Depending on its overall performance, your PSU plays a big part in determining reliability, so you have to be careful when it comes to picking the right one for your machine. A good PSU should also have the protection features able to save your components, including the power supply itself, should something go wrong.
The recommendations below are pulled from the top-level awarded products from our PSU reviews. As we continue reviewing units, this list will evolve and grow, continually representing the best of an incredibly important component.
October 2016 Updates
A number of new PSUs have passed through our lab since the last update to this column, but only one impressed us enough to earn an Editor's Choice award. Before we take a look at this month’s star, the Seasonic Prime 650, we'll spend some time talking about the other power supplies that confronted our Chroma load machines.
The Thermaltake Toughpower SFX model with 600 W capacity is based on an Enhance Electronics platform that might be resilient to increased operating temperatures, but doesn’t offer good ripple performance under tough conditions. Also, its hold-up time is pretty low. The physically small Toughpower unit is noisy under heavy loads since its 80 mm fan spins quickly to provide decent airflow. Given a high MSRP (around $120), the STP-0600F-G's performance per dollar ratio isn’t high enough to threaten the top-notch Corsair SF600.
We also tested the ultra-expensive Toughpower DPS G RGB 1500W. Although the TPG-1500D-T is Thermaltake’s flagship, its smaller brother, the TPG-1250D-T, achieves higher performance since it uses a more advanced platform. You see, the TPG-1500D-T is made by Enhance Electronics and utilizes an analog platform. Its digital controller is only used as a communications link between the PSU and your PC. Meanwhile, the TPG-1250D-T uses a semi-digital platform provided by Channel Well Technology. In it, a couple of MCUs control some of the PSU’s functions and that digital communications link. With a price tag that exceeds $400, it'd be natural to prefer Corsair's mighty AX1500i over the TPG-1500D-T. Thermaltake needs to try harder if it wants to compete.
Lian Li recently presented two SFX-L PSUs, the PE-550 and the PE-750. We had the chance to evaluate the latter, and were impressed by its efficiency. The platform is provided by Enhance Electronics (three out of the four PSUs we tested this month came from Enhance, in fact) and its performance levels are way above the manufacturer's average. Aside from being more resistant to high operating temperatures, the PE-750 achieves an impressively high power density score. And it does so while running quietly under normal temperature conditions. Moreover, the +12V rail’s performance is good, with the 5VSB rail following closely. Four PCIe connectors, along with 12 SATA ones, increase the PSU’s usability. The only downside is the single EPS connector. The PE-750 didn't win an award mostly because of its low hold-up time, short warranty, sleeve bearing fan, and 85 °C bulk caps. Manufacturers shouldn't be cutting corners on cooling fans and bulk caps in a $160 PSU. It's no wonder why Lian-Li decided to offer a limited two-year warranty while companies like Corsair and Thermaltake provide much longer guarantees with their compact power supplies.
Power Supply Unit Best Picks
- Corsair SF450450W SFX
Review$96.33 Amazon-
- Award
- 2016 Editor Recommended
-
- Max. DC Output
- 450W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Gold
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✓
-
- Over Temperature
- ✓
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 92mm Rifle Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- ✓
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 125 x 63.5 x 100mm
-
- Weight
- 0.8kg (1.76lbs)
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 7 Years
-
- SilverStone SX500-LG500W SFX
Review$96.99 Amazon-
- Award
- 2015 Editor Approved
-
- Max. DC Output
- 500W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Gold
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✗
-
- Over Temperature
- ✓
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 120mm Sleeve-Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- ✓
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 125 x 63.5 x 130mm
-
- Weight
- 1.4kg
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 3 Years
-
- Corsair RM550x550W
Review$89.99 Newegg-
- Award
- 2016 Editor Recommended
-
- Max. DC Output
- 550W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Gold
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✗
-
- Over Temperature
- ✗
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 135mm Rifle Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- ✓
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150 x 86 x 160mm
-
- Weight
- 1.7kg (3.75lbs)
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 10 Years
-
- Seasonic Prime 650650W
Review$159.99 Newegg-
- Award
- 2016 Editors' Choice
-
- Max. DC Output
- 650W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Titanium
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✓
-
- Over Temperature
- ✓
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- Selectable
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150 x 86 x 170mm
-
- Weight
- 1.9kg (4.2lbs)
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 10 Years
-
- Corsair RM750x750W Review$129.99 Newegg
-
- Award
- 2015 Editor Recommended
-
- Max. DC Output
- 750W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Gold
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✗
-
- Over Temperature
- ✗
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 135mm Rifle Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- ✓
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150 x 87 x 182mm
-
- Weight
- 2.0kg (4.41lbs)
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 10 Years
-
- Seasonic Snow Silent 750750W
Review$179.90 Amazon-
- Award
- 2015 Editor Recommended
-
- Max. DC Output
- 750W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Platinum
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✗
-
- Over Temperature
- ✓
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 120mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- ✓
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150 x 87 x 170mm
-
- Weight
- 1.9kg (4lbs 3.02oz)
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 7 Years
-
- EVGA SuperNOVA 850 P2850W
Review$159.99 Newegg-
- Award
- 2016 Editors' Choice
-
- Max. DC Output
- 850W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Platinum
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✗
-
- Over Temperature
- ✗
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 140mm Double Ball Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- Selectable
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150x86x165mm
-
- Weight
- 1.8kg (3.97lbs)
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 10 Years
-
- EVGA SuperNOVA 850 T2850W
Review$239.99 Newegg-
- Award
- 2016 Editors' Choice
-
- Max. DC Output
- 850W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Titanium
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✗
-
- Over Temperature
- ✗
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 140mm Double Ball Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- Selectable
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150 x 86 x 182mm
-
- Weight
- 2.3kg (5.07lbs)
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 10 Years
-
- FSP Aurum PT 1000W1000W
Review$229.99 Amazon-
- Award
- 2015 Editor Recommended
-
- Max. DC Output
- 1000W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Platinum
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✓
-
- Over Temperature
- ✓
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 135mm Hydro Dynamic Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- ✗
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150 x 87 x 192mm
-
- Weight
- 2.1kg
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 7 Years
-
- Thermaltake TPG-1250-T1250W
Review$379.99 Amazon-
- Award
- 2016 Editor Approved
-
- Max. DC Output
- 1250W (1500W Peak)
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Titanium
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✓
-
- Over Temperature
- ✓
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 140mm Hydraulic Dynamic Bearing RGB Fan
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- ✓ (Selectable Through Software)
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150 x 86 x 200mm
-
- Weight
- 2.4kg (5.29lbs)
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.31, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 10 Years
-
- Corsair AX1500i1500W
Review$449.99 Newegg-
- Award
- 2015 Editors' Choice
-
- Max. DC Output
- 1500W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Titanium
-
- Modular
- ✓
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- ✓
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✗
-
- Over Power
- ✗
-
- Over Current
- ✓
-
- Over Temperature
- ✓
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 140mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- ✓
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150 x 86 x 225mm
-
- Weight
- 2.9kg (6.39lbs)
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 10 Years
-
- EVGA SuperNova P2 1600W1600W
Review$399.99 Amazon-
- Award
- 2015 Editor Recommended
-
- Max. DC Output
- 1600W
-
- Efficiency
- 80-Plus Platinum
-
- Modular
- Yes (Fully)
-
- Intel Haswell Ready
- Yes
-
- Over Voltage
- ✓
-
- Under Voltage
- ✓
-
- Over Power
- ✓
-
- Over Current
- ✗
-
- Over Temperature
- ✗
-
- Short Circuit
- ✓
-
- Cooling
- 140mm Double Ball Bearing
-
- Semi-Passive Operation
- ECO Mode
-
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 150 x 87 x 225mm
-
- Weight
- 2.9kg
-
- Form Factor
- ATX12V v2.3, EPS 2.92
-
- Warranty
- 10 Years
-
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Power Supply Charts
When it comes to power supplies, the saying that "more is better" doesn't apply. Before deciding on your next PSU purchase, you should calculate how much power your system draws from the wall and look for a capacity point that satisfies your demands. A few years ago, all high-end graphics cards were power-hungry. However, this changed with Nvidia's latest architectures. It's simply not necessary to buy a 1kW PSU for a couple of GeForce GTX 1080s. A 750W model will do just fine, leaving plenty of headroom for an overclocked host processor. Fans of AMD's flagship Radeon cards need to plan for higher power use, pairing them with PSUs featuring greater maximum output.
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In the relative performance charts provided with each one of our PSU reviews, we create an index of sorts that encapsulates overall performance, including load regulation, ripple suppression, efficiency, hold-up time, and the maximum power each PSU can deliver. Hopefully this makes your life easier, since you don't have to decipher several data-heavy graphs to reach your own conclusions. You only need to take a quick look at our index to see where your PSU of choice stands against its competition. The second most important chart, derived from the relative performance score, is performance per dollar, which we're betting will become your favorite as you shop for an upgrade.
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Best SFX PSUs
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Best 550W PSU
Best 650W PSUs
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Best 750W PSUs
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Best 850W PSUs
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MORE: All Graphics Content
Best 1000W PSU
Best 1250W PSU
Best 1500W PSU
Best 1600W PSU
MORE: Best Deals
MORE: Hot Bargains @PurchDeals
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