Buying Guide
The Best Power Supplies for Gaming PCs
Six power supplies from 650W to 1000W, including a white and an SFX unit, compared on wattage, connectors and warranty.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read6 products evaluated
The right power supply depends on your graphics card first. Start from the card maker's recommended wattage, then check for a native 12V-2x6 cable, the form factor your case takes, and the warranty.
We compared wattage, efficiency ratings, connectors and warranty from each listing; we did not load-test these units.
Quick Picks
Which of the 6 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best 750W
CORSAIR RM750x (ATX 3.1)A fully modular ATX 3.1 unit with Cybenetics Gold.
Best for: Most gaming PCs.
Check price for CORSAIR RM750x (ATX 3.1) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Most Efficient
be quiet! Power Zone 2 850WPlatinum from both 80 Plus and Cybenetics.
Best for: Quiet high-end builds.
Check price for be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best 1000W
NZXT C1000 Gold Core (ATX 3.1)1000W with a 7-year warranty and Zero Fan mode.
Best for: High-end GPUs.
Check price for NZXT C1000 Gold Core (ATX 3.1) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget
MONTECH Century II 650W650W Gold with a 10-year warranty.
Best for: Mid-range builds.
Check price for MONTECH Century II 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best White
ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW WhiteA white 850W unit with a 10-year warranty.
Best for: White builds.
Check price for ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best SFX
CORSAIR SF750 (2024)750W Platinum in SFX size.
Best for: Small cases.
Check price for CORSAIR SF750 (2024) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best 750W1 of 6
CORSAIR RM750x (ATX 3.1)
Corsair's RM750x is a fully modular ATX 3.1 unit with a Cybenetics Gold rating.
Best for
- Most gaming PCs.
Skip if
- The maker gives no warranty, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
Why we like it
It includes a native 12V-2x6 cable, so 16-pin cards need no adapter. It is Cybenetics Gold rated at up to 91% efficiency, and its embossed cables with low-profile combs are easy to route. It is the only pick here with a gold cybenetics rating; the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W has a platinum cybenetics rating instead.
No depth is rated for the CORSAIR RM750x, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. Its price falls between the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the NZXT C1000 Gold Core, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed warranty should compare it with the MONTECH Century II 650W, which offers 10 years.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 750W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Cybenetics 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
- ATX 3.1 compliance
- Fully modular cables
Cons
- No published warranty
- Costs more than the MONTECH Century II 650W at the time of writing
Most Efficient2 of 6
be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W
be quiet!'s Power Zone 2 850W is rated Platinum by both 80 Plus and Cybenetics.
Best for
- Quiet high-end builds.
Skip if
- Its warranty is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
Its 140mm Pure Wings 3 fan stops at low load, and it has a native 12V-2x6 cable. On rated output it ties with the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White at 850W. It shares a platinum 80 plus rating with the CORSAIR SF750; the NZXT C1000 Gold Core goes with a gold 80 plus rating.
Like the NZXT C1000 Gold Core and ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, it has a platinum cybenetics rating, while the CORSAIR RM750x uses a gold cybenetics rating. The be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. It also has 3 PCIe 8-pin connectors for cards that use 8-pin power. On price it sat fifth of 6, between the cheaper NZXT C1000 Gold Core and the pricier CORSAIR SF750, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 850W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- PCIe 8-pin connectors
- 3
- 80 Plus rating
- Platinum
- Cybenetics rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Fan
- 140mm
- Fan stop
- Yes
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- A 850W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- 80 Plus Platinum efficiency
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- No published warranty
- Costs more than the MONTECH Century II 650W at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its warranty; if that figure matters, the MONTECH Century II 650W offers 10 years.
Best 1000W3 of 6
NZXT C1000 Gold Core (ATX 3.1)
NZXT's C1000 Gold Core is rated Gold by 80 Plus and Platinum by Cybenetics.
Best for
- High-end GPUs.
Skip if
- Skip it if warranty matters most to you; the MONTECH Century II 650W offers 10 years.
Why we like it
A 135mm fluid-dynamic-bearing fan stops at low load, and the warranty runs seven years. It uses 105°C-rated capacitors, embossed modular cables and a dual-colour 12V-2x6 connector. Its 1000W rated output is the highest here; the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W comes next at 850W.
Its 7 years warranty is the shortest in this group; the MONTECH Century II 650W leads at 10 years. It shares a gold 80 plus rating with the MONTECH Century II 650W and ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White; the CORSAIR SF750 goes with a platinum 80 plus rating. You also get Cybenetics noise certification listed by NZXT and a 135mm FDB fan with zero-RPM mode.
The NZXT C1000 Gold Core comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No depth is rated for the NZXT C1000 Gold Core, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 1000W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Warranty
- 7 years
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- Cybenetics rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- 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
- ATX 3.1 compliance
- Fully modular cables
Cons
- Warranty trails the MONTECH Century II 650W (10 years)
- Costs more than the MONTECH Century II 650W at the time of writing
The catch
If warranty is your priority, the MONTECH Century II 650W (10 years) is the stronger choice.
Best Budget4 of 6
MONTECH Century II 650W
Montech's Century II 650W brings a native 12V-2x6 cable, fully modular cables and a 10-year warranty to a low-cost 80 Plus Gold unit.
Best for
- Mid-range builds.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated output matters most to you; the NZXT C1000 Gold Core offers 1000W.
Why we like it
Its 135mm FDB fan has a zero RPM mode, and it uses 100% Japanese capacitors. On rated output it trails the group at 650W, while the NZXT C1000 Gold Core offers 1000W. It matches the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White on warranty (10 years).
It shares a gold 80 plus rating with the NZXT C1000 Gold Core and ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White; the CORSAIR SF750 goes with a platinum 80 plus rating. The MONTECH Century II 650W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No depth is rated for the MONTECH Century II 650W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. It undercut the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 650W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Warranty
- 10 years
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Fan
- 135mm
- Fan stop
- Yes
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- A 650W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- A 10-year warranty
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- Rated output trails the NZXT C1000 Gold Core (1000W)
The catch
The trade-off is rated output; for more, the NZXT C1000 Gold Core offers 1000W.
Best White5 of 6
ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White
ASRock's SL-850GW is a white, fully modular 850W unit with a two-tone 12V-2x6 cable.
Best for
- White builds.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the MONTECH Century II 650W was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It carries a Cybenetics Platinum rating, a 150mm depth and a 10-year warranty. Its compact 150mm-deep body helps in smaller cases, and iCOOL fan control adjusts speed to load. The white finish suits light builds.
It matches the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W on rated output (850W). On warranty it ties with the MONTECH Century II 650W at 10 years. Like the NZXT C1000 Gold Core and MONTECH Century II 650W, it has a gold 80 plus rating, while the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W uses a platinum 80 plus rating.
No other pick in this guide offers a white colour; compare the CORSAIR RM750x, which has a black colour. The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. It was priced above the MONTECH Century II 650W and below the CORSAIR RM750x at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 850W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Depth
- 150mm
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- Cybenetics rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Fan
- 135mm
- Colour
- White
Pros
- A 850W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- A 10-year warranty
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- Costs more than the MONTECH Century II 650W at the time of writing
The catch
It gives ground on native 12V-2x6 cable count, where the CORSAIR RM750x offers 1.
Best SFX6 of 6
CORSAIR SF750 (2024)
Corsair's 2024 SF750 is a fully modular 80 Plus Platinum SFX unit with ATX 3.1 support.
Best for
- Small cases.
Skip if
- Its native 12V-2x6 cable count is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It uses a 92mm fluid-dynamic-bearing fan and 105C-rated Japanese capacitors. On rated output it ties with the CORSAIR RM750x at 750W. It shares a platinum 80 plus rating with the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W; the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White goes with a gold 80 plus rating.
The CORSAIR SF750 has no stated native 12V-2x6 cable; confirm the cable kit before pairing it with a 16-pin card. No depth is rated for the CORSAIR SF750, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. It was the highest-priced of the 6 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the rest.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 750W
- 80 Plus rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- SFX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Fan
- 92mm
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- A 750W rating
- 80 Plus Platinum efficiency
- ATX 3.1 compliance
- Fully modular cables
Cons
- No published native 12V-2x6 cable count
- No published warranty
- Costs more than the MONTECH Century II 650W at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its native 12V-2x6 cable count; if that figure matters, the CORSAIR RM750x offers 1.
How We Chose These Power Supplies
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 compared six power supplies on rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count, warranty and 80 Plus rating from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 4 of the 11 fields compared are stated for every pick, while native 12V-2x6 cable count and warranty have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 6, from the CORSAIR RM750x to the CORSAIR SF750, state rated output, ATX version and form factor and share ATX 3.1 ATX version.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The CORSAIR SF750 gives no native 12V-2x6 cable count; the CORSAIR RM750x, the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the CORSAIR SF750 give no warranty.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the MONTECH Century II 650W ($50 to $100) to the CORSAIR SF750 ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in Power Supplies
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated output
The NZXT C1000 Gold Core tops rated output at 1000W and the MONTECH Century II 650W sits lowest at 650W. Start with the NZXT C1000 Gold Core if rated output decides it.
Warranty across these picks
Here warranty runs from 7 years on the NZXT C1000 Gold Core to 10 years on the MONTECH Century II 650W, a 43% spread. The MONTECH Century II 650W is the pick for warranty. The CORSAIR RM750x, the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the CORSAIR SF750 give no warranty figure, so 3 of 6 picks are compared here.
Power cables routed to a graphics card inside a PC Cybenetics rating
The CORSAIR RM750x lists Gold; the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W, the NZXT C1000 Gold Core and the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White list platinum. Sort out cybenetics rating before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 3 and 1.
What to check at home
The CORSAIR RM750x comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. The CORSAIR SF750 has no stated native 12V-2x6 cable; confirm the cable kit before pairing it with a 16-pin card.
A PSU-side 8-pin cable connector held between two fingers Extras that separate them
The MONTECH Century II 650W: a 135mm fan with a zero-RPM mode. The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White: a 10-year warranty on a white unit. The CORSAIR SF750: 105°C-rated Japanese capacitors.
How to Choose Power Supplies
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most gaming PCs | CORSAIR RM750x | A fully modular ATX 3.1 unit with Cybenetics Gold |
| Quiet high-end builds | be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W | Platinum from both 80 Plus and Cybenetics |
| High-end GPUs | NZXT C1000 Gold Core | 1000W with a 7-year warranty and Zero Fan mode |
| Mid-range builds | MONTECH Century II 650W | 650W Gold with a 10-year warranty |
| White builds | ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White | A white 850W unit with a 10-year warranty |
| Small cases | CORSAIR SF750 | 750W Platinum in SFX size |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The NZXT C1000 Gold Core leads on rated output at 1000W, ahead of the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W at 850W. "Not listed" marks native 12V-2x6 cable count where the CORSAIR SF750 leaves the figure out.
| Power supplie | Wattage | Native 12V-2x6 cables | Warranty | 80 Plus rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORSAIR RM750x | 750W | 1 | Not listed | Not listed |
| be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W | 850W | 1 | Not listed | Platinum |
| NZXT C1000 Gold Core | 1000W | 1 | 7 years | Gold |
| MONTECH Century II 650W | 650W | 1 | 10 years | Gold |
| ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White | 850W | 1 | 10 years | Gold |
| CORSAIR SF750 | 750W | Not listed | Not listed | Platinum |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The MONTECH Century II 650W was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the CORSAIR SF750 the highest ($150 to $250) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Power supplies |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | MONTECH Century II 650W, ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White |
| About $100 to $150 | CORSAIR RM750x, NZXT C1000 Gold Core, be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W |
| About $150 to $250 | CORSAIR SF750 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest rated output: the NZXT C1000 Gold Core or the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W?
The NZXT C1000 Gold Core tops rated output at 1000W; the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W follows at 850W, 18% apart. The MONTECH Century II 650W is at the other end of this group with 650W.
What does the CORSAIR SF750 add over the MONTECH Century II 650W?
On paper it adds rated output (750W against 650W). On our last price check the MONTECH Century II 650W was in the $50 to $100 tier and the CORSAIR SF750 in the $150 to $250 tier, with 4 other picks between them; pay the difference only if rated output decides your purchase.
Why is the MONTECH Century II 650W our Best Budget pick?
It earns the label for 650W Gold with a 10-year warranty. It is aimed at mid-range builds.
Do the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the NZXT C1000 Gold Core differ on 80 Plus rating?
The be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the CORSAIR SF750 use platinum; the NZXT C1000 Gold Core, the MONTECH Century II 650W and the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White use Gold. The CORSAIR RM750x has no 80 Plus rating listed, so 5 of 6 picks are covered here.
Will the CORSAIR RM750x work with my setup?
The CORSAIR RM750x comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No depth is rated for the CORSAIR RM750x, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. In this guide it ranks first of 6, as our Best 750W pick, and fourth of 6 on rated output (750W).
What extras do the CORSAIR RM750x and the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W include?
The CORSAIR RM750x: embossed cables with low-profile combs. The be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W: a 140mm Pure Wings 3 fan that stops at low load. The NZXT C1000 Gold Core: Cybenetics noise certification listed by NZXT.
Bottom Line
Corsair's RM750x is the best power supply for most gaming PCs. be quiet!'s Power Zone 2 is the efficient pick, NZXT's C1000 Gold Core covers high-end cards, and Montech's Century II 650W keeps costs down.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best 750W Power Supplies for Upper Mid-Range Gaming PCs
- Related guideThe Best 80 Plus Gold Power Supplies
- Related guideThe Best Power Supplies Under $200
- Lower budgetThe Best Power Supplies Under $75
- Similar guideThe Best PC Power Supplies
- ExplainerHow to choose a power supply for a PC build
- Explainer80 Plus Ratings Explained
- Check compatibility: graphics cardsGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Similar guideThe Best SFX Power Supplies for Small Form Factor PCs
- Topic hubAll power supplies guides
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
View all articles