Buying Guide
The Best Power Supplies for the RTX 5080
Six 850W and 1000W units with native 12V-2x6 cables, matched to NVIDIA's 850W recommendation for the RTX 5080.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read6 products evaluated
NVIDIA recommends an 850W power supply for the RTX 5080, which uses a single 16-pin 12V-2x6 connector. Every unit here offers a native 12V-2x6 cable.
We compared wattage, connectors and ratings from the power supply listings against the card maker's guidance; 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 Match for an RTX 5080
ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White850W with a dual-color 12V-2x6 cable and a 10-year warranty.
Best for: Most RTX 5080 builds, including white ones.
Check price for ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Single-Rail Pick
Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850WA single high-amperage 12V rail with Smart Zero Fan.
Best for: Simple, quiet builds.
Check price for Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Most Efficient 850W
be quiet! Power Zone 2 850WPlatinum ratings from 80 Plus and Cybenetics.
Best for: Long gaming sessions.
Check price for be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Compact 850W
darkFlash DG850850W in a 140mm body.
Best for: Cases with short PSU bays.
Check price for darkFlash DG850 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Headroom Pick
CORSAIR RM1000x (ATX 3.1)1000W with a Cybenetics Gold rating.
Best for: High-power CPUs.
Check price for CORSAIR RM1000x (ATX 3.1) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget 850W
Rosewill VMG 850W850W Gold with support for GPU power spikes.
Best for: Keeping cost down.
Check price for Rosewill VMG 850W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Match for an RTX 50801 of 6
ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White
ASRock's Steel Legend SL-850GW is a white 850W unit, 150mm deep, with a dual-color 12V-2x6 cable and a 10-year warranty.
Best for
- Most RTX 5080 builds, including white ones.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the darkFlash DG850, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Its compact 150mm-deep body helps in smaller cases, and iCOOL fan control adjusts speed to load. The white finish suits light builds. On rated output it ties with the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W, the darkFlash DG850 and the Rosewill VMG 850W at 850W.
Its 10 years warranty is the longest here; the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W comes next at 5 years. Like the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W, it has a platinum cybenetics rating, while the CORSAIR RM1000x uses a gold cybenetics rating. A white colour is unique to it among these picks, while the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W uses 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. Its price falls between the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W and the CORSAIR RM1000x, based on our last check.
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 darkFlash DG850 at the time of writing
Best Single-Rail Pick2 of 6
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
- Simple, quiet 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. On rated output it ties with the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W, the darkFlash DG850 and the Rosewill VMG 850W at 850W.
It matches the darkFlash DG850 and the Rosewill VMG 850W on warranty (5 years). 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. Its price falls between the Rosewill VMG 850W and the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, based on our last check.
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 DG850 at the time of writing
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed depth should compare it with the darkFlash DG850, which comes in at 140mm.
Most Efficient 850W3 of 6
be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W
be quiet!'s Power Zone 2 850W carries Platinum ratings from both 80 Plus and Cybenetics, three PCIe 8-pin connectors and a native 12V-2x6.
Best for
- Long gaming sessions.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its warranty before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
Its 140mm fan stops at low load. It matches the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the darkFlash DG850 and the Rosewill VMG 850W on rated output (850W). It is the only pick here with a platinum 80 plus rating; the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White has a gold 80 plus rating instead.
No depth is rated for the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. You also get this: ATX 3.1 compliance. At our last price check it topped the group, with the CORSAIR RM1000x the nearest cheaper option.
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 darkFlash DG850 at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed warranty, look to the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White instead: it offers 10 years, while this one gives no figure.
Best Compact 850W4 of 6
darkFlash DG850
darkFlash's DG850 fits 850W into a 140mm body, with a native 12V-2x6 cable and fully modular cables.
Best for
- Cases with short PSU bays.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: a shorter 5-year warranty.
Why we like it
Its warranty is 5 years. It is fully modular with a quiet HDB fan, and it carries a 5-year limited warranty with built-in protections. Its 850W output suits high-end CPU and GPU builds.
On rated output it ties with the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the Rosewill VMG 850W at 850W. It also comes with multi-protection circuitry. The darkFlash DG850 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. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Rosewill VMG 850W was the next step up.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 850W
- 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 850W 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 850W, behind the CORSAIR RM1000x (1000W)
The catch
The main gap: rated output of 850W, behind the CORSAIR RM1000x (1000W). If that matters, the CORSAIR RM1000x offers 1000W.
Best Headroom Pick5 of 6
CORSAIR RM1000x (ATX 3.1)
Corsair's RM1000x is a fully modular ATX 3.1 unit with a native 12V-2x6 cable and Cybenetics Gold efficiency.
Best for
- High-power CPUs.
Skip if
- Its warranty is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
Its embossed cables come with low-profile combs for tidy routing. It is Cybenetics Gold rated at up to 91% efficiency, and its embossed cables with low-profile combs route easily. Nothing else here matches its 1000W rated output; the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White comes closest at 850W.
No other pick in this guide offers a gold cybenetics rating; compare the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, which has a platinum cybenetics rating. The CORSAIR RM1000x comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No depth is rated for the CORSAIR RM1000x, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. On price it sat fifth of 6, between the cheaper ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the pricier be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 1000W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Cybenetics rating
- Gold
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- 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
- No published warranty
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG850 at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its warranty; if that figure matters, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White offers 10 years.
Best Budget 850W6 of 6
Rosewill VMG 850W
Rosewill's VMG 850W offers a native 12V-2x6 cable and support for large GPU power spikes, on a fully modular 80 Plus Gold design.
Best for
- Keeping cost down.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: a shorter 5-year warranty.
Why we like it
Its compact 140mm-deep chassis is 35% smaller than a standard ATX unit, which helps in small cases. Six protections guard against overcurrent, overpower, overtemperature, overvoltage, short circuit and undervoltage. Its steel shell has large vents, and a 120mm FDB fan handles cooling.
It lists ATX 3.0 and 3.1 support, a 12V-2x6 cable and a 120mm FDB fan. On rated output it ties with the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the darkFlash DG850 at 850W. It matches the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W and the darkFlash DG850 on warranty (5 years).
The Rosewill VMG 850W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No depth is rated for the Rosewill VMG 850W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. Its price falls between the darkFlash DG850 and the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 850W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Warranty
- 5 years
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Fan
- 120mm
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- A 850W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- Fully modular cables
- Listed support for large GPU power excursions
Cons
- A shorter 5-year warranty
- Rated output trails the CORSAIR RM1000x (1000W)
- Warranty trails the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White (10 years)
The catch
If rated output is your priority, the CORSAIR RM1000x (1000W) is the stronger choice.
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.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared six power supplies on rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count, warranty and depth, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 6 picks leave out warranty.
- The shared baseline
- All 6, from the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White to the Rosewill VMG 850W, state rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count and form factor.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the CORSAIR RM1000x give no warranty; the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W, the CORSAIR RM1000x and the Rosewill VMG 850W give no depth.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the darkFlash DG850 ($50 to $100) to the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a PSUs for RTX 5080
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated output
The CORSAIR RM1000x tops rated output at 1000W and the Rosewill VMG 850W sits lowest at 850W. If rated output is your first filter, the CORSAIR RM1000x sets the ceiling at 1000W.
How much warranty you need
Across these 4 picks warranty spans 5 years (the Rosewill VMG 850W) to 10 years (the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White). Start with the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White if warranty decides it. The be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the CORSAIR RM1000x give no warranty figure, so 4 of 6 picks are compared here.
Modular cable sockets on the back of a power supply How much depth you need
Here depth runs from 150mm on the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White to 140mm on the darkFlash DG850, a 7% spread. Start with the darkFlash DG850 if depth decides it. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W, the CORSAIR RM1000x and the Rosewill VMG 850W give no depth figure, so 2 of 6 picks are compared here.
Cybenetics rating
The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W list platinum; the CORSAIR RM1000x lists Gold. Settling cybenetics rating first narrows 3 picks to 2 or 1.
Power cables routed to a graphics card inside a PC Setup checks
The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter.
How to Choose a PSUs for RTX 5080
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most RTX 5080 builds, including white ones | ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White | 850W with a dual-color 12V-2x6 cable and a 10-year warranty |
| Simple, quiet builds | Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W | A single high-amperage 12V rail with Smart Zero Fan |
| Long gaming sessions | be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W | Platinum ratings from 80 Plus and Cybenetics |
| Cases with short PSU bays | darkFlash DG850 | 850W in a 140mm body |
| High-power CPUs | CORSAIR RM1000x | 1000W with a Cybenetics Gold rating |
| Keeping cost down | Rosewill VMG 850W | 850W Gold with support for GPU power spikes |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The CORSAIR RM1000x leads on rated output at 1000W, ahead of the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White at 850W. "Not listed" marks warranty where the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the CORSAIR RM1000x leave the figure out.
| Power supplie | Wattage | Native 12V-2x6 cables | Warranty | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White | 850W | 1 | 10 years | 150mm |
| Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W | 850W | 1 | 5 years | Not listed |
| be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W | 850W | 1 | Not listed | Not listed |
| darkFlash DG850 | 850W | 1 | 5 years | 140mm |
| CORSAIR RM1000x | 1000W | 1 | Not listed | Not listed |
| Rosewill VMG 850W | 850W | 1 | 5 years | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the darkFlash DG850, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W at $100 to $150; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Power supplies |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | darkFlash DG850, Rosewill VMG 850W, Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White |
| About $100 to $150 | CORSAIR RM1000x, be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest rated output: the CORSAIR RM1000x or the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White?
Between the top two, it is 1000W on the CORSAIR RM1000x against 850W on the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, an 18% difference.
How does the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W compare with the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White on warranty?
The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White leads at 10 years, with the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W at 5 years. No warranty figure is published for the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W and the CORSAIR RM1000x, which leaves 4 of 6 picks ranked here.
Is the darkFlash DG850 ahead of the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White on depth?
The darkFlash DG850 is lowest on depth at 140mm; the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White follows at 150mm, 7% apart. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W, the CORSAIR RM1000x and the Rosewill VMG 850W are left out of this ranking because their depth isn't stated; 2 of 6 picks are ranked.
What makes the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W the Most Efficient 850W?
It earns the label for platinum ratings from 80 Plus and Cybenetics. The darkFlash DG850, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $100 to $150 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It makes sense for long gaming sessions.
Do the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W differ on 80 Plus rating?
The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W, the darkFlash DG850 and the Rosewill VMG 850W use Gold; the be quiet! Power Zone 2 850W uses platinum. The maker of the CORSAIR RM1000x doesn't state 80 Plus rating, so 5 of 6 picks are covered here.
What should I check before buying the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W?
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. In this guide it ranks second of 6, as our Best Single-Rail Pick, and third of 6 on rated output (850W).
Bottom Line
ASRock's Steel Legend SL-850GW is the best-matched unit for an RTX 5080, with a 10-year warranty. be quiet!'s Power Zone 2 is the efficient choice, darkFlash's DG850 suits short bays, and Corsair's RM1000x adds headroom.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best 850W Power Supplies for a Single-GPU Gaming PC
- Related guideThe Best White Power Supplies for All-White PC Builds
- Related guideThe Best PC Cases for the RTX 5080
- Lower budgetThe Best Power Supplies Under $75
- Similar guideThe Best Power Supplies for the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti
- ExplainerHow to choose a power supply for a PC build
- Explainer80 Plus Ratings Explained
- Check compatibility: graphics cardsHow to Buy a Used Graphics Card Safely
- Similar guideThe Best Power Supplies for the RTX 4070 and 4070 Super
- 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
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