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 Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
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
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best Gaming PC Power Supply
be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W1000W with Cybenetics Platinum and four 8-pin PCIe cables.
Best for: High-end gaming PCs.
Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best White 850W
ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW WhiteA white 850W unit with a ten-year warranty.
Best for: White gaming builds.
Check price for ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Value 750W
SAMA GT750750W with Cybenetics Gold and a zero-RPM mode.
Best for: Mid-range builds on a budget.
Check price for SAMA GT750 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Most Connectors
ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G1600W with two 12V-2x6 and eight 8-pin PCIe cables.
Best for: Workstations and extreme builds.
Check price for ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget 650W
be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W650W Gold with a 12V-2x6 cable.
Best for: Mid-range cards.
Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check 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 on Amazon (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 on Amazon (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 on Amazon (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 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 650W Gold with a 12V-2x6 cable. | Mid-range cards. | Check price for be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Gaming PC Power Supply1 of 5
be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W
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.
Key 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
The catch
The maker doesn't give its warranty; if that figure matters, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White offers 10 years.
Best White 850W2 of 5
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
- 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. The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter.
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
- No published 8-pin PCIe connector count
- Costs more than the SAMA GT750 at the time of writing
The catch
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.
Best Value 750W3 of 5
SAMA GT750
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). A gold cybenetics rating is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G uses a platinum cybenetics rating.
The SAMA GT750 comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W was closest.
Key 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
The catch
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.
Most Connectors4 of 5
ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G
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 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
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 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)
The catch
If rated output is your priority, the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G (1600W) 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.
- What we compared
- We compared five power supplies on rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count, 8-pin PCIe connector count and warranty as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 5 picks leave out 8-pin PCIe connector count.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W to the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W, state rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count and ATX version and share ATX 3.1 ATX version.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the SAMA GT750 give no 8-pin PCIe connector count; the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W, the SAMA GT750 and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W give no warranty.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the SAMA GT750 ($50 to $100) to the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Power Supply for Gaming PC
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Rated output across these picks
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G tops rated output at 1600W and the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W sits lowest at 650W. The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W comes second at 1000W, in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 for the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G.
How much native 12V-2x6 cable count you need
Here native 12V-2x6 cable count runs from 1 on the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W to 2 on the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G, a 100% spread. If native 12V-2x6 cable count is your first filter, the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G sets the ceiling at 2.
A 24-pin ATX power cable held in a hand 8-pin PCIe connector count
Here 8-pin PCIe connector count runs from 2 on the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W to 8 on the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G, a 300% spread. The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W comes second at 4, in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 for the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G. The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the SAMA GT750 give no 8-pin PCIe connector count figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
What to check at home
The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter.
A 24-pin ATX connector seen from the pin side Extras that separate them
The SAMA GT750: an ECO silent mode for low load. The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G: a 180mm length that needs a large case. The be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W: a single strong 12V rail.
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
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G leads on rated output at 1600W, ahead of the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W at 1000W. "Not listed" marks 8-pin PCIe connector count where the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the SAMA GT750 leave the figure out.
| 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
The SAMA GT750 was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G the highest ($150 to $250) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| 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
How does the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W compare with the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G on rated output?
The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G leads at 1600W, with the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W at 1000W. The be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W closes the ranking at 650W.
Which has the most native 12V-2x6 cable count: the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G or the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W?
Between the top two, it is 2 on the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G against 1 on the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W, a 100% difference.
Which has the most 8-pin PCIe connector count: the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G or the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W?
Between the top two, it is 8 on the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G against 4 on the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W, a 100% difference. The spread runs down to the be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W at 2. The ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the SAMA GT750 are left out of this ranking because their 8-pin PCIe connector count isn't stated; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
What does the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G add over the SAMA GT750?
On paper it adds rated output (1600W against 750W) and native 12V-2x6 cable count (2 against 1). On our last price check the SAMA GT750 was in the $50 to $100 tier and the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G in the $150 to $250 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if rated output and native 12V-2x6 cable count decide your purchase.
Why is the SAMA GT750 our Best Value 750W pick?
It earns the label for 750W with Cybenetics Gold and a zero-RPM mode. It suits mid-range builds on a budget.
Do the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W and the SAMA GT750 differ on cybenetics rating?
The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W, the ASRock Steel Legend SL-850GW White and the ASRock Phantom Gaming PG-1600G use platinum; the SAMA GT750 uses Gold. The be quiet! Pure Power 12 650W has no cybenetics rating listed, so 4 of 5 picks are covered here.
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.
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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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