Buying Guide
Good Power Supplies for a Gaming PC
Five good power supplies for a gaming PC, from a 650W be quiet! unit to a 1000W Platinum Seasonic.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
A good power supply for gaming has enough wattage for the graphics card, a native 12V-2x6 cable, a clear efficiency rating and a warranty of five years or more.
We compared those from each listing and Cybenetics data where listed; we did not test these units.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best Good Gaming PSU
be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W750W with Cybenetics Platinum and four 8-pin PCIe cables.
Best for: Most gaming PCs.
Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Quiet 850W
Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W850W Gold with a zero-RPM fan mode.
Best for: Quieter upper-mid-range builds.
Check price for Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Platinum 1000W
Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 (ATX 3.1)1000W Platinum with Cybenetics Platinum.
Best for: High-end builds that run long hours.
Check price for Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 (ATX 3.1) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Short 750W
darkFlash DG750140mm depth at 750W.
Best for: Compact mid-towers.
Check price for darkFlash DG750 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Good 650W
be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W650W Gold with a 12V-2x6 cable.
Best for: Mid-range cards.
Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750W with Cybenetics Platinum and four 8-pin PCIe cables. | Most gaming PCs. | Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 850W Gold with a zero-RPM fan mode. | Quieter upper-mid-range builds. | Check price for Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 1000W Platinum with Cybenetics Platinum. | High-end builds that run long hours. | Check price for Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 (ATX 3.1) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 140mm depth at 750W. | Compact mid-towers. | Check price for darkFlash DG750 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 650W Gold with a 12V-2x6 cable. | Mid-range cards. | Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Good Gaming PSU1 of 5
be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W
be quiet!'s Pure Power 13 M 750W offers four PCIe 8-pin connectors plus a native 12V-2x6, and its fan switches off at low load.
Best for
- Most gaming PCs.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the darkFlash DG750 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Cybenetics rates it Platinum. Its fan stops completely at low load, and one strong 12V rail handles GPU power spikes. LLC topology gives tight voltage regulation.
It is 80 Plus Gold with up to 94.3% efficiency and an ATX 3.1 design with a native 12V-2x6 connector. All 750W sit on a single 12V rail, which handles short GPU power spikes. On rated output it ties with the darkFlash DG750 at 750W.
No depth is rated for the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W and the pricier Seasonic Vertex PX-1000, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 750W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- PCIe 8-pin connectors
- 4
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- Cybenetics rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Fan stop
- Yes
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- A 750W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- 4 PCIe 8-pin connectors for older cards
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG750 at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its warranty; if that figure matters, the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W offers 5 years.
Best Quiet 850W2 of 5
Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W
Thermaltake's Toughpower GT 850W is a fully modular ATX 3.1 unit with a native 12V-2x6 cable, a single high-amperage 12V rail and a Smart Zero Fan mode.
Best for
- Quieter upper-mid-range builds.
Skip if
- Pass on it if a shorter 5-year warranty rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Smart Zero Fan keeps the fan off at low load, and its low-profile flat black cables are easy to route. It is 80 Plus Gold rated at up to 90% efficiency. Its 850W rated output ranks second of 5 here, behind the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 (1000W) and ahead of the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W (650W).
The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No depth is rated for the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. When we checked, only the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W and cheaper picks cost less, and the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W cost more.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 850W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Warranty
- 5 years
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Fan stop
- Yes
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- A 850W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- ATX 3.1 compliance
- Fully modular cables
Cons
- A shorter 5-year warranty
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG750 at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed 8-pin PCIe connector count, look to the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W instead: it offers 4, while this one gives no figure.
Best Platinum 1000W3 of 5
Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 (ATX 3.1)
Seasonic's Vertex PX-1000 carries Platinum ratings from 80 Plus and Cybenetics, a native 12V-2x6 cable and 100% Japanese capacitors.
Best for
- High-end builds that run long hours.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the darkFlash DG750, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It uses hybrid fan control. Seasonic lists it as ready for the RTX 5090 and AMD's RX 9000 series. Nothing else here matches its 1000W rated output; the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W comes closest at 850W.
You get a platinum 80 plus rating here, which sets it apart from the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W and its a gold 80 plus rating. The Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No depth is rated for the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W and the rest.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 1000W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- 80 Plus rating
- Platinum
- Cybenetics rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Fan
- 135mm
- Fan stop
- Yes
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- 1000W of rated output for high-power cards
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- 80 Plus Platinum efficiency
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG750 at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its 8-pin PCIe connector count; if that figure matters, the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W offers 4.
Best Short 750W4 of 5
darkFlash DG750
darkFlash's DG750 is a 140mm-deep 80 Plus Gold unit with a native 12V-2x6 cable and a hydraulic-bearing fan.
Best for
- Compact mid-towers.
Skip if
- Pass on it if a shorter 5-year warranty rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Its warranty is 5 years. It is fully modular with a quiet HDB fan, 80 Plus Gold rated, and backed by a 5-year limited warranty. Its fully modular cables reduce clutter for first-time builders.
It matches the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W on rated output (750W). It also offers a 140mm body that leaves room for cables. The darkFlash DG750 comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter.
At 140mm deep, compare it with your case's PSU clearance before buying. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W was closest. If you want a confirmed 8-pin PCIe connector count, look to the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W instead: it offers 4, while this one gives no figure.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 750W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Depth
- 140mm
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- A 750W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- A short 140mm body
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- A shorter 5-year warranty
- Rated output of 750W, behind the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 (1000W)
Best Good 650W5 of 5
be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W
be quiet!'s Pure Power 12 650W has a native 12V-2x6, two PCIe 8-pin connectors and a single strong 12V rail.
Best for
- Mid-range cards.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated output matters most to you; the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 offers 1000W.
Why we like it
It is 80 Plus Gold rated at up to 92.7% efficiency, and LLC topology gives tight voltage regulation. The 120mm fan is temperature-controlled. One 12V rail handles short GPU power excursions.
On rated output it trails the group at 650W, while the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 offers 1000W. No depth is rated for the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. Worth noting: ATX 3.1 compliance. Its price falls between the darkFlash DG750 and the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 650W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- PCIe 8-pin connectors
- 2
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Fan
- 120mm
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- A 650W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- ATX 3.1 compliance
- Temperature-controlled 120mm be quiet! fan
Cons
- Rated output trails the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 (1000W)
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG750 at the time of writing
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We set side by side five power supplies on rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count, 8-pin PCIe connector count and warranty from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 6 of the 12 fields compared are stated for every pick, while 8-pin PCIe connector count and warranty have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W to the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W, state rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count and 80 Plus rating and share ATX 3.1 ATX version and Black colour.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 and the darkFlash DG750 give no 8-pin PCIe connector count; the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W, the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W give no warranty.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the darkFlash DG750 ($50 to $100) to the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 ($250 to $500).
What to Look For
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated output across these picks
Here rated output runs from 650W on the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W to 1000W on the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000, a 54% spread. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W comes second at 850W, in the $50 to $100 tier against $250 to $500 for the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000.
How much 8-pin PCIe connector count you need
Across these 2 picks 8-pin PCIe connector count spans 2 (the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W) to 4 (the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W). Start with the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W if 8-pin PCIe connector count decides it. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 and the darkFlash DG750 give no 8-pin PCIe connector count figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
A 24-pin ATX power cable held in a hand What to check at home
The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter.
Extras that separate them
The Seasonic Vertex PX-1000: hybrid fan control with a 135mm FDB fan. The darkFlash DG750: a hydraulic-bearing fan. The be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W: a single strong 12V rail.
A 24-pin ATX connector seen from the pin side Where your budget lands
$50 to $100 buys the darkFlash DG750, the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W, the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W and the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W; $250 to $500 buys the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 at our last check.
How to Choose
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most gaming PCs | be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W | 750W with Cybenetics Platinum and four 8-pin PCIe cables |
| Quieter upper-mid-range builds | Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W | 850W Gold with a zero-RPM fan mode |
| High-end builds that run long hours | Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 | 1000W Platinum with Cybenetics Platinum |
| Compact mid-towers | darkFlash DG750 | 140mm depth at 750W |
| Mid-range cards | be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W | 650W Gold with a 12V-2x6 cable |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 leads on rated output at 1000W, ahead of the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W at 850W. "Not listed" marks 8-pin PCIe connector count where the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 and the darkFlash DG750 leave the figure out.
| Power supplie | Wattage | Native 12V-2x6 cables | PCIe 8-pin connectors | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W | 750W | 1 | 4 | Not listed |
| Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W | 850W | 1 | Not listed | 5 years |
| Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 | 1000W | 1 | Not listed | Not listed |
| darkFlash DG750 | 750W | 1 | Not listed | 5 years |
| be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W | 650W | 1 | 2 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The darkFlash DG750 was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 the highest ($250 to $500) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Power supplies |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | darkFlash DG750, be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W, Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W |
| About $250 to $500 | Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W compare with the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 on rated output?
The Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 leads at 1000W, with the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W at 850W. The be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W closes the ranking at 650W.
Which has the most 8-pin PCIe connector count: the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W or the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W?
Between the top two, it is 4 on the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W against 2 on the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W, a 100% difference. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 and the darkFlash DG750 are left out of this ranking because their 8-pin PCIe connector count isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
What does the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 add over the darkFlash DG750?
The spec sheets show rated output (1000W against 750W) in its favour. On our last price check the darkFlash DG750 was in the $50 to $100 tier and the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 in the $250 to $500 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if rated output decides your purchase.
Why is the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 our Best Platinum 1000W pick?
It earns the label for 1000W Platinum with Cybenetics Platinum. The darkFlash DG750, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $250 to $500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits high-end builds that run long hours.
Do the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W and the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 differ on 80 Plus rating?
The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W, the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the darkFlash DG750 and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W use Gold; the Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 uses platinum.
Will the darkFlash DG750 work with my setup?
The darkFlash DG750 comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. In this guide it ranks fourth of 5, as our Best Short 750W pick, and fourth of 5 on rated output (750W).
Bottom Line
The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W is a good choice for most gaming PCs, and the Toughpower GT 850W adds a zero-RPM mode. The Seasonic Vertex PX-1000 suits high-end builds, the darkFlash DG750 fits compact cases, and the Pure Power 12 650W suits mid-range cards.
Related Guides
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- Lower budgetThe Best Power Supplies Under $75
- Similar guideThe Best Gaming Power Supplies
- ExplainerHow to choose a power supply for a PC build
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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