Best PC power supply units (PSU) in 2024

The power supply unit (PSU) is responsible for taking alternating current (AC) from your home or office circuit and converting it to direct current (DC), which can then be passed to the motherboard, CPU, GPU, and other components. It’s a vital part of any system, as a stable electricity supply is paramount for reliable operation and optimal computer performance. This is our shortlist of the most reliable power supplies for your next PC build.

Build a safe PC with the best power supplies in 2024

render of the cooler master gx 3 750w power supply unit in front of its packaging

Best power supply

Cooler Master GX III Gold 750W ATX 3.0

The PSU to buy for most PC builds

Cooler Master’s GX III series of power supplies are fully ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 compliant and capable of providing protected power to your components. They’re also 80 Plus certified for efficiency and come with a right-angle 12VHPWR cable for the latest Nvidia graphics cards.

Pros

Fully modular
Capacity of 750W
Quiet operation

Cons

Cables can be a little stiff to route

750W is our recommendation for mid-range PC builds, with graphics cards like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super requiring that level of power capacity to shine without overloading the PSU. Cooler Master’s GX III Gold range is one of the better choices for 750W capacities, but do look around as the 850W model is often found at a slightly lower price. I have this PSU in one of my builds, and it’s been solid since it was first switched on. The new, thicker cables increase current flow and reduce heat resistance, but they do make it slightly more difficult to route through cable channels. And with a 90-degree 12VHPWR cable and three PCIe 6+2 cables, you’ll be well kitted-out for whatever graphics card you choose. You also get a single 24-pin ATX cable, two EPS12V (4+4 and 8) cables, a couple of SATA, and one Molex cable.

That’s more than enough cables for most builds, and enough power capacity for all but the most power-hungry top-tier graphics cards. It’s fully modular, so it will fit inside most PC chassis easily while keeping cable clutter to a minimum. Plus, it has plenty of perforations for airflow over the internals. To keep things cool, the included fan has a zero-spin setting that doesn’t kick in until the unit is over 40% load, and it has a Cybenetics A- noise level certificate, so it’s pretty quiet even when the fan is being used.

Best budget power supply

Thermaltake Smart 500W

The best PSU if you’re looking to save money

$39 $45 Save $6

Thermaltake’s Smart 500W is a 500W power supply with an 80 Plus White certification and a low price tag that’s ideal for users on a budget.

Pros

Affordable
Full set of safety features
Quiet operation

Cons

Low capacity
Two PCIe connections

The Thermaltake Smart 500W is one of the most affordable power supplies we’d actually recommend, and it’s from a reputable PC brand. 500W may not sound like a lot of capacity to work with, and you’d be correct there, but for anyone looking to build an office or low-end gaming PC, it’ll have more than enough power to get you going. It’s not the most efficient unit either, rocking an 80 Plus White certification, but you shouldn’t expect anything more at this price point. As an affordable power supply, Thermaltake and its manufacturing partners had to cut corners, and not being modular is one such compromise. This means all cables are tied to the PSU and cannot be removed, so if you don’t have any SATA or Molex devices to hook up to the power supply, you’ll need to stash the cables away inside the PC chassis.

Thermaltake does include a decent 120mm blower to keep the PSU cool under operation. There are two PCIe connections, which illustrate just how basic this power supply is. You could technically locate even more affordable power supplies from the likes of EVGA and Corsair, but this PSU from Thermaltake is the baseline where we’d start.

Best 550W power supply

MSI MAG A550BN

Perfect for most low to mid-tier PC builds

$59 $60 Save $1

The MSI MAG A550BN is an affordable 550W power supply with an 80 Plus Bronze efficiency rating, and all the necessary connections for building a capable gaming PC.

Pros

Full set of safety features
Quiet operation
Capacity of 550W

Moving up 50W, we reach a capacity of 550W from our budget option PSU. This capacity is solid for most PCs with previous-gen GPUs that are capable of handling games at 1080p. Just like the 500W Thermaltake unit, you won’t have much headroom for adding more powerful components at a later date or overclocking and increasing power draw. We’ve selected the MSI MAG A550BN as our 550W recommendation. On the plus side (no pun intended), we have an 80 Plus Bronze certificate for efficiency, a step up from the 80 Plus White.

It’s not fully modular, but you’ll be hard-pressed to hear the 120mm sleeved fan at higher loads when used inside a chassis with plenty of case fans. The MSI MAG A550BN may be a more budget-friendly PSU, but the brand opted for high-quality internal components, which is great for those who want reliable power delivered to their PC hardware. Connected to the unit is a single 24-pin ATX cable, one 4+4-pin EPS12V cable, as well as two 6+2 PCIe cables with two connectors.

Best 850W power supply

Corsair RM850x

Powerful enough for the latest graphics cards

$110 $150 Save $40

The Corsair RM850x is a reliable PSU for those looking to build a new PC, be it a gaming machine or a video editing workstation. It’s a fully modular PSU with an 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating.

Pros

Good value
Full set of safety features
Capacity of 850W

Cons

Awkward distance between cable connections

This time we’re moving up the price and capacity range to 850W with the Corsair RM850x. This is where the latest graphics cards and processors can begin to be used together without running out of power. The Corsair RM850x is also one of the best units you can buy from Corsair’s RM family of power supplies, so you’re getting good bang for your buck. As expected at this price point, the PSU is fully modular, allowing you to select and install only the cables required by your PC components.

The usual single 24-pin ATX cable comes with three 4+4-pin EPS12V cables, as well as four 6+2 PCIe cables and some SATA connections. The bag of cables is more than enough for most premium PC builds. Channel Well Technology did a sound job with the construction and build quality of the Corsair RM850x, using premium Japanese capacitors and other high-quality components. This allows the unit to perform reliably under heavier loads, meeting the 80 Plus Gold standard for efficiency.

Best 1,000W power supply

be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W

For those who need more power

$250 $290 Save $40

be quiet!’s Dark Power 13 offers ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 support, an 80 Plus Titanium rating for efficiency, and a sleek design. This is a very powerful PSU for a capable PC build.

Pros

Capacity of 1,000W
Quiet operation
Amazing efficiency

Now, this is a power supply you likely do not require. The mightily impressive be quiet! Dark Power 13 1,000W has a DC output capacity of, yes, 1,000W. To put this into perspective, that’s more than double the power output of our most budget-friendly PSU in this collection. You likely won’t ever come close to using this much power, but it’s a premium choice if you have the money and want one of the best high-capacity options out there. Designed for enthusiast use, the Dark Power 13 from be quiet! is also one of the quietest power supplies around thanks to just how much power it’s capable of converting and supplying. When we reviewed the 1,300W version of this PSU, we loved it, and the 1,000W capacity version is built the same.

be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W review: The best enthusiast power supply

Power your high-end gaming rig with this impressive piece of kit

We wouldn’t expect anything different from the German PC hardware brand. Its manufacturing partner, Channel Well Technology, also went the extra mile in kitting out this PSU with the best components from its inventory of parts. The majority of the circuits are controlled digitally for tighter and more reliable operation. It’s so efficient, we’re looking at an 80 Plus Titanium certification, and be quiet! states the PSU is capable of achieving up to just shy of 95% efficiency. Even the fan is frameless, allowing be quiet! to draw in more air and lower noise should the PSU need some additional active cooling at higher loads.

It’s also possible to control the fan curve digitally, something not many power supplies offer. A major drawback to this PSU, however, is its size. This is understandable due to how much power can be handled by the Dark Power 13, but you may struggle to fit it inside your PC chassis, so be sure to take measurements before ordering. For cabling, a single 24-pin ATX cable is included with two EPS12V cables and four 6+2 PCIe connections as well as a 12VHPWR cable. You’ll struggle to locate PC components that this PSU cannot supply power to. Just be prepared to pay a small fortune for the luxury of owning one of these.

Best SFX power supply

Corsair SF1000L

The best PSU for smaller PC cases

$156 $180 Save $24

The Corsair SF1000L is a SFX-L compact power supply capable of delivering up to 1,000W of continuous power. Designed with small form factor PC cases in mind, this fully modular PSU is Intel ATX 3.0 certified and supports PCIe 5.0 graphics cards with a 12VHPWR cable. A single 120mm fluid dynamic bearing fan keeps its premium Japanese internals cool.

Pros

Compact size
Capacity of 1,000W
Great efficiency

Smaller form-factor PC cases don’t typically support full-size ATX power supplies, which is where I’d recommend either an SFX or SFX-L PSU. The Corsair SF1000L is a 1,000W unit with high-capacity support for the latest GPUs. Rocking Intel ATX 3.0 and 80 Plus Gold certifications, this premium power plant can be relied upon to safely and efficiently convert AC to DC and keep all your expensive internal components up and running.

When it comes to brand reputation, we’ve never had any trouble with Corsair power supplies or other PC hardware, and they’re usually found on buyer guides such as this. 1,000W may sound like a lot of power (and it is), but with the rise of the RTX 40 series of Nvidia graphics cards, I’m playing it safe with a beefy capacity recommendation to ensure you have ample power available.

Choosing the best power supply

Picking the best power supply should factor in your budget (as with any purchase), what components you have or plan on buying, how much capacity is needed, what type of PSU is supported by your chassis (ATX or SFX), and what features are supported. So long as you have a decent 80 Plus rating, all the necessary protections in place, and enough capacity, you should be fine choosing a reliable brand. We’d recommend the Cooler Master GX III Gold as the best PSU for most PC builds. It has full support for ATX 3.0 and the latest GPUs, and has all the required safety features.

Best power supply