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Best Power Supplies
Best Power Supplies of 2022 – 550W / 650W / 850W / 1000W
The Best Power Supplies for 2022
Choosing a suitable power supply is critical because it is one of the most important components of your PC build. Although saving money on your power supply may appear to be an excellent way to save money on a better CPU/GPU, going too far can be disastrous. Take care. Modular power supplies not only make your PC build look cleaner and provide a more comfortable cable management experience, but they are frequently built better than their standard counterparts.
Although purchasing a modular PSU does not guarantee it, it does increase the likelihood of receiving higher quality units. If you want a quick list of recommended modular (semi and full) power supplies for gaming or heavy rendering workloads, look no further:
We rated, reviewed, and compared 15 of the best power supplies in various price ranges. These top gaming power supplies are ideal for gamers looking to build a new gaming PC.
The power supply is one component that is frequently overlooked during the component selection process. However, your computer will not be able to function without a power supply. Furthermore, the quality of the power supply you choose now will dictate what other components you can put into your computer now and in the future. If you use a low-cost power supply, you will be unable to install a high-end graphics card in your system.
So, even if your gaming power supply won’t allow you to play at a higher framerate or on a 1440p monitor, it’s still an essential component. As a result, you should take your time when selecting a high-quality gaming computer power supply. In this article, we’ll look at the best gaming power supplies for 2022. I’ve divided the categories by wattage because there are so many different PSU tier lists out there and I think it would be easier for builders to search by the wattage they require.
So there are four categories: best power supplies over 1000W, best power supplies between 800W and 1000W, best power supplies between 600W and 800W, and best power supplies between 400W and 600W. There are several options for each wattage range, but keep in mind that this list does not include every high-quality power supply available. Some have been left out, not because they aren’t good units, but to keep this list from becoming too long. I will continue to update this list on a regular basis in order to make selecting a power supply as simple as possible.
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 works for you, the four power supplies listed below are our top choices for the best options for various scenarios. We chose the best power supply for extreme users, the best unit for users building a high-end computer, the best power supply for those looking for an option that offers excellent value for the performance it provides, and the best option for anyone looking for an affordable power supply that is good enough to run a single GPU setup without issue.
NAME | SPECS | RATING | |||
EXTREME | EVGA SN 1600 T2 |
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9.7/10 | Check Price | |
HIGH-END | EVGA SN 850 T2 |
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9.3/10 | Check Price | |
VALUE | Seasonic FOCUS 750 |
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8.6/10 | Check Price | |
BUDGET | EVGA BR 600 |
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8.2/10 | Check Price |
1000W+ POWER SUPPLIES
There aren’t many gamers out there who will ever need to use a power supply greater than 1000W in their gaming computers. Power supplies in this price range are truly monstrous and are best suited for enthusiasts looking to build extreme setups. So, if you’re not planning on running 3-way or 4-way SLI/CrossFire and overclocking your CPU and video card to record-breaking levels, a large power supply isn’t necessary. However, if you’re one of the few immortals who needs enough power to power a small village, these 1000W+ units will come in handy.
1000W+ PSU REVIEWS (CLICK ‘READ REVIEW’ TO EXPAND)
EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2 |
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9.7/10 | Check Price
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Corsair AX1600i |
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9.7/10 | Check Price
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Seasonic SSR-1200PD |
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9.5/10 | Check Price
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EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 T2 |
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9.4/10 | Check Price
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Corsair RM1000x |
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9.3/10 | Check Price
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800-1000W POWER SUPPLIES
Even a power supply in the 800W-1000W range will be overkill for 90% of gamers. Again, unless you intend to run multiple video card configurations now or in the future and engage in some extreme system tuning, this much power is unnecessary. However, if you want to run a 2-way SLI/CrossFire setup with two high-end video cards, an 850W power supply will suffice.
And, with these units, you’ll have plenty of room to build a ridiculous setup. It should also be noted that, while the EVGA SuperNOVA T2 is included, the EVGA SuperNOVA P2 is not. It’s not that the P2 power supply isn’t adequate… In fact, it’s a very good choice… However, it does not have the same efficiency as the T2, so in order to include the best, I went with the T2 option instead. However, if you’re looking to save money, the P2 line is also a good option.
800-1000W+ PSU REVIEWS (CLICK ‘READ REVIEW’ TO EXPAND)
EVGA SuperNOVA 850 T2 |
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9.3/10 | Check Price
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Corsair AX860 |
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9.2/10 | Check Price
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SeaSonic X-850 |
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9.1/10 | Check Price
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600-800W POWER SUPPLIES
The 600W-800W range is the high end for single video card configurations and the low end for 2-way SLI/CrossFire configurations. A good 700W-750W power supply will let you run two moderate video cards in SLI/CrossFire mode. As a result, PSUs in this price range are ideal for anyone looking to upgrade in the future. If you’re building a high-end single video card setup, these power supplies will also give you a lot of headroom for system tuning. However, even if you want to use a high-end video card like the RTX 3080 Ti, a quality 700 watt power supply will suffice.
600-800W+ PSU REVIEWS (CLICK ‘READ REVIEW’ TO EXPAND)
EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2 |
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8.8/10 | Check Price
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Corsair RM750x |
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8.8/10 | Check Price
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SeaSonic FOCUS 750 |
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8.6/10 | Check Price
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Corsair CX650M |
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8.4/10 | Check Price
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400-600W POWER SUPPLIES
This power supply range is the most practical for the majority of gamers. If you’re building a low-cost system, a 450W power supply will suffice. Even if you choose a powerful video card such as the RX 5700 XT or RTX 2070 Super, a quality 550W-600W unit such as the ones listed in the chart below will suffice. So, unless you’re building an extreme setup with multiple video cards (or intend to do so in the future), the power supplies on this list are probably the way to go.
400-600W PSU REVIEWS (CLICK ‘READ REVIEW’ TO EXPAND)
EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G3 |
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8.5/10 | Check Price
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EVGA 600 BR |
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8.2/10 | Check Price
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Corsair CX550M |
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8.2/10 | Check Price
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SeaSonic S12III 550 |
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8.1/10 | Check Price
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WHICH POWER SUPPLY IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
It would be absurd to claim that this is a comprehensive list of power supplies. There are simply too many excellent options on the market to list them all and provide a brief overview of each one. However, taking price-to-performance into account, this list provides you with 3-5 very solid options for each wattage range to help you choose a quality power supply for your next build. Finally, if you intend to build a new gaming computer, you will require a high-quality power supply. It is never a good idea to skimp on your power supply. Fortunately, if you stick to this list, you won’t make a mistake.
Good Power Supplies vs. Bad Power Supplies
There are numerous horror stories about things going horribly wrong out there. A power supply failure is unique in that it directly powers many of your (likely) more expensive components, increasing the possibility of it frying other parts as well. A bad/cheap power supply will usually ‘work’ as long as it is not overloaded. This is something I have firsthand knowledge of! When I upgraded my graphics card on my old PC, my Corsair CX 500W (the old one) burned out (2013). IT not only died, but it also took my motherboard with it. Nothing else, thankfully.
The PSU had served me well on my previous build for over two years with no problems. My guess is that the total power draw got dangerously close to full load, causing the mishap.
What is a Modular Power Supply?
Modular power supply units, or PSUs, allow you to connect only the power cables required by your PC. It reduces the number of cables inside your case, allowing you to manage only those required by your computer.
Traditional power supplies have non-removable cables, so if you don’t need that extra PCI-E power connector, you’ll have to hide it somewhere.
Modular Power Supplies: Are they always good/better than the rest?
Yes, from a purely probabilistic standpoint, a modular power supply is more likely to be of higher quality than a standard PSU because they are among the more ‘premium’ products offered by manufacturers. This isn’t to say that bad modular power supplies don’t exist. To be safe, don’t take modularity as a sure sign of quality.
Fully-Modular vs. Semi-Modular PSUs: What’s the difference?
When it comes to modularity, it is classified into two types. Fully-modular power supplies go the extra mile, allowing you to connect all of your components as needed, including CPU and motherboard power. Semi-modular PSUs, on the other hand, come with a few core components (8-pin CPU power, 24-pin ATX motherboard power, etc.) permanently attached. So, what’s the point of going fully modular if you’re going to have to connect core components anyway? You could do something like this:
This is also possible with semi-modular and regular power supplies, but it requires dealing with cable extensions and adding even more clutter to your build. If you intend to make aesthetic changes in the future, it is preferable to use fully-modular power supplies.
Our Modular PSU Recommendations
Although I’m aware that there are a plethora of impressive power supplies at every price point, I’ve tried to stick to models that are available in the majority of regions. I’ve included the base part numbers for manufacturers that vary part numbers by region to make your search easier.
PSUs Between 500W and 600W
I don’t recommend going modular at this wattage range unless absolutely necessary because these units are a little too pricey for my tastes. People building PCs with smaller form-factors with low-profile GPUs that require every bit of space they can get, or those aiming for low-power systems, on the other hand, may find them worthwhile.
Best 550W Modular Power Supply Unit (PSU)
CORSAIR TX-M Series TX550M 80-Plus Gold (Semi-Modular)
Best 650W Modular Power Supplies
Budget Pick: EVGA 650 B5 80-Plus Bronze (Fully-Modular)
The 650 B5 from EVGA is an excellent choice for gaming systems because of its modular design and high power output. OVP, UVP; OCP; OPP; SCP; and OTP (if you don’t know what these are; we’ve covered them in this guide to choosing Power Supply Units) are all included in its price. However, if you’re going to be using it for a long time, I’d recommend the premium advice below. 220-5650-V1 is the part number.
Premium Pick: CORSAIR RM650 80-Plus Gold (Fully-Modular)
Corsair offers decent value with its RM series PSUs, and the 650W option is no exception. If you’re going to be running workloads like renders at this wattage tier, this is the product I’d recommend. It does come with a 10-year warranty as well, so that’s quite attractive as well. Part Number: CP-9020194
Power Supplies Between 701W and 1000W
While most gaming systems won’t need power at this tier, if you’re aiming for a top-tier build, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. The recommendations here are a bit different than the lower wattage tiers. Even the ‘budget’ options are built exceptionally well with all popular safety features available. Hence, the premium recommendation will focus on a few extras like a higher efficiency rating, silent operation, and so on.
Best 850W Modular Power Supplies
Budget Option #1: SEASONIC FOCUS GX-850 80-Plus Gold (Fully-Modular)
Budget Option #2: CORSAIR RMx Series™ RM850x 80-Plus Gold (Fully-Modular)
Both Seasonic and Corsair offer an 850W power supply at an affordable price without sacrificing quality. If the prices of these two options are about the same where you live, consider the Seasonic over the Corsair. (Seasonic) or (CP)-9020180 (Seasonic) (Corsair)
Premium Option: be quiet! DARK POWER PRO 11 Silent 850W /1000W 80-Plus Platinum (Semi-Modular)
Keep your voice down! If you have the cash, has a well-deserved reputation for providing only the most luxurious of experiences. Keeping with the be quiet! moniker, the Dark Power Pro 11 series is designed in a manner that is virtually soundproof. Fluid dynamic bearing fans ensure that the fans don’t even start up when the load is low, and they stay quiet even when the load is high.
Power Supplies Between 1001W and Above
Most likely, you’re dealing with large workloads like lengthy renderings, which need the use of many GPUs. This much power is being drawn and distributed to pricey components, so be sure you’re not sacrificing quality in any way.
Best 1200W and 1600W Modular Power Supplies
Premium Option #1: be quiet! DARK POWER PRO 11 1200W 80-Plus Platinum (Semi-Modular)
Premium Option #2: CORSAIR AX1600i 1600W (Fully-Modular)
Most likely, you’re dealing with large workloads like lengthy renderings, which need the use of many GPUs. This much power is being drawn and distributed to pricey components, so be sure you’re not sacrificing quality in any way.