12V
  • Gold
  • Non-Modular
8.6/10

Check Price

Read Review »

*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.

1. EVGA Supernova T2 850W

The best overall power supply

EVGA Supernova 850 T2
  • 850 Watt
  • 70.8A +12V
  • 80 PLUS Titanium
  • Fully Modular

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Check Price on Amazon

If you’ve got a large budget and you’re looking for a top-of-the-line power supply to power a high-end graphics card (like an RTX 4080), then this unit from EVGA is worth checking out.

The EVGA Supernova T2 850 is an 850-watt power supply that offers 70.8A on the +12V rail, comes with the highest 80 PLUS rating possible (Titanium), and offers full modularity. In addition to that, it also comes a lengthy 10-year warranty, EVGA ECO mode (which will keep the PSU silent during lower loads), and a built-in self power tester (handy for troubleshooting power issues).

And, at right around ~$200, the Supernova T2 850 comes in at an excellent price for what you get.

Ultimately, if you’ve got a good amount of money to spend and you’re putting together a high-end gaming PC build, this unit from EVGA will offer you plenty of power and extreme efficiency.

2. Corsair AX1600i

An extreme 1000W+ power supply

Corsair AXi Series AX1600i
  • 1600 Watt
  • 133.3A +12V
  • 80 PLUS Titanium
  • Fully Modular

Our Rating: 9.7/10

Check Price on Amazon

For those of you that are planning on running a multi-GPU setup, or if you’re looking to just give yourself plenty of headroom for overclocking and a new RTX 4090 (which apparently may require as much as a 1200W PSU depending on which specific card you get), this massive unit from Corsair is a worthy option.

However, at a little over ~$600, the Corsair AX1600i should really only be picked up by experienced system builders who are looking to build an extreme gaming PC.

The Corsair AX1600i comes with an enormous 133.3A +12V rail, sports an 80 PLUS Titanium rating (94% efficiency), and comes with a fully modular design. It also features a 140mm fan that will shut off at lower loads so your system stays as quiet as possible and a 10-year warranty.

In the end, though, this power supply isn’t a great option if you’re just looking to build a standard single-GPU (non RTX 4090) setup. For the vast majority of builders, you can get by with a much smaller (and cheaper) unit.

3. Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 850W

The best RGB power supply

Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 850W
  • 850 Watt
  • 70.8A +12V
  • 80 PLUS Platinum
  • Fully Modular

Our Rating: 9.3/10

Check Price on Amazon

The madness of adding RGB lights to anything and everything continues as now even power supply manufacturers are joining in on the fun. Yes, that’s right, you can get a power supply with RGB lights on it.

The Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB lineup of power supplies all feature a 140mm RGB fan and are available in three capacities (650W, 750W, and 850W.) All three are available with an 80 PLUS Gold rating, but you can also get the 850W unit with a Platinum rating for better efficiency. Thermaltake’s RGB PSUs are also all fully modular and come with 10-year warranties.

The bottom line is that, if you are looking to put together a build that has as much RGB lighting possible, then you might as well get a PSU that has RGB lights on it, too. And, of the RGB power supplies out there, the Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB series is as good as any other.

4. EVGA SuperNOVA G+ 650W

An excellent value PSU for under $100

EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G+
  • 650 Watt
  • 54.0A +12V
  • 80 PLUS Gold
  • Fully Modular

Our Rating: 9.0/10

Check Price on Amazon

Another quality power supply option from EVGA is this G+ series 650-watt unit. For just under $100, you get a fully modular Gold-rated unit (90% efficiency) that has enough power to run just about any mid-range setup.

With its 54A +12V rail, this PSU would work well for GPUs like an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT (or lower). And, if you need something bigger to power an RTX 3080 or higher, there are also 750W, 850W, and 1000W units available in this series.

Also Read: 6700 XT vs 3060 Ti: Which GPU is a Better Buy?

In the end, if you’re working with a moderate budget and you’re looking for a quality power supply to build a mid-range gaming PC, this EVGA unit will give you all of the power you need without costing you an arm and a leg.

5. be quiet! Pure Power 11 600W

The best budget power supply

be quiet! Pure Power 11 600W
  • 600 Watt
  • 2x +12V (32A/28A)
  • 80 PLUS Gold
  • Non-Modular

Our Rating: 8.7/10

Check Price on Amazon

Not everyone needs an 850-watt 80 PLUS Titanium-rated fully modular power supply. For some users, a mid-tier unit will be all you need to power a gaming PC capable of maxing out any game on a 1080P monitor.

And, this budget-friendly power supply from be quiet! is the perfect option for gamers who are working with a restricted budget. Its 600-watt capacity will provide you with more than enough power to run GPUs like an RTX 3060 or an RX 6600 XT—and those GPUs will allow give you an ideal 1080P gaming experience.

Also Read: The Best RTX 3060 Graphics Cards

No, this unit doesn’t offer full (or even semi) modularity, which will make cable management a bit more tricky. However, with a sub-$80 pricetag, this unit will free up some room in your budget so that you have more money to put towards the components that will dictate how powerful your system is (namely, your CPU, GPU, and RAM).

Ultimately, if you’re not looking to build an extreme gaming computer, but, rather, just a solid system for 1080P gaming, then this be quiet! unit is worth checking out.

6. Thermaltake Toughpower GX2

A solid PSU for under $50

Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 80+ Gold 600W
  • 600 Watt
  • 49A +12V
  • 80 PLUS Gold
  • Non-Modular

Our Rating: 8.6/10

Check Price on Amazon

If the last unit wasn’t affordable enough, then this power supply from Thermaltake might be the option for you. At just under $50, the Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600-watt is the perfect option for anyone who is looking to build a budget-friendly gaming PC.

Like the be quiet! unit above, this power supply comes with a 600-watt capacity and an 80 PLUS Gold rating. It also features a 49A +12V rail and it comes with a 5-year warranty. And, as expected for this price range, it is not a modular unit.

But, in this price range, sacrifices are to be expected. And, the reality is that, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better power supply for such a low price. So, while we wouldn’t normally recommend spending this little on a PSU, this unit is solid enough to where it should work well for a mid-range or lower PC build.

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 a handful of very solid options 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.

Hey, I’m Brent. I’ve been building computers and writing about building computers for a long time. I’m an avid gamer and tech enthusiast, too. On YouTube, I build PCs, review laptops, components, and peripherals, and hold giveaways.

30 thoughts on “The Best Power Supplies for 2023”

  1. My Motherboard is a Asus Rog Strix Z590-E Gaming ATX. The Asus 850W power supply i was thinking of buying has no EPS12V Lead do i need one?

    Reply
  2. 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!

    Reply
  3. 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.

    Reply
  4. 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
    .
    What is the best power supply for those kind of specs ?

    Reply

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