A PC power supply won’t boost your frame rate, but it will make sure everything in your PC is safe, secure, and running efficiently. A bad PSU risks system crashes at stock settings – nevermind overclocking – due to unstable power delivery, and can even cause other components to fail. The best power supplies help make sure that doesn’t happen.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Power Supplies:
A great PSU will also come with useful features that make building a solid gaming PC easier and safer. Things like modular cabling for easier installation and a neater-looking PC and greater efficiency ratings. Higher-end power supplies will also have higher wattage limits that make it possible to run powerful high-end CPUs and top-tier graphics cards.
Pricier, higher-wattage units tend to be some of the best, but you can also denote quality from a power supply’s efficiency rating. Older designs used the classic 80+ rating system, with Platinum and Titanium rated units offering the best internal components and overall designs. However, there’s a newer Cybenetics rating that is more stringent. It also labels PSUs as Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Diamond for the highest-quality units.
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When you’re trying to choose a PSU, you need to figure out what wattage your components will demand (think CPU and GPU). If you’re running one of the latest RTX 50-series graphics cards, you want a native 12VHPWR connector at the least, or ideally the newer 12V-2x6, which is a little safer. However, these GPUs do come with an adapter, so older 8-pin PCIe connectors will do in a pinch – even if they won’t look as fancy.
For high-end PSUs, the designs are typically modular, which lets you only plug in the cables you need. There are some cheaper, non-modular units out there like the Corsair CX550, so make sure your case has enough space for all the cables and that whatever PSU you’re buying is designed for your style of case. For instance, ATX PSUs may not fit in small form factor systems that live inside great Mini-ITX cases, which may be better served with an SFX or SFX-L design.
Efficiency is also important to avoid unnecessary power wastage, which can raise your energy bills. Typically, the 80 Plus and Cybenetics ratings tend to be a good indicator of PSU quality: A Gold model is more efficient and higher quality than a Silver model, while Titanium and Platinum are the most efficient PSUs with higher quality components.
What do PSU efficiency ratings mean?
A PSU efficiency rating essentially tells you how much energy is lost when converting AC power from the wall to the DC power of PC components. A higher rating means less power will be wasted, lowering energy costs, heat, and often fan noise. Better components are also used in higher efficiency PSUs, helping improve the longevity of the power supply.
80 PLUS certification is the most common rating system for the efficiency of power supplies at different load percentages. The lowest rating is Bronze, then Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium. For average PC users, 80 PLUS Gold is a solid rating, as it denotes decent quality and often comes at a more reasonable price. However, for battle stations with powerful hardware that’s used daily, a Platinum or Titanium rating is better suited.
A newer, independent rating certification, Cybenetics, is also becoming more common. It's similar to the 80 PLUS Certification, only it tests the entire load percentage range and fan noise. Metals, just like 80 PLUS, are used to measure efficiency, while a lettering system (Standard, Standard+, Standard++, A-, A, A+, A++) indicates noise level.
How do I tell if my PSU is too weak?
The easiest way to tell your PSU is too weak is if your PC freezes, shuts down, or reboots when under a heavy load. Other common indicators are corrupt displays, overheating, peripheral failures, and slow app loads. While there could be other issues plaguing your PC, a wattage calculator is a great way to determine if the components, like the GPU and CPU, are too powerful for your PSU.
Should I buy a modular PSU?
You don’t need to buy a modular PSU, but it’s not a bad idea, especially if you’re looking for more flexibility. A fully modular PSU allows all the cables to be detached, making for easier assembly, better cable management, and improved airflow. If you’ve got a cramped case or plan to upgrade PC components down the road, a modular PSU is the way to go. But it will come at a higher cost.
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