Best PC power supply 2018: top PSUs for your PC

We’re just going to come out and say it: when you’re building the best PC, there’s nothing more important than the best power supplies. Sure, it’s tempting to skimp on your PSU to splurge on one of the best graphics cards, but trust us – it’s not worth it. Every component in your computer relies on the best PSUs for power, and if you cheap out – you could end up bricking your entire system.

There’s nothing worse than a failing power supply – trust us. And, to make it worse, a lot of the time you won’t even notice when your power supply is beginning to sputter out until it’s too late. Sure, there are some noticeable symptoms like having your PC just flat-out refusing to turn on, but they could also be as subtle as some lost power efficiency. Look, just do yourself a favor – go out and buy the best power supply you can muster. You don’t want to have your house catch fire just to save some cash.

It’s not all gloom and doom, though, as there is a wide range of great power supplies available in 2018. Even if you’re on a budget, you can get one of the best power supplies with no frills so you can reliably power your computer. And, if you have money to burn, there are some amazing high-power units that can generate a ludicrous amount of power, which is match made in heaven for some of the best gaming PCs. Whatever you need, you can be confident that you’ll find the best power supply for your needs on this list – we’ve tested them all ourselves. 

Best power supply: Corsair RM750x

Form factor: ATX | Capacity: 750W | Efficiency rating: 80 Plus Gold | Modularity: Full | Warranty: 10-year

The Corsair RM750x scores the top spot on this list for one simple reason: it’s the most well-rounded power supply you can buy today. On top of a 10 year warranty and an 80 Gold Plus efficiency rating, the Corsair has a fully modular cable system. This means you only need to install the cables you need – you can say goodbye to the mess of cables and shoddy airflow that non-modular PSUs endure. 

Best budget power supply: EVGA 500 B1

Form factor: ATX | Capacity: 500W | Efficiency rating: 80 Plus Bronze | Modularity: None | Warranty: 3-year

When you’re trying to keep the price of your PC similar to that of a console, you don’t want to blow a lot of your budget on a power supply. That’s where more economical options like the EVGA 500 B1 come in handy. This PSU is essentialist without neglecting the needs of its audience. For less than $50 USD, you can expect 500 watts of power transmitted through several SATA cables and two PCIe slots. A three-year warranty is merely icing on the cake.

Best silent power supply: be quiet! Straight Power 10

Form factor: ATX | Capacity: 400W – 700W | Efficiency rating: 80 Plus Gold | Modularity: Semi | Warranty: 5-year

Even the best PSUs seem to have extremely loud fans, and unlike case fans, it’s not exactly easy to replace them. Luckily, the Straight Power 10 line-up runs nice and quiet. Options range from 400w to 700w, and they’re SLI and Crossfire certified. They’re also modular, meaning you only need to use the cables that are necessary for your build.  

Best compact power supply: Silverstone SFX Series SST-SX550

Form factor: SFX | Capacity: 550W | Efficiency rating: 80 Plus Gold | Modularity: None | Warranty: 3-year

Power supplies can occupy a ton of space in your desktop tower, however time has allowed for the units to get smaller while the power they emit only expands in magnitude. The Silverstone SX550 is almost half the size of other power supplies, so that you can better facilitate cables and airflow inside your computer. This makes it notably ideal for micro ATX and mini-ITX builds, though you could slide it into a mid- or full-size tower as well if you deem it necessary.

Best high capacity power supply: Corsair AX1500i

Form factor: EPS | Capacity: 1500W | Efficiency rating: 80 Plus Titanium | Modularity: Fully | Warranty: 10-year

This is an absolute monster of a power supply. This is for the serious builder who plans on powering multiple graphics cards, cooling systems, and perhaps a small village in rural North Dakota. It has the highest possible 80 Plus Titanium efficiency rating, and is fully modular so you only need to add the cables required by your build. If you have the money to go big, this is the power supply to get. 

Best RGB Power Supply: Thermaltake Smart RGB 700W

Form factor: ATX | Capacity: 700W | Efficiency rating: 80 Plus | Modularity: No | Warranty: 5-year

If you’re trying to build a PC worthy of showing off, you can’t do much better than the Thermaltake Smart RGB 700W. Not only does it have beautiful, customizable RGB lighting, but it also features a reliable 80 Plus efficiency certification and high enough wattage to support even the best gaming PCs. Sure, it isn’t modular, but at under a hundred bucks, we weren’t really expecting it to be. 

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

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