While not as glamorous as the CPU and graphics card, picking the right power supply unit (PSU) for your gaming PC is crucial as opting for something not quite powerful enough can prove to be a costly mistake. Investing in a quality supply from a well-known brand is a great way to ensure your other components are protected in case of power surges and similar events.
Whether you're looking to save money on a cheap build to climb the ranks in League of Legends and Valorant or splash the cash on a high-end 1000W rig, we've picked the best power supplies for all gaming PCs. Our list features modular and non-modular designs from great brands like Corsair, Evga, and Cooler Master, so whatever your budget, there's something worth considering below!
Quick List - Top Power Supplies for Gaming PCs
Cooler Master
A Fully Modular PSU for Mid-Range Gaming PCs Looking For Optimal Airflow
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Table of Contents
When choosing a PSU, the most important thing to consider is the number of watts you'll need to power all of your components. Generally speaking, the more complex your build is, the more watts you'll need. If you're building a liquid-cooled behemoth with dual GPUs, a high-end motherboard, and three hard drives, you're going to need more power than for something simpler.
It's worth keeping in mind that a 750-watt PSU won't be consuming that amount of power all the time, but only when the system needs it, so it's better to err on the side of caution. If you know your build uses around 500 watts of power, opting for a 550 or 600-watt PSU won't be costing you any extra electricity as it'll only draw what's needed.
The minimum amount we recommend for a gaming PC running a single SSD and a low to mid-level GPU would be 500 watts. For higher-level gaming PCs that you may want to stream from, 650-750 watts is a good average to aim for, and 850-1000 watts is suitable for real top-of-the-line builds that you plan on pushing to the limit.
Don't forget to grab the best graphics card you can afford when building a gaming PC!
There are two main types of PSUs: modular and non-modular. The only difference between the two designs is in their cable connections. Otherwise, they function in exactly the same way. Modular PSUs have cables you can attach and detach to the unit itself, meaning that you only ever have the wiring you need inside of your case taking up space.
Non-modular power supply units have fixed cables for all the potential connections you may end up using, meaning your case will most likely have a few extra SATA and PCIe cables kicking around at the bottom. While these aren't great for smaller-form builds or ones with additional components, the drastic difference in price means you can make some serious savings in larger towers.
Make sure everything's running smoothly by picking the right motherboard for gaming.
Finally, you'll want to ensure all the parts in your build are compatible. It's essential to check that your power supply slots nicely into whichever case you've decided on. The good news is that, for the most part, power supplies are universal in size outside of some specific form factors designed for smaller cases.
The average power supply has the ATX form factor. This is compatible with all types of ATX cases, which tend to be the norm when building a gaming PC. If you're looking for something suitable for a mini-ITX case or other small form factors, you can opt for an SFX; these can also work in ATX cases but may need a bracket and are often a little more expensive.
Want to reduce the cost of your new build without sacrificing power? Check out these budget PC cases.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cooler Master MWE 650 Gold V2 | ![]() | A Fully Modular PSU for Mid-Range Gaming PCs Looking For Optimal Airflow | |
2 | Evga 500 W1 | ![]() | A Reliable Choice for Budget Builds With a Three-Year Warranty | |
3 | Corsair CX750M | ![]() | An Interesting Semi-Modular Option for High-End PCs Using Liquid Cooling | |
4 | Aerocool Integrator 850W | ![]() | A Powerful PSU for Futureproofing a Build on a Budget | |
5 | Corsair CV550 | ![]() | An Affordable Pick-Up for the Majority of Gaming PCs | |
6 | ASUS ROG STRIX 1000W | ![]() | A Fully Modular Offering Boasting Serious 1000W Power and a Ten-Year Warranty | |
7 | Be Quiet System Power 9 | ![]() | A Solid, Quiet Runner for Mid-Range Builds at a Reasonable Price | |
8 | Cooler Master V650 SFX Gold | ![]() | Fantastic for a Small Form Build and Designed for the Living Room | |
9 | Corsair SF740 | ![]() | A Powerful PSU for Mini-ITX Cases That Need Liquid Cooling | |
10 | SilverStone SX700 | ![]() | Fully Silent and Containing All-Japanese Capacitors |
Not only is the Cooler Master MWE 650 Gold V2 the cheapest modular option on our list, but it's also the best suited for mid-range gaming PCs thanks to a 90% efficiency rating. Cooler Master is the premier brand when it comes to keeping your PC components from overheating.
It comes with a higher temperature threshold than the average, making it a good choice for overclocking, and the120 mm hydro-dynamic bearing fan will respond to the unit's temperature accordingly. This is the one to go for if you're looking for a PSU to enable excellent airflow and maximise cooling.
The Evga 500 W1 is the perfect choice if you're looking for a reliable, budget-friendly option for a low-end PC. For playing slightly older titles, emulating retro classics, or enjoying less resource-intensive games like League of Legends or Minecraft, you won't be disappointed.
It comes with heavy-duty protection to prevent short-circuiting and over-voting, among others. Evga even offer a three-year warranty against any issues, so even at a budget price point, this is sure to be a long-lasting and quality PSU.
Anyone who keeps up to date with PC gaming will be familiar with Corsair and its range of PC accessories, components, and peripherals. The CX750M is a fantastic choice if you want to make sure you have some extra power for liquid cooling.
The unique aspect of this PSU is that it's semi-modular, meaning that the essential cables are fixed to the unit, but any extra connections you require are optional. Again, this helps with space for any liquid cooling radiators you may want to install.
Normally, you'd have to be wary about purchasing a powerful PSU at a bargain price, but the Integrator 850W from Aerocool isn't a risk at all. If you're looking to potentially add some parts to your build, this is a great option to make sure you have enough power going forwards.
You really can't argue with the quality for the price, so it deservedly takes a spot in our top five. However, we will say this is more for experienced builders. The non-modular nature means you'll have to be comfortable with your cable management if you plan on making use of the full 850 watts. If you know what you're doing, this is an absolute steal!
It can be easy to get lost in talk of liquid cooling and high-end graphics cards, but the majority of gaming PCs don't need to be a NASA supercomputer. The Corsair CV550 is perfect for the average, mid-range PC.
If you're looking to play some Call of Duty, Valorant, or Apex Legends with friends in the evenings or on weekends, this will quietly do the trick for the best part of a decade without worry. It provides up to 88% operational efficiency with a thermally controlled low-noise cooling fan.
The ASUS ROG STRIX 1000W is one of the most powerful premium offerings on the market today. The dual fan barings last twice as long as the average and ASUS offer a whopping ten-year warranty against any technical issues.
The obvious drawback for this behemoth of a PSU is the price point – it's only really an option for high-budget builds. If you're looking to splash the cash on the best, however, then there's no better alternative out there.
If you couldn't tell from the name, this PSU runs nicely at low volumes, featuring a temperature-controlled fan to reduce system noise. You'll hear a little whoosh when you power on, and then it'll be almost silent from then on out!
The Be Quiet is something of a jack of all trades but master of none proposition, offering good power for a reasonable price. You can't go wrong if you're after something functional that requires 600 watts. But if you need a little more or a little less, there are better prospects out there.
At the tail end of our list sits the SFX-compatible PSUs, as their price and size often make them an imperfect option for most gaming PCs. However, this unit from Cooler Master is a fantastic choice for small builds – plus, it's functionally identical to our number one pick.
If you were looking to build a small form option to sit in a living room cabinet for some couch gaming or emulation, this is easily the one to go for. You'd have to make sure you knew what you were doing, though, as you can easily overheat a system by putting too many things in close proximity!
If you're looking for some extra power in your small form or mini-ITX, this option from Corsair offers an impressive 750 watts. You won't require much more than that in a small case, but this should give the extra oomph needed for a liquid cooling system if you have the space.
Liquid cooling a small case is the most effective option but also the riskiest if you're inexperienced. Considering the costs involved, make sure you have a couple of other builds under your belt before investing in this model.
The SilverStone SX700 is one of the best SFX power supply units around, containing all Japanese capacitors and class-leading voltage regulation. It's also fully modular and has a silent-running 92 mm fan, making it another suitable choice for liquid-cooled systems.
While a great PSU in a vacuum, it's not quite ideal for the majority of gaming builds out there. Even for liquid-cooled, small form PCs, there are cheaper and more powerful alternatives available. If you catch it at the right price, however, this won't disappoint you.
No. 1: Cooler Master| MWE 650 Gold V2
No. 2: Evga|500 W1
No. 3: Corsair|CX750M
No. 4: Aerocool|Integrator 850W
No. 5: Corsair|CV550
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