Best power supply of 2021: reliable power supplies for your gaming PC

The power supply unit (PSU) is the heart of every PC. It takes AC power from the wall and converts it to low voltage DC power, which then powers all your components. So if you want reliable and steady power for your motherboard, processor, RAM, graphics cards, drives, fans (and of course!) RGB lights, you need to have a good power supply. From affordable power supplies to absolute powerhouses capable of running two systems at the same time, we’ve handpicked the best power supplies available today.

TL; DR – Here are the best power supplies:

1. Corsair RMx Series RM750x

Better diet

For less than $ 200, you can get an efficient, reliable power supply that will provide more than enough juice for a modern gaming PC, even with high-end components and a little modest overclocking. Only those with multiple high-end graphics cards or extremely power-hungry (and overclocked) processors are likely to need more power than this one. Corsair’s RMx series has all-Japanese capacitors rated up to 105 degrees Celsius. . It’s 80 Plus Gold certified and even has a zero-speed fan mode to run quietly when not under heavy load. The more expensive RMi series adds a digital interface for monitoring software and fancy fluid dynamic bearings, but these probably aren’t worth the extra money for most people.

2. Corsair CX Series CX450M

Best budget power supply

If you are trying to power a modest and budget gaming PC, you don’t need to use crazy high wattage power supply. In fact, you shouldn’t. So, for a platform that will run a low to mid-range processor and a modest graphics card, the 450 watts of juice from the Corsair CX Series CX450M should do the trick.

This power supply is reasonably priced well under $ 100 while still delivering efficiency levels that meet the 80 Plus Bronze specification. You’ll even get a semi-modular design, so you can maintain cleaner cable management if you don’t need certain connections (such as SATA if you’re only using PCIe SSDs). This power supply is also able to run with its fan off for quiet operation under lighter loads.

3. Cooler Master V850

Best SFX power supply

Cooler Master V850

Sure Newegg

To see him

You don’t have to settle for a low power system just because you want mini ITX suitcase. The Cooler Master V850 PSU has all the juice you need to run a sturdy rig, but it’s packed into an SFX form factor to fit your mini builds.

The Cooler Master V850 is a fully modular power supply, so you can swap out any cable. Cooler Master provides cables with the packaging, but if you have a different style in mind or need different lengths and shapes to fit inside your case, you will have the option to switch. The power pack features a smooth dynamic rolling fan for quieter operation and offers 80 Plus Gold energy efficiency.

4. Corsair AXi Series AX1600i

Best high capacity feed

Some of us build gaming computers for mere mortals. We can use 65W processors and graphics cards barely over 200 watts. But if you’re building a HEDT computer and need massive amounts of power for everything from CPU overclocking, dual graphics cards and a handful of storage drives, to powerful fans and RGB lighting, then the Corsair AXi Series AX1600i is for you!

The name of this power supply is probably a good indication that this device offers up to 1600 watts of power. You won’t have to shy away from this dual-RTX 3090 setup with this power supply in your rig. The Corsair AXi Series AX1600i delivers power with 80 Plus Titanium efficiency and uses all Japanese capacitors alongside gallium nitride transistors. With Corsair Link software, you can also monitor performance and adjust settings.

What to look for in a diet

It’s tempting to just think “more is better” and go for the highest watts you can find. It would be a big mistake. A 1200-watt power supply isn’t necessarily better quality than a 650-watt power supply, and it’s definitely not the right choice for a system that won’t use as much power.

The wattage rating of a power supply describes how much power it can deliver, but there are many caveats. Some power supplies can provide significant peak power in total, but not enough to critical components. Or, as temperatures rise, the power supply can become unreliable. There are dozens of PSU calculators there, and using one can be a good place to start. Many of them recommend a lot more PSUs than you really need to be on the safe side. If you don’t go crazy with overclocking or multiple high-end graphics cards, you probably don’t need a big 850-watt power supply.

Of course, the efficiency with which the power supply unit converts AC to DC is very important. You will usually see one of three different “80 Plus” values ​​on the power supplies: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. There are also Platinum and Titanium ratings, but these are rarer. To be 80 Plus certified, a power supply must provide at least 80% efficiency at 20%, 50% and 100% of maximum rated load. The higher the rating, the greater the efficiency of the power supply than 80%. A more efficient power supply will generate less heat and draw less energy from the wall, so it’s often worth the extra expense.

Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular tweeter on Twitter @ Techn0Mark