The Best Power Supplies For Gaming in 2022
Power supply (PSU) is the most overlooked part of any build even though it’s the most important one. Choosing the best power supply for your needs might seem straightforward but there’s a lot to unwrap there.
The buying advice will come later. First, let us show you the best power supplies you can get right now, ranging from relatively humble 500W models to beasts offering 1600W of power. If you like our best power supply for gaming guide, you can check out our CPU for gaming and gaming motherboard guides. They’re also great. Let’s begin.
Contents
Best Gaming PSUs
MSI MPG Series A650GF
Good Quality Modular Power Supply
- 650W+
- 80 Plus Gold Certified
- Fully modular
- 100% Japanese 105°C capacitors
A good PC build will always include a good PSU unit that will be able to feed your components enough power to keep the system running without failure. The MSI MPG A650GF is one of these reputable power supply units that can ensure the smooth operation of your system.
The MSI MPG A650GF comes in many capacities but the one we are looking at currently is the 650W model, which is enough to power most medium-ranged builds. The PSU is 80 Plus Gold Certified which means you will have lower energy consumption and higher energy efficiency.
Besides the 80 Plus Gold certification, the MPG A650GF is also a fully modular power supply which is a great feature for cable management and keeping your build clean. The cables included with the MSI PSU are flat and easy to route through your build.
One of the big selling points of this PSU, in particular, is that it uses 100% Japanese 105°C capacitors that are not only durable but also highly efficient.
- Highly efficient because of the 80 Plus Gold certification
- Good build quality with Japanese internals
- The modular design makes it easy to install and manage cables
- 10-year warranty
- The flat cables although flat are pretty stiff and cheap feeling
Corsair CX550F RGB
For When You Need More RGB
- 550W
- 80 Plus Bronze Certified
- Fully modular
- RGB
Corsair is pretty well known in the PSU market since they have been producing excellent quality products. This time around Corsair decided to take a more controversial route and make something that not only is efficient but also stylish.
The Corsair CX550F RGB is an 80 Plus Bronze PSU that (as you might have guessed) has RGB on the main fan. This serves no real purpose in terms of energy efficiency, but if you are in an RGB craze and want EVERYTHING to go rainbow-mode then this PSU is a good pick for you.
Besides the RGB the CX550F is a fully modular power supply that is a nice feature for convenience and cable management. Although this 550W power supply is not the best in terms of capacity or efficiency, if you have a lower-end build that is focused more on aesthetics and not on raw performance then this PSU is a good pick for you.
- Highly efficient because of the 80 Plus Gold certification
- Good build quality with Japanese internals
- The modular design makes it easy to install and manage cables
- Only 80 Plus Bronze certification
- Only 550W
NZXT C750
One Of The Best 80 Plus Gold 750W PSUs
- Fully Modular Design
- 80 Plus Gold Certification
- Semi Passive Mode
- ATX Form Factor
- 750 W Power
The NZXT C750 looks good (for a power supply) and it comes with excellent performance, good efficiency, fully modular design, and a 10-year warranty. The PSU has some downsides but they’re not game-breaking, aside from making noticeable noise under high loads. The PSU is fairly quiet under most conditions but the fan kicks into sixth gear when under high load, which can be loud enough to be distracting.
This shouldn’t bother you if you’re gaming with headphones or have an already loud CPU, GPU, or case fans but those looking for a quiet power supply should look elsewhere. The thing is, in the world where PSU prices are higher than ever the NZXT C750 is selling at a pretty competitive price, which makes it a great bang for the buck choice.
- Solid Performance
- Excellent Efficiency
- Fully Modular Design
- Competitive Price
- 10-Year Warranty
- Can Be Loud Under High Loads
be quiet! Straight Power 11 Platinum 650W
The Best Power Supply For Gaming PC If You Want A Silent PSU
- Fully Modular Design
- 80 Plus Platinum Certification
- Semi Passive Mode
- ATX Form Factor
- 650 W Power
be quiet! is known for its efficiently silent cases and fans and when it comes to power supplies, the company does not disappoint. The Straight Power 11 Platinum 650W is a quality power supply with excellent efficiency, full modularity, quality cables, and pretty solid performance. The best part about this PSU is that it’s completely silent most of the time.
Even when fully loaded the fan’s so quiet its noise is overshadowed by other fans in your PC. That said, while the PSU has high-quality parts, its overcurrent protection is set too high, which could damage your PC in case of a sudden power spike. If you live in an area with an unstable power grid, you should think twice before getting this PSU.
Everyone else should definitely consider getting this PSU if they want an efficient and quality made 650W power supply that’s exceptionally quiet. The only major downside, aside from high OCP, is the high price and five-year warranty period, which is lower than what other manufacturers offer in the same price bracket.
- Efficient
- Exceptionally Quiet
- Fully Modular
- 80 Plus Platinum Certification
- High OCP
- Expensive
EVGA Supernova 750 GT
The No Frills Ultra-Reliable Option
- 750W
- 80 Plus Gold Certified
- Fully modular
- 100% Japanese Capacitors and Dual OTP Protections
If you are looking for a power supply unit that will not die on you for sure then it is a good idea to look at EVGA offerings since they make some heavy-duty products. The EVGA Supernova 750GT is a 750W power supply that is capable enough to handle most mid to high-end builds.
This is emphasized by the 80 Plus Gold certification and the 7-year warranty you receive with this power supply. The PSU is also fully modular which enables you to reduce clutter and get rid of power cables you do not need.
This unit uses 100% Japanese Capacitors and has Dual OTP Protections to ensure the safety of your PC. The fan is also quite good considering it uses a fluid dynamic bearing and it can also go on auto Eco mode to operate as quietly as possible when not under load.
Overall an extremely reliable and well build PSU with the added comfort of full modularity.
- Extremely reliable PSU unit
- Premium build quality with good internals
- Quiet operation because of the fluid dynamic fan and the auto Eco mode
- 7-year warranty in case something does happen
- On the more expensive side of the PSU spectrum
Cooler Master V750 SFX
A High-Quality SFX PSU
- 750W
- 80 Plus Gold Certified
- Fully modular
- SFX to ATX bracket
Depending on how big your case is you might also need to look into special sizes for your other parts, including your power supply. In case you are building a mini-ITX PC then you will need a good SFX form factor PSU that will be able to power your high-end components.
The Cooler Master V750 SFX is exactly one of these specially sized power supply units that can fit in smaller-sized cases. This unit specifically is 750W so it will be enough to power a lot of common builds people will have.
The PSU is also 80 Plus Gold rated which means it is highly efficient at delivering power from the socket to your components. The Cooler Master V750 is also a fully modular PSU that eliminates additional clutter in your case.
Because of the special size, the PSU does also come with an SFX to ATX bracket in case you will use this PSU in a bigger ATX case too.
- High-quality PSU
- Special SFX size for smaller builds
- The full modularity comes in handy when building in smaller cases
- The 80 Plus Efficiency will ensure that the PSU stays cooler when used in a smaller case
- Pricier because of the special SFX size
ASUS ROG Strix 750
Superb 750W Power Supply With One Tiny Flaw
- Fully Modular Design
- 80 Plus Gold Certification
- Semi Passive Mode
- ATX Form Factor
- 750 W Power
The ASUS ROG Strix 750 is a superb 750W power supply based on an efficient Seasonic platform that also comes with excellent performance. The added bonus is almost zero noise, no matter the stress. This is an excellent choice for high-end builds, especially if you’re a silent PC type of person.
The PSU looks better than most other models and it comes with a selection of magnetic stickers, which can be applied to the side of the PSU. The ROG Strix 750 is fully modular, and the quality of the included cables is pretty high. The only major downside is the price, which is pretty high, especially for an 80 Plus Gold PSU.
- Excellent Performance
- High Efficiency
- Virtually Inaudible, No Matter The Stress
- Unique And Attractive Design
- Pricey
Seasonic Prime 700 Fanless TX
Extremely Reliable Fanless PSU
- 700W
- 80 Plus Titanium Certified
- Fully modular
- Fanless design
If you are building a high-end ultra-quiet system then you cannot forget that the PSU is also a source of fan noise. To ensure that this does not become a problem for your specific build you should invest in a fanless PSU.
One of the best options for this purpose-built system would be a Seasonic Prime Fanless TX PSU. As expected from any Seasonic power supplies the quality of this product is extremely high ensuring the proper operation of your PSU and other components even without needing a fan.
This specific unit is 700W and is 80 Plus Titanium which means it is even more efficient than Gold rated PSUs. This is the main reason this specific unit can run without a fan – since less energy is wasted, less heat is produced, therefore, the fan is not necessary.
The Seasonic Prime 700 Fanless TX is also impressive because it has micro tolerance load regulation that ensures a great deal of stability therefore can be used even in high-performance systems that will be under heavy loads.
The cherry on top is the fact that this PSU is fully modular and allows you to get rid of extra cable clutter.
- An extremely high-quality PSU
- Fanless operation for extra quiet systems
- Seasonic offers a 12-year warranty
- The 80 Plus Titanium Efficiency will ensure that the PSU is cool even without a fan
- Silence is costly since the PSU is around 300$
be quiet! Dark Power 12 1000W
For the Most Demanding of Systems
- 1000W
- 80 Plus Titanium Certified
- Fully modular
- Japanese 105°C capacitors
There are special cases when you are building something that is absolutely insane in terms of power draw. It could be a dual CPU build, or maybe you are running dual GPUs, whatever the case may be, you need the juice to power all of those high-end components.
For these special occasions, you should be looking at the be quiet! Dark Power 12 PSU. This power supply is not only virtually quiet because of the special fan design, but is also an 80 Plus Titanium Efficiency 1000W unit.
The insane capacity of the PSU and the strong and stable 12V rails make this unit perfect for extreme overclocking. Also, as expected of this grade of product the Dark Power 12 is fully modular and comes with 120cm sleeved cables for the premium experience.
Overall the be quiet PSU is not only highly capable but extremely efficient at powering your components having the best Japanese 105°C capacitors on the market. A beast of a PSU!
- An extremely high-quality PSU
- Quiet operation even at high voltages
- Huge 1000W capacity
- Suitable for even the most insane types of overclocks
- Once again excellence comes at a price and you need to be ready to fork over 200+$ for a PSU
Thermaltake Toughpower TF1 1550W
End-Game PSU
- 1550W
- 80 Plus Titanium Certified
- Japanese 105°C capacitors
- Fully modular
If you ever get to the point where you are looking at the Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 and you are thinking to yourself that you need 1550W for your system, then you are in the end-game. These types of systems are basically ALWAYS dual RTX 3090s or dual Threadripper CPUs, or some other type of crazy configuration that simply needs A LOT of power to operate normally.
This is why looking at the 1550W makes sense since if you have that type of build planned money is not an issue. Obviously, this PSU has an 80 Plus Titanium rating for efficiency since it needs to be pushing that much wattage around.
This PSU needs to satisfy the needs of crazy overclockers and enthusiast-grade builds so it has a very low 30mV ripple noise, extremely strict voltage regulation, and hold-up times of around 16 milliseconds. Add the high-quality Japanese 105°C capacitors and you understand why this is considered to be a highly-stable, highly-durable power supply.
This mammoth of a power supply also is fully modular, has an anti-vibration mounting system, side ventilation, and a turbo fan button.
- End-game PSU that can do ANYTHING
- Extremely stable and durable
- Insane 1550W capacity with a Titanium efficiency rating
- This PSU is made for crazy overclocks or insanely high-end system
- It is no surprise that this type of PSU costs 500$
How To Choose A Power Supply
Yes, picking a power supply is as exciting as watching paint dry. But you’ll have to consider several things before you find the perfect power supply for your needs. The road to the best power supply is relatively short but it features a couple of nasty potholes you should avoid.
Calculate The Power Output You Need
This is the first thing you should do. You need to have a clear picture of how much power you need. The OuterVision Power Supply Calculator is an excellent PSU calculator that offers a wide selection of components. Once you calculate how much power you need, add about 50 W more, just in case.
Make Sure To Include Future Upgrades
PSU isn’t a component we change regularly so it’s best to include future upgrades into your power calculation. Because chances are, you’ll have the same PSU for years and years.
The best way to do this is to select CPU and GPU that use more power than your current choices, to introduce a couple extra SSDs to the calculation, to add more RAM sticks. You get it.
Continuous Power Isn’t The Same As Peak Power
Most PSU manufacturers advertise peak power as their rated power. For instance, a 500 W PSU is capable of providing a peak power of 500 watts but only for a short duration. Its continuous power is probably around 450 W.
This is why it’s important to get a power supply that is capable of delivering more power than you need. If you need, for instance, 400 watts of power go for at least 500 W PSU.
Make Sure That The PSU Has 80 Plus Certification
The 80 Plus certification program is the most popular way to rate PSU efficiency. If a PSU doesn’t have at least 80 Plus Bronze certificate, don’t even consider it. The great middle-ground are power supplies with 80 Plus Gold certification.
Those with 80 Plus Platinum stamp are extremely efficient. And, to be honest, the 80 Plus Titanium rating is mostly for bragging rights. You don’t actually need something as efficient as that. Below you can find the full 80 Plus rating system:
Image Source: TechSpot
Make Sure The PSU Fits Inside Your Case
Not all PSUs measure the same. There are 2 main form factors: ATX and SFX. An ATX PSU should fit inside all mid, mATX, and full tower cases. SFX form factor is made for small form factor (m-ITX) machines. Remember that if you want to build a small form factor PC.
SFX power supplies can fit into regular PC cases but this isn’t recommended. Their cables are shorter and you won’t be able to reach your components if you place a SFX PSU into a regular case.
Finally, Make Sure The PSU Has All Connectors You Need
The last thing you should consider are connectors found on the PSU. You should find all connectors listed in official specs of any PSU. Your motherboard needs either a 20-pin or 24-pin connector. Your CPU power connector comes in 4-pin and 8-pin flavors.
The graphics card is using 6-pin and 8-pin connectors. Finally, there are 4-pin Molex connectors and SATA power connectors. Remember that you can use splitters to connect additional components, just remember to not go above your PSU power limit.
Shame you didn’t mention compatibility with UPS’ with a simulated sine wave. Some active power factor correction PSUs work well, others don’t