Buying Guide
The Best Power Supplies for a Gaming PC
Five power supplies for a gaming PC from 650W to 1000W, weighted toward fully modular units with long warranties.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Fully modular cables make a gaming PC easier to build and tidier to look at. Every unit here is fully modular with a native 12V-2x6 cable or ATX 3.1 support.
We compared wattage, depth and warranty from each listing; 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 PSU for a Gaming PC
CORSAIR RM750x (ATX 3.1)Fully modular 750W with Cybenetics Gold.
Best for: Most gaming PCs.
Check price for CORSAIR RM750x (ATX 3.1) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Platinum 1000W
ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum1000W Platinum with a ten-year warranty.
Best for: High-end gaming PCs.
Check price for ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Compact 850W
darkFlash DG850140mm depth at 850W.
Best for: Compact cases with upper-mid-range cards.
Check price for darkFlash DG850 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Shortest 1000W
Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W140mm depth at 1000W.
Best for: High-end cards in smaller cases.
Check price for Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best 650W Warranty
MONTECH Century II 650W650W Gold with a ten-year warranty.
Best for: Mid-range gaming PCs.
Check price for MONTECH Century II 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully modular 750W with Cybenetics Gold. | Most gaming PCs. | Check price for CORSAIR RM750x (ATX 3.1) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 1000W Platinum with a ten-year warranty. | High-end gaming PCs. | Check price for ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 140mm depth at 850W. | Compact cases with upper-mid-range cards. | Check price for darkFlash DG850 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 140mm depth at 1000W. | High-end cards in smaller cases. | Check price for Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 650W Gold with a ten-year warranty. | Mid-range gaming PCs. | Check price for MONTECH Century II 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best PSU for a Gaming PC1 of 5
CORSAIR RM750x (ATX 3.1)
Corsair's RM750x is a fully modular ATX 3.1 unit with a native 12V-2x6 cable and 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 is Cybenetics Gold rated at up to 91% efficiency, and its embossed cables with low-profile combs are easy to route. On rated output it sits mid-pack at 750W: the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum offers 1000W, and the MONTECH Century II 650W comes in at 650W. 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. Its price falls between the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W and the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum, based on our last check.
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 darkFlash DG850 at the time of writing
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed warranty should compare it with the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum, which offers 10 years.
Best Platinum 1000W2 of 5
ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum
ASUS's ROG Strix 1000W Platinum uses GaN MOSFETs and GPU-first voltage sensing on the graphics card rail.
Best for
- High-end gaming PCs.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its native 12V-2x6 cable count before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
It carries a Cybenetics LAMBDA A noise rating and a 10-year warranty. GaN MOSFETs raise efficiency, large ROG heatsinks cut temperatures and noise, and 0dB mode keeps it silent during light gaming. It matches the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W on rated output (1000W).
On warranty it ties with the MONTECH Century II 650W at 10 years. It is the only pick here with a platinum 80 plus rating; the MONTECH Century II 650W has a gold 80 plus rating instead. The ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum 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 ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. At our last price check it topped the group, with the CORSAIR RM750x the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 1000W
- Warranty
- 10 years
- 80 Plus rating
- Platinum
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Fan stop
- Yes
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- 1000W of rated output for high-power cards
- A 10-year warranty
- 80 Plus Platinum efficiency
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- No published native 12V-2x6 cable count
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG850 at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed native 12V-2x6 cable count, look to the CORSAIR RM750x instead: it offers 1, while this one gives no figure.
Best Compact 850W3 of 5
darkFlash DG850
darkFlash's DG850 fits 850W into a 140mm body, with a native 12V-2x6 cable and fully modular cables.
Best for
- Compact cases with upper-mid-range cards.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when a shorter 5-year warranty is a problem.
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.
Its 850W rated output ranks third of 5 here, behind the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum (1000W) and ahead of the MONTECH Century II 650W (650W). On warranty it trails the group at 5 years, while the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum offers 10 years. Like the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W and MONTECH Century II 650W, it has a gold 80 plus rating, while the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum uses a platinum 80 plus rating.
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. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the MONTECH Century II 650W 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
- Warranty trails the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum (10 years)
The catch
It gives ground on warranty, where the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum offers 10 years.
Shortest 1000W4 of 5
Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W
Thermaltake's Toughpower GT 1000W is only 140mm deep, short for its wattage, and ships with a native 12V-2x6 cable and flat modular cables.
Best for
- High-end cards in smaller cases.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its warranty before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
Its flat modular cables have colour-matched connectors, and a hydraulic-bearing fan with Smart Zero Fan keeps it quiet. It matches the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum on rated output (1000W). Like the darkFlash DG850 and MONTECH Century II 650W, it has a gold 80 plus rating, while the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum uses a platinum 80 plus rating.
The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W 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. When we checked, only the MONTECH Century II 650W and cheaper picks cost less, and the CORSAIR RM750x cost more. If you want a confirmed warranty, look to the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum instead: it offers 10 years, while this one gives no figure.
Key specs
- Wattage
- 1000W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables
- 1
- Depth
- 140mm
- 80 Plus rating
- Gold
- ATX version
- ATX 3.1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Cabling
- Fully modular
- Fan
- 120mm
- Fan stop
- Yes
- Colour
- Black
Pros
- 1000W of rated output for high-power cards
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- A short 140mm body
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- No published warranty
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG850 at the time of writing
Best 650W Warranty5 of 5
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 gaming PCs.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated output matters most to you; the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum 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 ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum offers 1000W. It matches the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum on warranty (10 years).
It shares a gold 80 plus rating with the darkFlash DG850 and Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W; the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum 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. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper darkFlash DG850 and the pricier Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W, 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 ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum (1000W)
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG850 at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is rated output; for more, the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum offers 1000W.
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 lined up five power supplies on rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count, warranty and depth as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 5 picks leave out native 12V-2x6 cable count.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the CORSAIR RM750x to the MONTECH Century II 650W, state rated output, ATX version and form factor and share ATX 3.1 ATX version and Fully modular cabling.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum gives no native 12V-2x6 cable count; the CORSAIR RM750x and the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W give no warranty.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the darkFlash DG850 ($50 to $100) to the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a PSUs for a Gaming PC
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated output
The ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum tops rated output at 1000W and the MONTECH Century II 650W sits lowest at 650W; 2 picks share the top figure. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W comes second at 1000W, in the $50 to $100 tier against $150 to $250 for the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum.
Warranty across these picks
Here warranty runs from 5 years on the darkFlash DG850 to 10 years on the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum, a 100% spread. For less, the MONTECH Century II 650W is the runner-up at 10 years ($50 to $100 tier). The CORSAIR RM750x and the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W give no warranty figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
A 24-pin ATX power cable held in a hand Fit and compatibility
The CORSAIR RM750x comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. The ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum has no stated native 12V-2x6 cable; confirm the cable kit before pairing it with a 16-pin card.
Extras that separate them
The darkFlash DG850: multi-protection circuitry. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W: flat cables for easier routing. The MONTECH Century II 650W: a 135mm fan with a zero-RPM mode.
A 24-pin ATX connector seen from the pin side Where your budget lands
$50 to $100 buys the darkFlash DG850, the MONTECH Century II 650W and the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W; $100 to $150 buys the CORSAIR RM750x; $150 to $250 buys the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum at our last check.
How to Choose a PSUs for a Gaming PC
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most gaming PCs | CORSAIR RM750x | Fully modular 750W with Cybenetics Gold |
| High-end gaming PCs | ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum | 1000W Platinum with a ten-year warranty |
| Compact cases with upper-mid-range cards | darkFlash DG850 | 140mm depth at 850W |
| High-end cards in smaller cases | Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W | 140mm depth at 1000W |
| Mid-range gaming PCs | MONTECH Century II 650W | 650W Gold with a ten-year warranty |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum leads on rated output at 1000W, ahead of the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W at 1000W. "Not listed" marks native 12V-2x6 cable count where the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum leaves the figure out.
| Power supplie | Wattage | Native 12V-2x6 cables | Warranty | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORSAIR RM750x | 750W | 1 | Not listed | Not listed |
| ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum | 1000W | Not listed | 10 years | Not listed |
| darkFlash DG850 | 850W | 1 | 5 years | 140mm |
| Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W | 1000W | 1 | Not listed | 140mm |
| MONTECH Century II 650W | 650W | 1 | 10 years | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The darkFlash DG850 was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum the highest ($150 to $250) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Power supplies |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | darkFlash DG850, MONTECH Century II 650W, Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W |
| About $100 to $150 | CORSAIR RM750x |
| About $150 to $250 | ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum add over the darkFlash DG850?
On paper it adds rated output (1000W against 850W) and warranty (10 years against 5 years). On our last price check the darkFlash DG850 was in the $50 to $100 tier and the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum in the $150 to $250 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if rated output and warranty decide your purchase.
Why is the CORSAIR RM750x our Best PSU for a Gaming PC pick?
It carries the badge for fully modular 750W with Cybenetics Gold. The price of that: the darkFlash DG850, the cheapest pick, still beats it on rated output (850W against 750W). It suits most gaming PCs.
Do the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum and the darkFlash DG850 differ on 80 Plus rating?
The ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum uses platinum; the darkFlash DG850, the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 1000W and the MONTECH Century II 650W use Gold. The CORSAIR RM750x has no 80 Plus rating listed, so 4 of 5 picks are covered here.
Will the darkFlash DG850 work with my setup?
The darkFlash DG850 comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. In this guide it ranks third of 5, as our Best Compact 850W pick, and third of 5 on rated output (850W).
What extras do the CORSAIR RM750x and the ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum include?
The CORSAIR RM750x: embossed cables with low-profile combs. The ASUS ROG Strix 1000W Platinum: GaN MOSFETs. The darkFlash DG850: 850W in a 140mm body.
Bottom Line
The Corsair RM750x suits most gaming PCs, and the ROG Strix 1000W Platinum covers high-end builds. The darkFlash DG850 and Toughpower GT 1000W are short units, and the MONTECH Century II 650W has a ten-year warranty.
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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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