Buying Guide
The Best Power Supply for Your Gaming PC
Five gaming power supplies from 650W to 1600W, covering everything from a mid-range card to two high-end cards' worth of connectors.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Match the power supply to your graphics card's recommended wattage and connectors. Recent NVIDIA cards use a 12V-2x6 cable; many AMD cards use 8-pin PCIe cables.
We compared wattage, connectors and efficiency from each listing and Cybenetics data where listed; we did not test these units.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Gaming PC Power Supply
be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W
1000W with Cybenetics Platinum and four 8-pin PCIe cables.
Best for: High-end gaming PCs.
Our take Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W (opens in a new tab)
Best White 850W
ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White
A white 850W unit with a ten-year warranty.
Best for: White gaming builds.
Our take Check price for ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White (opens in a new tab)
Best Value 750W
SAMA GT750
750W with Cybenetics Gold and a zero-RPM mode.
Best for: Mid-range builds on a budget.
Most Connectors
ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G
1600W with two 12V-2x6 and eight 8-pin PCIe cables.
Best for: Workstations and extreme builds.
Our take Check price for ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget 650W
be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W
650W Gold with a 12V-2x6 cable.
Best for: Mid-range cards.
Our take Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000W with Cybenetics Platinum and four 8-pin PCIe cables. | High-end gaming PCs. | Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W (opens in a new tab) |
| A white 850W unit with a ten-year warranty. | White gaming builds. | Check price for ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White (opens in a new tab) |
| 750W with Cybenetics Gold and a zero-RPM mode. | Mid-range builds on a budget. | Check price for SAMA GT750 (opens in a new tab) |
| 1600W with two 12V-2x6 and eight 8-pin PCIe cables. | Workstations and extreme builds. | Check price for ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (opens in a new tab) |
| 650W Gold with a 12V-2x6 cable. | Mid-range cards. | Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Gaming PC Power Supply1 of 5
be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
be quiet!'s Pure Power 13 M 1000W offers four PCIe 8-pin connectors plus a native 12V-2x6, and Cybenetics rates it Platinum.
Best for
- High-end gaming PCs.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the SAMA GT750 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
The fan stops at low load. Its fan stops completely at low load, and LLC topology gives tight voltage regulation for a quiet system. On rated output it sits mid-pack at 1000W: the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G offers 1600W, and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W comes in at 650W.
On native 12V-2x6 cable count it ties with the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, the SAMA GT750 and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W at 1. Like the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G, it has a platinum cybenetics rating, while the SAMA GT750 uses a gold cybenetics rating. You also get semi-passive cooling at low load.
On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the pricier ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its warranty; if that figure matters, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White offers 10 years.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 1000W
- 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
- 1000W of rated output for high-power cards
- 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 SAMA GT750 at the time of writing
Best White 850W2 of 5
ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- White gaming builds.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its 8-pin PCIe connector count before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
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. Its 850W rated output ranks third of 5 here, behind the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (1600W) and ahead of the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W (650W).
It matches the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W, the SAMA GT750 and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W on native 12V-2x6 cable count (1). It shares a platinum cybenetics rating with the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W and ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G; the SAMA GT750 goes with a gold cybenetics rating. It is the only pick here with a white colour; the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W has a black colour instead. If you want a confirmed 8-pin PCIe connector count, look to the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G instead: it offers 8, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & 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
- No published 8-pin PCIe connector count
- Costs more than the SAMA GT750 at the time of writing
Best Value 750W3 of 5
SAMA GT750 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
SAMA's GT750 uses Japanese capacitors with an LLC and DC-DC design, a native 12V-2x6 cable and an ECO silent mode for low loads.
Best for
- Mid-range builds on a budget.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its 8-pin PCIe connector count before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
Its ECO silent mode keeps the 120mm FDB fan quiet at low load, and Japanese capacitors with LLC and DC-DC topology support long-term stability. Embossed modular cables are easier to route. Its embossed modular cables improve airflow and make routing simpler.
Its 750W rated output ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (1600W) and ahead of the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W (650W). It matches the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W on native 12V-2x6 cable count (1). 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 ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G instead: it offers 8, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 750W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables: 1
- Cybenetics rating: Gold
- ATX version: ATX 3.1
- Form factor: ATX
- Cabling: Fully modular
- Fan: 120mm
- Fan stop: Yes
- 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 8-pin PCIe connector count
Most Connectors4 of 5
ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's Phantom Gaming PG-1600G has 1600W, two 12V-2x6 cables with temperature monitoring and eight PCIe 8-pin connectors.
Best for
- Workstations and extreme builds.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: a 180mm depth needs a roomy PSU bay.
Why we like it
At 180mm deep it needs a large case. Nothing else here matches its 1600W rated output; the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W comes closest at 1000W. On native 12V-2x6 cable count it leads this guide at 2, ahead of the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W (1).
It shares a platinum cybenetics rating with the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W and ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White; the SAMA GT750 goes with a gold cybenetics rating. At 180mm deep, compare it with your case's PSU clearance before buying. At our last price check it topped the group, with the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 1600W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables: 2
- PCIe 8-pin connectors: 8
- Warranty: 10 years
- Depth: 180mm
- 80 Plus rating: Gold
- Cybenetics rating: Platinum
- ATX version: ATX 3.1
- Form factor: ATX
- Cabling: Fully modular
- Fan: 135mm
- Colour: Black
Pros
- 1600W of rated output for high-power cards
- 2 native 12V-2x6 cables
- 8 PCIe 8-pin connectors for older cards
- A 10-year warranty
Cons
- A 180mm depth needs a roomy PSU bay
- Costs more than the SAMA GT750 at the time of writing
Best Budget 650W5 of 5
be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G offers 1600W.
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 ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G offers 1600W. On native 12V-2x6 cable count it ties with the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the SAMA GT750 at 1. On 8-pin PCIe connector count it trails the group at 2, while the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G offers 8.
No depth is rated for the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. Its price falls between the SAMA GT750 and the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & 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 ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (1600W)
- Native 12V-2x6 cable count trails the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (2)
- 8-pin PCIe connector count trails the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (8)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Price
- We grouped picks by price at the time of writing.
- Standards
- We noted ATX version, 80 Plus and Cybenetics ratings.
- Wattage
- We compared rated output with NVIDIA's or AMD's recommended system power for the card.
- Connectors
- We recorded native 12V-2x6 cables and PCIe 8-pin connectors where the listing states them.
What to Look for in a Power Supply for Gaming PC
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Match the power connector
Most RTX 40 and RTX 50 cards use a single 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) plug, while many Radeon cards use two or three 8-pin plugs. A native cable avoids bulky adapters.
Push the 16-pin plug fully home and avoid a sharp bend right at the connector.
Start from the card maker's PSU figure
NVIDIA and AMD publish a recommended total system power for each card, and partner cards often state their own. Treat that figure as the floor, then add headroom for a high-power CPU.
More wattage than you need does not harm anything; it mostly costs money.
Compare efficiency ratings
80 Plus and Cybenetics ratings describe how much power turns into heat. Gold is the usual target for a gaming PC; Platinum and Titanium run cooler and cost more.
Check depth and cabling
Deeper units can clash with drive cages or front radiators. Fully modular cables make routing easier in tight cases.
Prefer ATX 3.1
ATX 3.1 units are designed for the brief power spikes modern graphics cards produce and ship with the revised 12V-2x6 connector. Older units can still work, but check the maker's guidance for your card.
Use the warranty as a quality signal
Long warranties of seven to twelve years show how long a maker expects a unit to last. A power supply often moves from one build to the next, so the warranty matters.
How to Choose a Power Supply for Gaming PC
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High-end gaming PCs | be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W | 1000W with Cybenetics Platinum and four 8-pin PCIe cables |
| White gaming builds | ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White | A white 850W unit with a ten-year warranty |
| Mid-range builds on a budget | SAMA GT750 | 750W with Cybenetics Gold and a zero-RPM mode |
| Workstations and extreme builds | ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G | 1600W with two 12V-2x6 and eight 8-pin PCIe cables |
| 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
Figures as each maker states them.
| Power supplie | Wattage | Native 12V-2x6 cables | PCIe 8-pin connectors | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W | 1000W | 1 | 4 | Not listed |
| ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White | 850W | 1 | Not listed | 10 years |
| SAMA GT750 | 750W | 1 | Not listed | Not listed |
| ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G | 1600W | 2 | 8 | 10 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
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Power supplies |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | SAMA GT750, be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W, ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White |
| About $100 to $150 | be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W |
| About $150 to $250 | ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reuse the power supply from my old PC?
Only if it meets the card's wattage and connector needs and is still under warranty or in good health. Very old units lack modern connectors.
How much headroom should I leave above the recommended wattage?
The card maker's figure already covers a typical system. Add 100 to 150W if you run a high-power CPU or plan a bigger card later.
Can I use the 16-pin adapter that came with my graphics card?
Yes, if it is the maker's own adapter and every 8-pin plug on it is connected. A native 12V-2x6 cable is tidier and has fewer joins.
Is an ATX 3.0 power supply still fine?
Generally yes. ATX 3.1 mainly revises the connector to 12V-2x6 and relaxes some spike requirements; check your unit's cable is rated for your card.
Can I use an SFX power supply?
Yes, if the case supports SFX and the unit meets the wattage and connector needs of your card. SFX units cost more per watt.
Does a Platinum unit save much on electricity?
Only a little for most gaming PCs. The main gains are less heat and often a quieter fan.
Bottom Line
The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W suits high-end gaming PCs, and the ASRock SL-850GW is the white pick. The SAMA GT750 is the value 750W, the PG-1600G has the most connectors, and the Pure Power 12 650W suits mid-range cards.