Buying Guide
The Best Power Supplies Under $80
We weighed five power supplies on rated output and native 12V-2x6 cable count, and the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Around $80 you find 550W to 750W units from known brands. Every unit cost 60 to 80 when we checked and lists its wattage and form factor.
The order reflects wattage, native 12V-2x6 cables and warranty from maker specifications; we did not test these power supplies ourselves, and a missing native 12V-2x6 cables is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Also Consider
MONTECH Century II 550W
A 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage.
Best for: Buyers who want 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage.
Our take Check price for MONTECH Century II 550W (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
A lower price than the MONTECH Century II 550W and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Spending as little as possible, with the MONTECH Century II 550W the next step up.
Our take Check price for Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
MONTECH Century II 650W
A 10-year warranty at a low price.
Best for: Buyers who want 10-year warranty at a low price.
Our take Check price for MONTECH Century II 650W (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G
A 90-degree 12V-2x6 cable with a temperature sensor.
Best for: Buyers who want 90-degree 12V-2x6 cable with a temperature sensor.
Our take Check price for ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W
A temperature-controlled 120mm be quiet! fan at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W costs less.
Our take Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage. | Buyers who want 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage. | Check price for MONTECH Century II 550W (opens in a new tab) |
| A lower price than the MONTECH Century II 550W and the rest when we checked. | Spending as little as possible, with the MONTECH Century II 550W the next step up. | Check price for Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W (opens in a new tab) |
| A 10-year warranty at a low price. | Buyers who want 10-year warranty at a low price. | Check price for MONTECH Century II 650W (opens in a new tab) |
| A 90-degree 12V-2x6 cable with a temperature sensor. | Buyers who want 90-degree 12V-2x6 cable with a temperature sensor. | Check price for ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G (opens in a new tab) |
| A temperature-controlled 120mm be quiet! fan at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W costs less. | Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
MONTECH Century II 550W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Montech's Century II 550W is a fully modular 80 Plus Gold unit with a native 12V-2x6 cable and a 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage.
Best for
- Buyers who want 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated output matters most to you; the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G offers 750W.
Why we like it
Its 135mm FDB fan has a zero RPM mode, and it uses 100% Japanese capacitors. The silver metallic finish is MONTECH's signature look. It is ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 ready with a 12V-2x6 cable.
On rated output it trails the group at 550W, while the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G offers 750W. It matches the MONTECH Century II 650W and the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G on warranty (10 years). Like the MONTECH Century II 650W and ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G, it has fully modular cabling, while the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W uses semi-modular cabling.
You also get a 135mm fan that can stop at low load. The MONTECH Century II 550W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W and the pricier MONTECH Century II 650W, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 550W
- 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 550W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- A 10-year warranty
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- Rated output trails the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G (750W)
- Costs more than the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here2 of 5
Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W stands out for Japanese 105°C main capacitor, and it adds semi-modular cables: fixed main cables, detachable extras.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible, with the MONTECH Century II 550W the next step up.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: a shorter 5-year warranty.
Why we like it
It also offers a 650W rated output and offers a 5 years warranty. It is 80 Plus Bronze and ATX 3.1 compliant for PCIe Gen 5 cards, with industrial-grade protections built in. It matches the MONTECH Century II 650W on rated output (650W).
On warranty it trails the group at 5 years, while the MONTECH Century II 550W offers 10 years. No other pick in this guide offers a bronze 80 plus rating; compare the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G, which has a gold 80 plus rating. You get semi-modular cabling here, which sets it apart from the MONTECH Century II 550W and its fully modular cabling.
It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the MONTECH Century II 550W the next step up. There is no published native 12V-2x6 cable count figure, whereas the MONTECH Century II 550W offers 1.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 650W
- Warranty: 5 years
- 80 Plus rating: Bronze
- ATX version: ATX 3.1
- Form factor: ATX
- Cabling: Semi-modular
- Fan: 120mm
- Fan stop: Yes
- Colour: Black
Pros
- A 650W rating
- ATX 3.1 compliance
- A fan that stops at low load
- Japanese 105°C main capacitor
Cons
- A shorter 5-year warranty
- Only 80 Plus Bronze efficiency
- No published native 12V-2x6 cable count
Strong Alternative3 of 5
MONTECH Century II 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- Buyers who want 10-year warranty at a low price.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Its 135mm FDB fan has a zero RPM mode, and it uses 100% Japanese capacitors. On rated output it ties with the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W at 650W. It matches the MONTECH Century II 550W and the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G on warranty (10 years).
Like the MONTECH Century II 550W and ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G, it has fully modular cabling, while the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W uses semi-modular cabling. 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. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper MONTECH Century II 550W and the pricier ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & 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
- Costs more than the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's Phantom Gaming PG-750G has a 90-degree 12V-2x6 cable with a temperature sensor, braided cables and a 10-year warranty.
Best for
- Buyers who want 90-degree 12V-2x6 cable with a temperature sensor.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It is 150mm deep and rated Cybenetics Platinum. It is fully modular with braided cables and a 90-degree PCIe 5.1 connector that has a temperature sensor. ASRock rates its efficiency 2% above the Gold standard.
The 12V-2x6 cable is dual-color and rated to 105 degrees C, and ASRock lists iCOOL intelligent fan control and 220% total power excursion. It measures 5.91 x 5.91 x 3.39 inches, and ASRock notes it is not compatible with all prebuilt systems. On rated output it ties with the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W at 750W.
It matches the MONTECH Century II 550W and the MONTECH Century II 650W on warranty (10 years). Like the MONTECH Century II 550W and MONTECH Century II 650W, it has fully modular cabling, while the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W uses semi-modular cabling. Its price falls between the MONTECH Century II 650W and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 750W
- 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
- Colour: Black
Pros
- A 750W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- A 10-year warranty
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- Costs more than the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
be quiet!'s Pure Power 12 750W pairs a native 12V-2x6 with three PCIe 8-pin connectors, cooled by a temperature-controlled 120mm fan.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W costs less.
Skip if
- Pass if a published warranty matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
Its airflow-optimised fan blades reduce turbulence, which helps keep it quiet under a gaming load. It suits a mid-range build that still uses an 8-pin graphics card, and be quiet! designs it to handle short power excursions from the GPU. It matches the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G on rated output (750W).
No depth is rated for the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. Only the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. It gives ground on native 12V-2x6 cable count, where the MONTECH Century II 550W offers 1.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 750W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables: 1
- PCIe 8-pin connectors: 3
- 80 Plus rating: Gold
- ATX version: ATX 3.1
- Form factor: ATX
- Fan: 120mm
- Colour: Black
Pros
- A 750W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- ATX 3.1 compliance
- Temperature-controlled 120mm be quiet! fan
Cons
- No published warranty
- Costs more than the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W at the time of writing
How We Chose These Power Supplies Under $80
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We compared five power supplies on rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count, warranty and 80 Plus rating from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 5 of the 10 fields compared are stated for every pick, while native 12V-2x6 cable count and warranty have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the MONTECH Century II 550W to the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W, state rated output, 80 Plus rating and ATX version and share ATX 3.1 ATX version and Black colour.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W gives no native 12V-2x6 cable count; the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W gives no warranty.
- Price range
- From the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W to the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W, all sat in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in Power Supplies Under $80
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much rated output you need
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G tops rated output at 750W and the MONTECH Century II 550W sits lowest at 550W; 2 picks share the top figure. If rated output is your first filter, the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G sets the ceiling at 750W.
Warranty
Here warranty runs from 5 years on the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W to 10 years on the MONTECH Century II 550W, a 100% spread. The MONTECH Century II 550W is the pick for warranty. The be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W gives no warranty figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
Cabling
The MONTECH Century II 550W, the MONTECH Century II 650W and the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G list Fully modular; the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W lists Semi-modular.
Setup checks
The MONTECH Century II 550W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. The Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W has no stated native 12V-2x6 cable; confirm the cable kit before pairing it with a 16-pin card.
Extras that separate them
The MONTECH Century II 650W: a 135mm fan with a zero-RPM mode. The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G: individually braided cables. The be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W: three PCIe 6+2 connectors plus a native 12V-2x6.
How to Choose Power Supplies Under $80
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage | MONTECH Century II 550W | A 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage |
| Spending as little as possible, with the MONTECH Century II 550W the next step up | Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W | A lower price than the MONTECH Century II 550W and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want 10-year warranty at a low price | MONTECH Century II 650W | A 10-year warranty at a low price |
| Buyers who want 90-degree 12V-2x6 cable with a temperature sensor | ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G | A 90-degree 12V-2x6 cable with a temperature sensor |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W costs less | be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W | A temperature-controlled 120mm be quiet! fan at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G leads on rated output at 750W, ahead of the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W at 750W. "Not listed" marks native 12V-2x6 cable count where the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W leaves the figure out.
| Power supplie | Wattage | Native 12V-2x6 cables | Warranty | 80 Plus rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONTECH Century II 550W | 550W | 1 | 10 years | Gold |
| Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W | 650W | Not listed | 5 years | Bronze |
| MONTECH Century II 650W | 650W | 1 | 10 years | Gold |
| ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G | 750W | 1 | 10 years | Gold |
| be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W | 750W | 1 | Not listed | Gold |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W add over the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W?
On paper it adds rated output (750W against 650W). Both sat in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked, so the gains in rated output cost little extra by tier.
Why is the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W our Premium Pick?
It earns the label for a temperature-controlled 120mm be quiet! fan at the highest price in the group. It is aimed at buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W costs less.
Do the MONTECH Century II 550W and the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W differ on 80 Plus rating?
The MONTECH Century II 550W, the MONTECH Century II 650W, the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W use Gold; the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W uses bronze.
Will the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W work with my setup?
The be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No depth is rated for the be quiet! Pure Power 12 750W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, as our Premium Pick, and second of 5 on rated output (750W).
What extras do the MONTECH Century II 550W and the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W include?
The MONTECH Century II 550W: a 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage. The Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W: Japanese 105°C main capacitor. The MONTECH Century II 650W: a 10-year warranty at a low price.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the MONTECH Century II 550W, chosen for a 10-year warranty, unusual at this wattage. Look at the Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W for a lower price than the MONTECH Century II 550W and the rest when we checked, the MONTECH Century II 650W for a 10-year warranty at a low price and the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-750G for a 90-degree 12V-2x6 cable with a temperature sensor if those matter more to you.
Check that the unit has the PCIe power connectors your graphics card needs.