5 Best Power Supply Units for Gaming - Mar. 2023

Updated September 2021

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Bottom line

Pros

Cons

The best high-end power supply to buy when you need better performance and damage protection.

Pros

Runs efficiently near the high loads common with powerful gaming setups. Semi-modular design reduces the amount of cables lying around the inside of a computer.

Cons

The fan is quite noisy when running near the top limits of the power supply.

Best Bang for the Buck

Corsair

CX Series Power Supply

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Bottom Line

The best budget power supply capable of handling lighter gaming rigs running with budget or mid-range components.

Pros

Power supply runs cool under normal operating conditions or with games using low-to-medium settings. The fan runs more quietly than premium power supplies.

Cons

The power supply can suddenly drop power, resetting the computer during gameplay.

A good gaming-specific power supply with the capability to run more powerful components.

Pros

1,000-watt capacity is good enough for most modern mid-to-high end gaming rigs. Comes with internal LED lighting to accent the surroundings during gameplay.

Cons

Provided power cables are on the short side. May not be compatible with some full towers.

Thermaltake

Toughpower Grand Power Supply

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Bottom Line

The type of gaming power supply to choose when you want more accent and flair from the component.

Pros

Modular design simplifies the cable management and usage inside the computer. Comes with a customizable LED light for different lighting designs and accents.

Cons

Power supply is susceptible to boot loops, preventing the computer from reaching the operating system.

A good option to consider for a power supply that can handle long periods of gaming.

Pros

A high quality fan and bearings offer smooth, continuous running for long periods of gaming in a single setting. Comes in a range of power outputs to fit different gaming setups.

Cons

LED lights do not offer full customization and only come with a list of presets.

HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Models
Considered

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Hours
Researched

Gaming rigs are expensive pieces of hardware, often built from the ground up, and are very power hungry. They need clean and consistent power to perform well, and a PSU can deliver the goods. It can also prevent a catastrophic burnout to your expensive gear. A reliable PSU will also stop system instability that causes games to crash and constant rebooting. The units should offer power at 3 volts, 5 volts, and 12 volts, referred to as rails. Plugs attach to the motherboard, CPU, GPU(s), SATA devices, and 5v Molex plugs. It’s worth paying up for a good unit that will run quietly and stay cool.

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