The power supply unit (PSU) is the heart of every PC. It takes AC power from the wall and converts it to low-voltage DC power, which then goes on to power all your components. So if you want reliable, steady power to your motherboard, CPU, RAM, graphics cards, drives, fans, (and of course!) RGB lights, you need to get a good power supply. If you don't you'll quickly run into stability problems and your PC will randomly shut down.
Like everything else about building a PC, there's a lot to consider when picking your rig's power plant. From wattage and efficiency to modularity, there's a lot to think about here, and lucky for you we've done all the research already. From the affordable option to absolute powerhouses able to run two systems at the same time, we've picked out the best power supplies available today.
TL;DR – These are the Best Power Supplies
- Corsair RMx Series RM750x
- Corsair CX-M Series CX650M
- Cooler Master V850
- SilverStone Technology SX1000 Platinum
- Corsair AXi Series AX1600i
- be quiet! Dark Power 12 750W
- Cooler Master XG850 Plus Platinum
- Seasonic Prime Fanless PX-500
Corsair RMx Series RM750x
Best Power Supply
For just $140, the Corsair RMx Series RM750x is a is a capable power supply that gets the job done for a majority of gaming PC builds. It provides 750 watts, letting it keep even powerful gaming PCs juiced up reliably. It runs that power through all-Japanese capacitors, known for their reliability, that are rated for up to 105 degrees Celsius, though the 135mm magnetic levitation fan should keep things plenty cool. The power supply is also efficient, earning an 80 Plus Gold rating.
The Corsair RMx Series RM750x is fully modular, so you can keep your PC’s internals free from extraneous cable clutter. There are plenty of options for what you can connect with two EPS connectors for hungry CPUs, four connectors for PCIe add-ins, and a whopping 10 SATA connectors as well as four peripheral connectors.
Corsair CX-M Series CX650M
Best Budget Power Supply
If you’re building a PC with more modest needs, you can get away with a lower-wattage power supply like the Corsair CX-M Series CX650M. For $80, you don’t get a fully modular PSU, but it’s semi-modular for a tidier build, better cable management, and more airflow. It’s even 80 Plus Bronze certified, delivering a guarantee of efficiency you shouldn’t go without.
The CX650M is relatively quiet and fairly compact—though not an SFX model—yet it still can pump out 650 watts. That amount of power should do for many mid-range builds—think an AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 and something like an RTX 3060. However, you only get two PCIe connectors, and there's no 12+4 pin PCIe connector for the newest GPUs, but if that’s not an issue, this power supply offers some tremendous value.
Cooler Master V850
Best SFX Power Supply
You don't have to settle for a low-power system just because you want to build in a mini ITX case. The Cooler Master V850 power supply has all the juice you need to run a beefy rig, but it comes squeezed into an SFX form factor to fit into your mini builds.
The Cooler Master V850 is a fully-modular power supply, so you can swap out any of the cables. Cooler Master supplies cables with the package, but if you have a different style in mind or need different lengths and shapes to fit inside your case, you'll have the option to change. The power supply features a fluid dynamic bearing fan for quieter operation and offers an 80 Plus Gold power efficiency.
SilverStone Technology SX1000 Platinum
Best SFX-L Power Supply
When you’ve got a small build, you can sometimes be pretty limited with what parts you’re able to fit inside. But, if your case and build provide that little bit of extra space for a SFX-L power supply, the SilverStone SX1000 won't disappoint. It delivers up to 1,000W of power while maintaining the highest efficiency levels that earn it a 80 Plus Platinum certification. When you’re running at lower loads, you’ll also be able to enjoy silent operation with a dual ball bearing fan that runs at just 18dBA at the quietest and maxes out at only 38dBA, though the fan can go quieted still by remaining off when power loads are below 20% of max.
The SilverStone SX1000 Platinum is fully modular, so you can build using only the power cables you need. This will help you keep your small form factor build tidy for better airflow and aesthetics. That said, the power supply includes a bunch of cables in case your rig is going to be fully loaded.
Corsair AXi Series AX1600i
Best High Capacity Power Supply
Some of us are building gaming computers for mere mortals. We may use 65W CPUs and graphics cards that barely top out over 200 watts. But, if you're building a HEDT computer and need some serious wattage for everything from CPU overclocking, dual graphics cards, and a smattering of storage drives, powerful fans, and RGB lighting, then the Corsair AXi Series AX1600i is for you.
The name of this power supply is probably a good hint that this unit offers up 1,600 watts of power. You won't have to shy away from that dual-RTX 3090 setup with this power supply in your rig. The Corsair AXi Series AX1600i delivers power with 80 Plus Titanium efficiency and uses all Japanese capacitors alongside gallium nitride transistors. With Corsair Link software, you can also monitor performance and adjust settings.
be quiet! Dark Power 12 750W
Best Silent Power Supply
Fans are great for cooling, and you definitely don't want your power supply overheating, but sometimes you just wish those fans could take a chill pill and stop whirring away. In that case, the be quiet! Dark Power 12 750W power supply can keep your system juiced up without cranking out a ton of noise in the process. It manages that with a special mesh front and be quiet!'s Silent Wings fan.
The Dark Power 12 750W power supply should meet the needs of most computers with ease (with enthusiast and HEDT PCs being an exception), and it can deliver that power with excellent efficiency, as indicated by its 80 Plus Titanium rating. As a fully modular power supply, the Dark Power 12 750W will help you handle your cable organization, so you can skip out on cables your system doesn't need or opt for different length cables depending on the needs of your setup.
Cooler Master XG850 Plus Platinum
Best RGB Power Supply
You don’t need to miss out on style just to get power. The Cooler Master XG850 Plus Platinum combines a capable power supply with some flashy RGB. This PSU keeps cool under load using a 135mm ARGB fan that not only moves a bunch of air quietly with its fluid dynamic fan bearing but also delivers tons of lighting. You get ARGB LEDs embedded around the fan, and it doesn’t stop there, a digital side panel can display fan speed, temperature, and power consumption. And, of course, Cooler Master gives you a ton of control over how you customize the lighting with their MasterPlus+ software.
Though the RGB lighting is fun, the Cooler Master XG850 Plus Platinum’s main focus is power. And you get 850W of it with an 80 PLUS Platinum Certification, ensuring efficiency, while the capacitors used in both the cables and platform are reliable and reduce ripple noise. This unit is also fully modular, so you can swap out longer or shorter cables and omit extraneous ones. After all, you want to reduce clutter to improve airflow, and that RGB lighting would be spoiled by a tangle of cables.
Seasonic Prime Fanless PX-500
Best Fanless Power Supply
You might question whether a passively cooled power supply will run smoothly, but the Seasonic Prime Fanless PX-500 is here to clear up any worries. This PSU has no fan, ensuring quiet operation while overheating is less of an issue thanks to its outstanding 80 Plus Platinum efficiency rating that allows it to deliver power without the need for active cooling. Furthering its ability to keep cool is its fully modular, well-ventilated design that allows for ample cable management and better airflow.
The Seasonic Prime Fanless PX-500 offers 500W of power, which doesn’t seem like much compared to the other PSUs on this list. However, since it’s so power efficient and comes with two EPS and two PCIe connectors, it shouldn’t have any issue running most modest to mid-range PC builds. An impressive 12-year warranty also ensures this somewhat pricey power supply is a solid investment.
What to look for in a Power Supply
It’s tempting to simply think “more is better” and go for the highest wattage number you can find. This would be a big mistake. A 1200-watt power supply is not necessarily higher quality than a 650-watt one, and definitely not the right choice for a system that won’t use nearly that much power.
The wattage rating on a PSU describes how much power it can supply, but there are plenty of caveats. Some PSUs may supply a lot of peak power in total, but not enough to the critical components. Or, as temperatures rise, power delivery may become unreliable. There are dozens of PSU calculators out there, and using one can be a good place to start. Many of them recommend way more PSU than you really need out of an abundance of caution. If you’re not going crazy with overclocking or multiple top-end graphics cards, you probably don’t need a big ‘ol 850-watt power supply.
Of course, the efficiency by which the PSU converts AC to DC is very important. You’ll typically see one of three different “80 Plus” ratings on power supplies: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. There are Platinum and Titanium ratings too, but they are more rare. To be 80 Plus certified, a PSU must deliver at least 80% efficiency at 20%, 50%, and 100% of the maximum rated load. The higher the rating, the further above 80% the PSU’s efficiency. A more efficient power supply will generate less heat and draw less power from the wall, so it’s often worth the extra expense.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
