Introduction

As a reviewer I have tested hundreds of power supplies, so I created this article to help you find the best power supply. The power supply is a vital component in a PC because it supplies electrical power to every other part in your computer. If your power supply was included with the case, I recommend you swap it out for an aftermarket PSU suited to your needs. A good PSU can reward you with stable overclocks, low noise, and better cooling for other components through improved airflow. You might even be able to save money in the long run as a quality power supply will operate more efficiently, resulting in a reduction of your power bill. At the same time, a bad PSU can damage expensive components, such as motherboards or graphics cards, and possibly destroy data by damaging your storage devices.



Unlike many other "best of" articles, this guide does not contain affiliate links, so you can be sure I'm not recommending whoever pays the highest commission. The primary factor for my selection of the best power supply is its overall performance score based on my in-depth reviews. The score is derived using an algorithm I started developing many years ago. Besides just performance, the recommendations in this article also consider build quality and protection features. The price tag of the power supply is important, too, but a major factor only for the "best budget" power supply category. Furthermore, a quiet power supply will always be preferred over a noisy model.

In this article, I offer my picks for the best power supplies across various categories defined by needs and not just budget. The recommendations are backed by a wealth of testing data and pricing.

Our Best Power Supply Recommendations

The table below depicts the best PSU for every possible scenario. If you want to learn more about a specific power supply model, why we recommend it, or what the alternatives are, just click on it to be redirected to the corresponding section on the second page.

Best power supply for...

Power Supply Shopping Tips

The most frequent questions are what wattage will be required and whether it will it be enough. There are some PSU calculators, but I wouldn't rely on them too much because even two identical parts (e.g., processors) can differ significantly in terms of power consumption, mostly under overclocked conditions, including GPUs. Power spikes CPUs and GPUs can create are another issue PSU calculators don't even touch. Some of these power spikes can lead to the PSU shutting down if any of its protection features are triggered (usually overcurrent protection). Yet another issue is the transient response of a power supply to sudden loads, which can lead to instability if poor.

The most energy-demanding component in a PC is the graphics card, and the best way to find out its power consumption is to read one of our reviews, where power consumption is detailed under various scenarios and with comparisons. There is also the Cybenetics GPU database, and of course reviews from other sites. The second-most energy demanding component is the processor. While manufacturers provide TDP (Thermal Design Power) numbers, these can often be wildly inaccurate, so the best way is to look at reviews and just add up all the numbers.

The best way to evaluate your power supply requirements if you want to replace your current unit is to use a kill-a-watt device and run an intense benchmark. The peak wattage you see will prove useful in deciding on your next PSU purchase. A safe choice is a PSU with at least 20% headroom over your peak wattage, not only for future upgrades, but also because even the best power supply delivers its highest efficiency at loads in the 30%–50% range of its maximum rated capacity.

In the past, high wattage PSUs suffered from low efficiency at light loads, but that's not true anymore. Based on the newest ATX specification, all PSUs should achieve over 70% efficiency at 10 W (<500 W units) or 2% (>500 W) of their maximum-rated-capacity load. Burst-mode operation allows modern power supply designs to be highly efficient under very light and light loads regardless of the maximum power output.

Another important factor is the PSU's size. Nowadays, most power supplies have compact dimensions. However, you should check the chassis you intend to use to see if the PSU fits, also as some chassis don't even support ATX form factor PSUs, but require SFX or SFX-L PSUs, which are much smaller.

It is common knowledge that most users prefer fully modular PSUs over semi-modular ones. Non-modular PSUs are only recommended in low-end systems where cost is a top priority, and the difference is only a few dollars anyways. A fully or semi-modular power supply allows for better cable management, which improves airflow in your system and leads to lower thermal loads. Consequently, output noise can be lower as well.

The RGB trend has made its way to power supplies as well, but this feature should be at the bottom of your list unless you are a case modder wanting to show off your nice power supply. Many cases have closed PSU compartments, so make sure you get the right chassis if you want to look at your PSU's RGB light show.