The PC power supply is one of the most underrated components on a desktop computer. Yet, just as the heart supplies all organs with blood, the PC power supply ensures that your PC's components receive a clean and constant flow of electricity. Beginners usually have a hard time finding the ideal PC power supply for their needs because there are too many variables involved in the decision. This buying guide should help you make the right choice.
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Our selection
"The Seasonic FOCUS GX-850 is a good deal and gets recommendations from all sides. In addition to its performance, this PC power supply is super…"
"If you are building a low-budget setup, the EVGA 600 W1 will be an excellent choice. This PC power supply does not include fancy features…"
"The ROG Thor 1200P is the most powerful PC power supply in the Asus catalog and one of the few that the brand has produced!…"
"Owners of the latest Nvidia or AMD graphics cards, those who want to overclock and those who want to install an SLI/CrossFire configuration will be…"
"The Aresgame AGT1000 is a PC power supply designed for gaming enthusiasts because of its very stable power output and performance. This model will also…"
The Seasonic FOCUS GX-850 is a good deal and gets recommendations from all sides. In addition to its performance, this PC power supply is super compact, allowing its installation even in small chassis.
111 £ on AmazonThe Seasonic FOCUS GX-850 PC power supply is painted in matte black and is only 140 mm deep. The build quality reaches a level similar to that of the brand's more expensive units, which is very reassuring. The deep paint provides a nice scratch resistance. The good layout and labeling of the modular bay makes installation easy. No chance of mixing up the Peripheral and PCI-E connectors as they are different pin configurations.
The power supply has a 12V output up to 70A, which is about 98.8% of the total capacity of the unit. Each of the minor rails (3.3V and 5V) has a capacity of 20A with a combined rail output of 100W. Seasonic uses a high quality Hong Hua fan (12 cm diameter) for this particular case. The maximum speed is rated at 2,200 rpm.
If you are building a low-budget setup, the EVGA 600 W1 will be an excellent choice. This PC power supply does not include fancy features like modular cabling or LED lighting. However, we do appreciate the sheathed wires.
38,40 £ on AmazonThe EVGA 600 W1 PC power supply supports 49 A on a single +12 V rail. This provides more options without having to reduce your component requirements. You'll save space with its compact design, conveniently located power switch and fully sheathed cables. The EVGA 600 W1 provides the connections and protection needed for basic system builds.
The ventilation system of this model has excellent acoustics. The intelligent automatic fan ensures very quiet operation. This PC power supply incorporates a full complement of robust protections including overvoltage, overcurrent, short circuit and overtemperature protection. With a 3 year warranty and ultra quiet fan design, the EVGA 600 W1 will be a great addition to your next budget PC setup.
The ROG Thor 1200P is the most powerful PC power supply in the Asus catalog and one of the few that the brand has produced! But it is clear that the manufacturer has succeeded in its challenge by offering a model with extreme performance.
291 £ on CdiscountThe Asus ROG Thor 1200P is a high-end PC power supply dedicated to gaming. It has a power output of 1,200W and boasts an energy efficiency rating of 80 Plus Platinum. The styling is quite apparent with the RGB design and the OLED display on the side of the block. However, the build quality will remain invisible to the average person. Why? Because Asus has designed a platinum PC power supply with massive heat sinks to ensure performance, even under heavy load!
Moreover, Asus has equipped the ROG Thor 1200P with a certified 135mm diameter fan to extend the life of the power supply. The Taiwanese manufacturer offers a fully modular block with a fairly large collection of cables, providing connectivity to cover most needs. In addition, Asus has limited the total number of GPU connections to 4 PCIe 6+2 pin connectors. This will avoid installing 3 GPUs, which could theoretically exceed the capabilities of the ROG Thor 1200P. Note the presence of the 0 dB mode for the fan.
Owners of the latest Nvidia or AMD graphics cards, those who want to overclock and those who want to install an SLI/CrossFire configuration will be delighted with the Corsair RM750. It works quietly and efficiently.
80 £ on AmazonThe Corsair RM750 is a fully modular 750W gamer PC power supply. It has an 80 Plus Gold energy efficiency rating. The RM750 measures 160mm deep, which is standard for the ATX12V form factor. The RM series refresh for this year has resulted in a change in color scheme from gold/black on the previous generation to black with the RM750. The aesthetics are undeniably bland as a result, but that's still a detail for a PC power supply.
The Corsair RM750 is cooled by a 135mm diameter fan. There is a zero RPM mode, where the fan stays off until you reach a load of about 300W. This intelligent management will save you energy. The fully modular cables are all decent lengths and have the sought-after flat style, which makes them easy to fold and unfold. They also seem a little stiffer than the previous generation, which is a testament to quality.
The Aresgame AGT1000 is a PC power supply designed for gaming enthusiasts because of its very stable power output and performance. This model will also offer you unmatched overclocking capability and control.
151 £ on AmazonThe Aresgame AGT1000 is one of the best 1000W PC power supplies on the market. If you're looking for the best possible performance combined with quiet operation, don't hesitate to make this the centerpiece of your next gamer PC setup. This gamer PSU offers tight load regulation across all rails, incredible ripple suppression, and efficiency levels that surpass many high-end power supplies. Plus, its transient response is impressive.
This model is fully modular. And thanks to a honeycomb design of the fan grill, airflow is improved, as is overall efficiency and heat dissipation performance.. In addition to being powerful and efficient, the Aresgame AGT1000 is also very safe to use. It has all the protection you could hope for.
The Be Quiet! Straight Power 11 750W PC power supply sets the bar really high for systems that require near-inaudible operation. You won't have to compromise on power quality or price.
96 £ on AmazonThe Be Quiet! Straight Power 11 750W PC power supply sports a subtle black appearance, but with several distinct features that set it apart from a common ATX power supply. The most important differentiation is the lower chassis panel that has been designed to reduce aerodynamic noise via its funnel-shaped inlet and low-resistance air intake. In addition, the top-of-the-line Silent Wings 3 fan provides top-notch airflow while producing very little noise.
The Be Quiet! Straight Power 11 750W is a unit designed to provide superior quality and performance for advanced users. On paper, the Straight Power 11 is an impressive product, with impressive quality and performance specifications with its 750W. It's also worth noting that this is one of the few premium power supplies to feature multiple 12V rails.
The Thermaltake Smart RGB 700W is a PC power supply designed for a guy looking to get a good power supply on his tight budget. This PC power supply is distinguished by the presence of RGB LED lights.
50,09 £ on AmazonAny specific needs?
The best PC power supply in 2021
The best entry-level PC power supply
The best high-end PC power supply
The best value among PC power supplies
Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | GREATEST RATING | ALTENATIVE CHEAP | ||
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
7/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
9/10 |
7/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Seasonic FOCUS GX-850
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EVGA 600 W1
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Asus ROG Thor 1200P
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Corsair RM750
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Aresgame AGT1000
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Be Quiet! Straight Power 11 750W
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Thermaltake Smart RGB 700W
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The Seasonic FOCUS GX-850 is a good deal and gets recommendations from all sides. In addition to its performance, this PC power supply is super compact, allowing its installation even in small chassis.
|
If you are building a low-budget setup, the EVGA 600 W1 will be an excellent choice. This PC power supply does not include fancy features like modular cabling or LED lighting. However, we do appreciate the sheathed wires.
|
The ROG Thor 1200P is the most powerful PC power supply in the Asus catalog and one of the few that the brand has produced! But it is clear that the manufacturer has succeeded in its challenge by offering a model with extreme performance.
|
Owners of the latest Nvidia or AMD graphics cards, those who want to overclock and those who want to install an SLI/CrossFire configuration will be delighted with the Corsair RM750. It works quietly and efficiently.
|
The Aresgame AGT1000 is a PC power supply designed for gaming enthusiasts because of its very stable power output and performance. This model will also offer you unmatched overclocking capability and control.
|
The Be Quiet! Straight Power 11 750W PC power supply sets the bar really high for systems that require near-inaudible operation. You won't have to compromise on power quality or price.
|
The Thermaltake Smart RGB 700W is a PC power supply designed for a guy looking to get a good power supply on his tight budget. This PC power supply is distinguished by the presence of RGB LED lights.
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Compatible form factor
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ATX12V
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ATX12V/EPS12V
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ATX12V
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ATX12V, EPS12V
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ATX12V
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ATX12V/EPS12V
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ATX12V
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Power
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850 W
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600 W
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1200 W
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750 W
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1000 W
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750 W
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700 W
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Modularity
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Fully modular
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Non-modular
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Fully modular
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Fully modular
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Fully modular
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Fully modular
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Non-modular
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Energy efficiency rating
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80 Plus Gold
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80 Plus
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80 Plus Platinum
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80 Plus Gold
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80 Plus Gold
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80 Plus Gold
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80 Plus
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Noise level
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32 dB
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24 to 26 dB
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15 to 20 dB
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20 to 25 dB
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26 dB
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8 - 21 dB
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28 dB
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Before choosing a power supply, you need to determine how much power you will actually need from your power supply to run your PC setup. It is important to note that a power supply does not "deliver" power, but the computer components "draw" power from the power supply. Therefore, having a very large capacity power supply will not automatically increase your electricity bill.
Semi-modular power supplies fall somewhere between fully modular and non-modular models. Semi-modular power supplies usually come with at least the 24-pin connector permanently attached, while your 8-pin PCIe and CPU cables may or may not be connected. Some semi-modular models have both 8-pin and PCIe modular connectors, while others do not. Other than these, the rest of the wiring in your semi-modular unit will be modular.
Semi-modular power supplies offer the best compromise between flexibility and price when it comes to modular and non-modular units. Since several wires are already connected to the unit, that's a few less wires that the company has to manufacture separately. This saves you money, even if it means the cable management options won't be as good as with a fully modular unit.
Regardless, the customization options offered by semi-modular units are still great. Chances are you'll need the cables built into the power supply anyway, so it's unlikely they'll cause any additional clutter, and if they do, it would be minimal.
While there are still AT form factor power supplies on the market, they are becoming increasingly rare products. Even the latest ATX form factor power supplies (ATX 2.03 and earlier) are starting to be hard to find. ATX is the current standard form factor and will fit with 95% of the computer cases available on the market today.
Here are the main differences between ATX and AT power supplies:
However, while the width, height and screw placement are the same for all ATX power supplies, the depth of the model may vary. Power supplies are typically 6 inches deep, but more powerful models can be deeper. So make sure the model you're interested in fits in your case.
Thereare several different versions of the ATX12V form factor, and they can be very different from eachother.The ATX12V v1.0 specification added a 4-pin +12V connector to the original ATX form factor to power the processor exclusively, and a 6-pin auxiliary power connector providing +3.3V and +5V. The resulting ATX12V v1.3 specification added the 15-pin SATA power connector in addition to everything else that was there before.
A substantial change occurred with the ATX12V v2.0 specification, which changed the main power connector from a 20-pin format to a 24-pin format, removing the 6-pin auxiliary power connector. In addition, the ATX12V v2.0 specification also isolated the current limit on the 4-pin processor power connector for the 12 V2 rail. Later, the ATX12V v2.1 and v2.2 specifications also increased the efficiency requirements and introduced various other improvements.
AnEPS12V gamer PC power supply uses an 8-pin processor power connector in addition to the 4-pin ATX12V form factor connector. The EPS12V form factor was originally designed for entry-level servers, but more and more high-end motherboards are now incorporating the 8-pin connector, allowing gamers to opt for an EPS12V power supply.
The designation Small Form Factor (SFF) is used to describe a number of smaller power supplies, such as the SFX12V, CFX12V, LFX12V and TFX12V. They are all smaller than the standard ATX12V form factor in terms of physical size, and SFFs must be installed in smaller computer cases.
Non-modular power supplies are exactly what the name implies: the cable configuration cannot be changed. All the cables that the PSU might eventually need are connected to the unit. This makes the PSU cheaper to make, but you'll almost certainly end up not using all of those cables, so you'll have extra cable clutter to deal with.
Naturally, this is both a cable management concern and an aesthetic issue. Too many unused cables could impede airflow, reducing cooling efficiency. However, if the case comes with built-in cable management functionality, chances are that eliminating extra cables won't be too much of an issue. Non-modular PC power supplies, in the end, are a great option for a beginner, since all the cables are already in place.
Fully modular power supplies come with fully modular cables; that is, none are permanently attached to the power supply. For this reason, you have the highest degree of flexibility in your construction and you will have much more ease in cable management. With a modular power supply, you can use only the cables you need, without the added clutter of those you don't.
One of the main reasons a fully modular power supply is useful is that it allows the user to choose custom wire colors for their PC. Obviously, this offers an extra degree of customization that an enthusiast will likely want to take advantage of.
Ultimately, each type of power supply has advantages and disadvantages. It will depend on the context and the user profile. Generally speaking, most PC users will want to use non-modular power supplies, especially those who want to prioritize cost efficiency and don't really care about aesthetics.
You should always aim for a power supply with higher efficiency, and fully modular models will be able to guarantee that, especially if you're setting up a PC for gaming. That being said, the extra money spent on a fully modular power supply guarantees a model that is made with better quality materials, better cable management options, and that benefits from easier troubleshooting in case of problems.
The power supply from a wall outlet is high-voltage alternating current. The type of power that computers need is low-voltage direct current. All parts of the computer need DC power to operate. Power supplies in general are of two types: linear and switch mode. Computers use switch mode power supplies.
One of the purposes of a power supply is to convert AC power to DC power so that the computer has the power it needs to operate its components. An ATX power supply does not connect to the front panel switch like older AT-style power supplies did. With the ATX power supply, a connection between the front panel switch and the motherboard simply provides a 5V signal that allows the motherboard to tell the power supply to turn on.
A PC power supply distributes an appropriate DC voltage to each component. Several cables with connectors come out of the power supply. With ATX motherboards, there is only one 20- or 24-pin connector used to connect the power supply to the motherboard. The power connector only fits one way into the motherboard connector.
The other job of the PC power supply is to provide cooling to the computer. The power supply's fan circulates air throughout the computer. Most computer cases have vents on one side, both sides or the back of the computer. The ATX style power supply blows air into the case rather than out the back. This is called counterflow cooling. The air blows over the processor and memory to keep them cool.
In our opinion, the best brands of PC power supplies in 2022 are :
Corsair is one of the world's leading manufacturers of equipment for gamers, content creators and PC enthusiasts. The brand offers a complete ecosystem of products that work together to enable everyone from casual gamers to committed professionals to be the best they can be, including a wide range of PC power supplies.
EVGAis one of the world's leaders in PC power supplies compatible with NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, which, because of their quality and reliability, puts them at the forefront of the industry. The brand also offers a range of high-quality PC power supplies as well as motherboards.
Seasonicis a manufacturer of consumer and industrial grade PC power supplies. The brand's main stated goal is to bring the latest technology at the best possible value to all their customers, who need cutting-edge features combined with top performance and total reliability.
Thermaltakeis a company that was founded in 1999 and initially specialized in air cooling. Today Thermaltake has established a strong foothold in the PC power supply market, pioneering the integration of RGB lights into power supplies with its Thermaltake Smart RGB series.
Be Quiet! is a German brand that primarily produces PC cases, power supplies (PSUs), and PC cooling related products. As the company's name suggests, their Be Quiet! products are primarily designed for quiet operation.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
A high power rating does not equal a quality unit
Just because a PC power supply is listed as a 600W model doesn't mean it can deliver that amount of power during a long usage session. Some novice users make the mistake of thinking that just because a power supply has a high power rating, it means it's a power supply that will meet their needs. And, because many of these low-quality power supplies are offered at very low prices, some make the mistake of thinking they are getting a good deal. The reality, however, is that they are buying a very poor unit that has a misleading power rating.
Consider expert advice
Testing a power supply is a somewhat more complex process than a test or benchmarking that you do on other computer components like a graphics card or keyboard. And, because the process of testing power supplies is a bit more complex than testing other components, there aren't as many reviews of PC power supplies as there are of processors or mice.
Fortunately, there are a handful of reputable PC power supply sites. Here are a few of them:
Before you buy a power supply, it's a good idea to see if any of the above websites have already tested it.
Check safety certificates
This isa very important thing to consider. A power supply without a safety certificate can cause fire and electric shock. Safety agencies control creapage and clearance between electrical devices. Improper creepage and clearance can cause arcing that can start a fire.
Check voltage specifications
Always use a power supply with a wide input range, such as 100-240 V. This is very important to avoid anomalies. Consider the input frequency range suitable for your use. If you plan to use a DC input, buy a power supply with a DC input voltage capability (e.g. 127-300 V DC).
Don't forget aesthetics
Whileyou shouldn't judge a book by its cover, you should certainly judge a PC power supply by its appearance as well. Take a look at the outer shell of the power supply. A cheap, low-quality model might not even be coated with paint and would give a metallic appearance cheap. Good quality power supplies also include flat, black cables and connectors, which improves the overall aesthetics of the unit.
Not at all. Your computer only consumes the amount of power it needs. The extra capacity of a high-powered PC power supplywill improve the operating range, regulation, dwell time, ripple, cooling and MTBF of the power supply.
One of the biggest things that causes confusion for those who are putting together a PC for the first time is how many watts they need for their CPU. In the simplest terms, a gaming PC with a single graphics card will require a PC power supply ranging from 400 to 650 watts to function properly. But if you're using more than one graphics card in an SLI/ CrossFire configuration, you'll typically need a power supply that's higher than 650W.
In orderto compare the power ratings of PC power supplies, you need to know whether the manufacturer's power rating is continuous or peak power.If "continuous" is not clearly stated on the label or in the specifications, assume the rating is peak and deduct 20% for an estimate of the actual power.
Checkthe output voltages with a voltmeter or power supply tester. If they are all within 5% of the rating (5.0V, 12.0V, etc.), the problem is probably with the motherboard or software. To confirm, find a backup power supply.
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