The Best PSUs For Your Gaming PC

As PC components continue to get more power-hungry over time due to increasing sizes and capabilities, they require both adequate cooling and an excellent, reliable power supply. Given that the best PSU for gaming is the most crucial aspect of a gaming PC when it comes to reliability and ensuring components can both function as intended and are protected from damage in multiple ways, one should always aim to get a quality PSU unit. It should meet or exceed a buyer’s needs while being cost-effective and as silent as possible.

With Intel pushing the ATX 3.0 standard into play since 2022, more recently released PSUs and upcoming models tend to be ATX 3.0 compliant. This is more crucial of late thanks to Nvidia’s release of the RTX 4000 series GPUs which feature the 16-pin 12VHPWR connector which is also part of said standards. It can deliver up to 600W of power across a single 16-pin connector.

Third-party connectors, including Nvidia’s bundled 12VHPWR connector, do seem to regularly have issues at times that can impede stability and, in some extreme cases, even cause permanent damage to certain GPUs. This has seen both more native implementations of the connectors onto existing PSUs over time, but also a flourishing ‘better’ quality market emerging of the same, many of which claim to solve the issue.

While ATX 3.0 is a new and safer standard with much tighter standards in terms of spec of what a user can expect a PSU to do, the new connectors themselves (or rather, their implementation) did initially cause much outcry over them causing permanent damage to some RTX 4090 cards due to improper fitting in some cases. This has led users to skip the Nvidia-provided connector with these GPUs altogether, picking a quality third party cable kit or simply getting a PSU with native support for the 16-pin connector.

This is not to say that the above approach is the only way around the matter. Nvidia has since slightly tweaked the 12VHPWR connector on some of its founder’s edition GPUs, but it does seem to be a safer bet to go with a PCI-E Gen 5 PSU with its cable/connector versus the ones currently still offered with many GPUs in the market. Given that said connector is pretty much the future of what GPUs will be powered by, getting a PSU with either a native 16-pin connector or a first-party adapter is a future-proof approach that could pay off down the line by getting a PSU that is compliant with the needs of a brand-new graphics card.

All options listed below either have native support for PCI-E Gen 5 cables or are bundled with the necessary adapters to make them compliant for the RTX 4070/4070TI/4080/4090 GPUs out of the box. Game Rant also recommends ATX 3.0 PSUs wherever possible as part of this buyer’s guide.

How To Find The Right PSU

Wattage: The PSU is the heart of any PC build as it supplies power to the various components. It takes power from the wall and gives it to the different components based on their needs. Depending on the build and the power requirements of various components like the CPU, GPU, and storage drives, a PC can demand a broad range of power going over even 1000W in certain conditions. There are online tools that can help users figure out how much power their particular build would require and then look for a PSU accordingly. Most gaming needs are covered below 1000W with ease, however, and this is factored in with the choices below.

Rating: Power supplies come with ratings that show how efficient and reliable they are. These ratings include 80 Plus Standard or 80 Plus White, 80 Plus Bronze, 80 Plus Silver, 80 Plus Gold, 80 Plus Platinum, and 80 Plus Titanium. The standard or white-rated PSU can deliver a minimum of 82% efficiency at 20% load, 85% at 50% load, and 82% at 100% load. On the other hand, a titanium-rated PSU can deliver a minimum of 94%, 96%, and 94% efficiency at 20%, 50%, and 100% load, respectively.

Form Factor: PSUs come in ATX, TFX, SFX, or SFX-L. Most full-tower or mid-tower ATX cases can accommodate most of the PSU sizes, but the same cannot be said for small form factor builds. These builds will need to use an SFX or an SFX-L power supply. The smaller size doesn’t necessarily mean a lower wattage, as there are SFX and SFX-L PSUs in the market that can output 1000W or higher.

Modularity: Some PSUs allow users to attach only the necessary cables to avoid clutter and a potential cable management nightmare. These are called fully modular PSUs. Some power supplies come with key power cables connected to the PSU board that are non-removable. Modular power supplies are easier to work with, but they are typically more expensive than non or semi-modular PSUs.

The Best PSUs For Your Gaming PC In 2024

The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU ticks all the right boxes and then some when it comes to being the best PSU for gaming for a current and next-generation gaming PC build. The 1000W PSU is ATX 3.0 compliant and comes with a native 16-pin 12VHPWR connector. It is capable of providing the full-spec 600W that the connector is capable of driving, making it an excellent PSU to get for an RTX4070TI/4080/4090 GPU.

The MSI MPG A1000G uses excellent internals but arguably goes into something of a fan overdrive when it comes to higher power loads, a common theme for most of our ATX 3.0-compliant PSUs. This results in audible noise from the PC if one is in a quieter setting. However, the inverse is true if users are running a low load thanks to MSI’s Zero-fan mode on a sub-50 percent load with the MPG PSU delivering excellent power without making any discernable noise whatsoever.

As PCI-E 5.0 becomes a more easily available standard, many competitors have lowered prices as newer entries come at different price points, also sporting the newer 12VHPWR connector and being ATX 3.0 compliant. MSI’s offering does seem to be one of the more well-received of the dozens of new options on the market. It offers both the new connector and compliance with some of the newest standards. It also happens to be trading at a 15% discount on top of its already reduced price, further cementing its position as an excellent, future-proof PSU for gamers.

It does see significant competition from significantly lower-priced alternatives with similar specs. This does make it a somewhat less appealing option even as it comes with higher ratings to balance out its higher ask, which should affect its being a top pick in more budget-oriented builds.

The Be Quiet! Dark Power 13 850W PSU is an alternate high-end PSU for gaming that, while limited to an 850W power rating, is one of the most well-built PSUs money can buy within its power rating class. It features enhanced cooling, Titanium-rated efficiency, a native 12VHPWR connector, and an excellent, comprehensive 10-year warranty to boot.

Concerns do arise about the Dark Power 13 850W PSU’s ability to sustain higher-end versions of the RTX 4090 GPUs, many of which recommend 1000-1200W PSUs to maximize their loads. With a max power draw of 600W on the 12VHPWR connector, an RTX 4090 could theoretically push dangerously close to the maximum power rating of the PSU when one accounts for a CPU and other PC components in the process, making it a somewhat less appealing choice for RTX 4090 owners.

At the same time, the price of the Dark Power 13 850W has historically been a bit of a letdown given its price above multiple 1000W Gold-Rated PCI 5.0 compliant PSUs, two of which are on Game Rant’s list. This has changed meaningfully with a large price cut in play at Newegg, making it for the first time command a sub-$200 price tag, putting it directly in contention with the slightly cheaper MSI MPG 1000W Gold PSU above.

While it isn’t fair to compare a Titanium-tier PSU with a gold one, it does not make a great value-for-money case for the Dark Power 13 850W PSU. It is still an excellent offering to consider, but not one Game Rant feels wins outright over MSI’s more balanced offering above.

For users with well-defined needs and hardware that falls within spec currently, the Be Quiet! Dark Power 13 850W is a superior offering with the efficiency gains in play, making it an investment that will undoubtedly pay off in the long term even as the manufacturer backs it with a long 10-year warranty, an impressive vote of confidence in the longevity of the product.

The ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II EVA Edition is a marriage of Asus’s excellent Thor 1000W Platinum II PSU with the Evangelion theme, making it one of the best PSUs for gaming. The Thor 1000W Platinum II is one of the quietest PSUs we have personally experienced and as a Platinum-tier 80-plus PSU, it tops most of the efficiency charts while keeping things quiet at all but the highest loads.

With its Evangelion-themed design and the OLED display coupled with the RGB lighting and some of the most premium sleeved cables to be bundled with a PSU, the ROG Thor is a premium PSU that happens to look and feel the part. If going this route, users should make sure their case can display the PSU in all its glory. While the limited-edition Thor is pricey, it does bring better efficiency to the table, in addition to excellent aesthetics in one premium package. If users need a bit more power or simply need a more standard look, consider looking at a more standard option from Amazon that also integrates the new 12VHPWR connector as well as allowing for 200W in maximum load on offer.

With better availability on offer in addition to price cuts all over the place, the ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II EVA Edition is a resurgent premium choice that offers a unique look that can also be complemented with other products from an ongoing collaboration between ASUS and Evangelion.

The GIGABYTE GP-UD1000GM PG5 1000W PSU is another of the best PSUs for gaming that is compliant with ATX 3.0 and a native 16-pin connector that allows it to power all the latest and greatest RTX 4000 series GPUs with ease. Priced at just $150 for a premium PC brand, the UD series PSU by Gigabyte checks all the right boxes and some of the wrong ones as well.

While the GIGABYTE GP-UD1000GM PG5 does pass ATX 3.0 specs, it doesn’t really go the extra mile. Teardowns tend to show that despite the extensive 10-year warranty, the components inside the PSU are somewhat wanting and result in higher temperatures and noisy operation, making this budget PSU a tradeoff that would work well for most users but may leave power users wanting to consider another option altogether.

The GIGABYTE GP-UD1000GM PSU sees more price cuts as it edges down closer to a sub-$120 price tag at multiple retailers, making it a much more budget-centric PSU than most of its direct competitors. That’s even as it handles anything up to an RTX 4090 with ease, offering a native 16-pin power connector in tow with the rest of the system. This alone allows users to consider grabbing a relatively inexpensive yet compliant option off the shelf for a high-end PC that should handle all current-generation upgrades.

No high-end PSU for gaming list is truly complete without a Seasonic product listing, and the Seasonic Vertex GX-1200 1200W PSU makes it very difficult to keep it off. It comes with a PSU tester as part of its neat package while feeling like a premium product thanks to its build quality and finish as well as the internal quiet-but-efficient fluid dynamic bearing fan on display. With a comprehensive 10-year manufacturer warranty coupled with one of the best quality cable sets that the industry currently makes, the Seasonic GX-1200 is a compelling purchase to make for most end-users who continue to put much stock in the brand’s penchant for making some of the best PSUs in the industry.

At the same time, the PSU is considerably more expensive than its direct competition in the sub-1000W-1200W market. In fact, it comes closer to its platinum or titanium competition in terms of overall pricing, which might make the case for spending a bit more to get a more efficient PSU instead of an appealing one.

The Seasonic Vertex GX-1200 1200W PSU has seen its previous price cut nullified since Game Rant last looked at it, making it a relatively expensive investment to make yet again, but one that should pay off over time. Given the PSU manufacturer’s penchant for delivering excellent PSUs in the past, this does not necessarily have to be seen as a negative. As one of the few PSUs on the list that ships with its own PSU tester inside the box, the attention to detail of Seasonic is second to none, earning them a dedicated consumer base that swears by their products and cementing Seasonic Vertex’s position as one of the more durable PSUs.

The slightly lower capacity GX-1000 1000W PSU also packs the same features while trading at a small discount versus the pricier 1200W variant, offering decent value for money at multiple retailers while meeting the needs of most PC gamers and enthusiasts. Curious about other high-end PC options? Check out Game Rant’s list of the best gaming PC builds under $3000!

As one of the few PSUs for gaming in the market that offers dual 16-pin PCI-E Gen 5 power connectors, the Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1650W PSU has its work cut out for itself as it aims to deliver as much as a whopping 1200W across two connectors. However, it does get noisy fast, despite its efficient design and high-quality components. The good news is that it’s hard to max out this PSU on current hardware, but if users do find a way, it will surely be a noisy affair.

Backed by a solid ten-year warranty, however, the Toughpower GF3 does have a lot to offer if one is in the content creation business or somehow has a reasonable explanation for wanting two RTX 4080 or 4090 GPUs on the same system. It does comply with ATX 3.0 and is available at a reasonable cost. This is not a mean feat by any measure and credit must be given to Thermaltake where it’s due.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1650W has dropped in price slightly since Game Rant last took a look at it, primarily due to more affordable options coming into play in the mid-tier and high-end PSU market which are also ATX 3.0 compliant and offer the newer 12VHPWR connector natively. At its current price, it offers astounding value that should, in principle, allow users to run two RTX 4090s in parallel if they need to, making it a powerful fringe-case offering for users needing immense amounts of power or simply future-proofing for the next generation of GPUs.

Users opting for this may want to consider investing in a third-party extender, given the penchant for Thermaltake’s own cable to be considerably stiffer than most of its direct competition.

If the PSU needs to be fitted in a smaller ITX or mITX case that can not house a full-sized PSU, then users must often turn to an SFX or SFX-L form factor offering. The Silverstone SX1000R Platinum is possibly the most complete package one can opt for currently for a Small Form Factor (SFF) build. Being a bit on the expensive side, the Silverstone SX1000R Platinum has a fully modular design and is SFX12V 4.0 (effectively ATX 3.0 spec) and PCIe 5.0 ready. It uses all Japanese electrolytic capacitors that it claims offer better reliability.

Silverstone also offers typical protection measures including over current, over voltage, short circuit, over temperature, and more. The SX1000R Platinum has an all-black design with large Silverstone branding on one side. It comes with all the key cables. The company says it has a mean time between failure (MTBF) of 100,000 hours, which is effectively ~11.4 years of continuous use, making it a very real possibility that the PSU would outlast most, if not all, of the components it is paired with. With a 0 RPM fan design at loads of up to 200W, this also makes it an excellent SKU to pair with higher-end HTPC builds for users looking to redo their home theater setup, where the silence is a bonus.

For users needing a more budget option Cooler Master has an excellent 850W PSU that also offers a native 12VHPWR connector for newer RTX 4000 series GPUs while costing nearly half the price, Silverstone’s more premium option commands, making it a great mid-range option that can handle GPUs up to the RTX 4080 with ease in most cases.

Buyers who have already zeroed in on a PSU purchase for their system might also want to get a new PC case to go with it. The Game Rant team has an excellent guide to help make a better investment in a new gaming PC or long-overdue upgrade.

MORE: The Best Monitors For Gaming In 2023

FAQ

Q: What power supply capacity is needed to run an RTX 4080?

The RTX 4080 Founders Edition requires at least a 750W PSU. Game Rant recommends going for at least an 850W PSU, if not a 1000W unit to allow for future-proofing/upgrades down the line. But if buyers want to be as specific as possible about the limit, a high-quality 750W PSU should suffice for an RTX 4080.

Q: What power supply is recommended for an RTX 4090?

Nvidia’s official specs for an RTX 4090 GPU state that a minimum of 850W is required. Some AIB partners that offer overclocked versions of the same recommend a 1000W PSU. It would be a smart play to go for a 1000W PSU just to cover all bases and allow some leeway in terms of power draw if needed.

Q: What is the recommended PSU to run an RTX 4070TI?

On paper, an excellent 700W PSU might be more than enough to power an RTX 4070TI, which is rated by Nvidia to have a Total Graphics Power of 285W. Nvidia’s own recommendation sits at 700W, but it can’t hurt to go a bit higher in order to get more efficient operation from the PSU as well as future-proofing a PC for further upgrades down the line. A 750W or 850W PSU is what Game Rant recommends for the RTX 4070TI.