Are you looking for the most suitable PSU for your PC and confused of the required PSU specs for your PC?
Then this is what you are looking for, The most reliable PSU tier list created by the PC hardware enthusiasts.
PSU Tier List 2021 – Power Supply Unit Hierarchy Chart
In this article I will tell you about the ratings of the PSU and on basis of which things they are made.
I will also let you know about the tiers of PSU in 2021 by which you can get an idea about which ones are best and which ones are the worst.
This is a fact that:
Power Supply Unit aka the PSU is one of the most important component of your PC.
If you don’t know about what your current power supply then checkout our separate post on what power supply do I have.
Choosing the best PSU for your computer is very essential to ensure the lasting of the other components. Wrong PSU for your PC may cause serious damage to the components. And it can get you into a great loss.
Why Getting a Good PSU is Important
Getting a good power supply (PSU) is really important because: If you buy a low-end PSU then, you won’t be able to upgrade to a high-end graphics card.
Your gaming power supply won’t give you a higher gaming experience or higher frame rate, but it’s a quiet essential component. As a result, you need to take your decision wisely with the purpose of building a high-quality gaming computer.
Even a power supply of 800W-1000W range is going to be overkill for you unless you run a multiple video card configuration and getting into some extreme system overclock going on.
Simply:
There really isn’t a need for this much power.
5 Overall Best PSU for Gaming in 2021
There are several great PSU options for gaming enthusiasts…
However, by taking price to performance ratio into consideration, I have given a list of 4-5 very reliable options for different powers which will help you to make a wise decision in choosing an excellent power supply for your next gaming PC.
There’s no doubt that:
You will need a good quality power supply for building a new gaming PC or Workstation. You shouldn’t be frugal when it’s time to purchase your power supply. Thankfully, you can’t go wrong if you choose from this power supply list.
Thankfully, you can’t go wrong if you choose from this power supply list:
1. Bitfenix BF450G
Best Cheap PSU ($60/£60 or less)Max. DC Output: 450W
Efficiency: 80 PLUS Gold, ETA-A (88-91%)|
Form Factor: ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Cooling: 120mm rifle bearing fan
Modular: No
Warranty: 5 years
Pros: Full power at 46°C • High efficiency • Good ripple suppression • Tight load regulation • Quiet operation • Excellent build quality • Compact dimensionsCons: Non-modular cable design • Power factor is a little lower than normal
Alternate Pick: Corsair CX450
2. Corsair RM550x
Best PSU: Up to 550 WattsMax. DC Output: 550W
Efficiency: 80 Plus Gold, ETA-A (88-91%)
Form Factor: ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Cooling: 135mm Rifle Bearing Fan
Modular: Yes
Warranty: 10 years
Pros: Full power at 48°C • Efficient • Semi-passive operation • Silent • Japanese caps • Fully modularCons: Expensive • No fan test button • Distance between 4-pin Molex connectors
Also check out how to sync corsair RGB RAM by Aura sync
Alternate Pick: Bitfenix Whisper Series 550W
3. Seasonic SSR-600TL
Best PSU: Up to 650 WattsMax. DC Output: 600W
Efficiency: 80 PLUS Titanium, ETA-A+
Form Factor:ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Cooling: Passive
Modular: Yes
Warranty: 12 years
Pros: Resilient to high temperatures • Efficient • Accurate Power Ok signal • Dead silent • Fully modular • 2x EPS & 4x PCIe connectors • Excellent build quality and long warrantyCons: Expensive • Distance between peripheral connectors • Not top-notch transient performance • Inrush current with 230V input.
Alternate Pick: EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3
4. Seasonic SSR-750PX
Best PSU: Up to 750 WattsMax. DC Output: 750W
Efficiency: 80 PLUS Platinum, ETA-A (88-91%) |
Form Factor: ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Cooling: 120mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan
Modular: Fully modulaR
Warranty: 10 years
Pros: Reasonable Price • Full power at 47°C • High efficiency • Good build quality • Quiet operation • 10-year warranty • Compact dimensionsCons: EMI • 3.3V transient response • High OPP • 5VSB OCP • Short distance between peripheral connectors
Alternate Pick: Corsair SF750, Corsair RM750x
5. Corsair AX850
Best PSU: Up to 850 WattsMax. DC Output: 850W
Efficiency: 80 PLUS Titanium, ETA-A+ (91-94%)
Form Factor: ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Cooling: 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan
Modular: Fully modular
Warranty: 10 years
Pros: Quiet Operation • Efficient • Great performance overall • Long hold-up time • Top build quality • Ten-year warrantyCons: Expensive • EPS connectors should use 16AWG wires • Short distance between the peripheral connectors • High OCP on the minor rails
Alternate Pick: BitFenix BP-WG850UMAG-8FM, EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G2
PSU Hierarchy Compiled with Linus, Reddit
There are 6 major PSU tiers which are ranked by their performance, reliability and power consumption. The order from the worst to the best in the list is 1-6 :
These PSU tiers are based on performance. In this list you’ll find the followings:
Tier-1 : Best PSU for Low-end PC
Tier 1 PSU units are inexpensive but they still offer a good power solution to your PC.
Yes, they are reliable, but once again they are not better suited highly power hungry components. I’ve given here a good number of power supplies for you to choose from.If you are on a smaller budget, then you can’t go wrong with this tier.
Here’s a complete guide on how to fix PSU overheating.
If you are on a smaller budget, then you can’t go wrong with this tier.
•Bitfenix – BF450G
•Cooler Master – Elite series
•Corsair – CX450
•EVGA – 400W
•FSP – Hexa series
•Thermaltake – TR2
Tier-2 : Best PSU for Average Office PC
Tier 2 PSU units are perfect for maintaining the price to performance ratio.
You can buy this reliable power supplies without spending your life savings in the process.
I am sure that:
You’ll feel like every dollar is well spent.
•Antec – Basiq VP-F, Basiq BP,Basiq VP
•be Quiet! – Pure Power 10 350W
•Bitfenix – BPA series
•Corsair – Rev. 2 CX “Green unit” variants, VS “grey units”
•Enermax – NaXn 82+ series
•EVGA – 450B/500B/600B/700B, NEX-B,430W/500W/600W 80 PLUS units
•FSP – Raider Silver series
•Fractal Design – Integra R2 series
•LEPA – MX-F1 series
•NZXT – Hale82 V2 series
•OCZ – ZT, ModXStream, Fatal1ty
•Rosewill – Glacier,Hive, ARC (M) series
•Silverstone – Strider Essential, Bronze SFX
•Thermaltake – LitePower, ToughPower, Smart series < 750W
•XFX – XT series
•Zalman – GS/GT series
Tier-3 : Best PSU for PC with Low-end GPU
Tier 3 PSU are in that region which is suitable for the majority of gamers who want a functional machine with reliable components.
So, the power supplies in this tier are more affordable, yet packed with high quality.
•Antec – EarthWatts/EA Green, Earthwatts Platinum, High Current Gamer, NEO ECO series
•be Quiet! – Power Zone, Pure Power L9, Straight Power E9, Pure Power L8
•Cooler Master – GM, GX Storm, MasterWatt Lite series
•Corsair – Old CXM “Green unit” variants, Rev. , GS-series
•Cougar – LX series
•Enermax – Revolution X’t series
•EVGA – BQ under 750W, NEX Gold series
•Fractal Design – Tesla R2 500W
•Inwin – Classic Series
•Rosewill – Capstone G series
•Seasonic – SS, SSP, S12II/M12II, ECO 430W
•Silverstone – Strider Plus, Gold SFX series
•Thermaltake – Toughpower Gold, Paris series
Tier-4 : Best PSU for Work Stations
Tier 4 Power supplies are ‘The top notch PSU’ from various manufactures but almost all of them perform more or less similar.
Bottom line:
They are so called mid-range power supplies, there position is in between good and bad but they are healthy and resoundingly acceptable.
•be Quiet! – Straight Power E10
•Bitfenix – Fury
•Corsair – CXM, CSM,Rm series
•Cougar – GX-S
•Deepcool – DQ-ST series
•Enermax – Enermax Revolution SFX 650W
•EVGA – BQ 750W and up, B3 series
•Fractal Design – Tesla R2, Integra M series
•FSP – Hydro X, Aurum CM, Aurum Pro
•Lian Li – SFX-L series
•LEPA – G600
•NZXT – Hale82 N lower-wattage units
•OCZ – ZX series
•PC Power & Cooling – Silencer Mk III, Turbo Cool
•Riotoro – Onyx series
•Rosewill – Lightning, Silent Night, Tachyon, Photon
•SAMA – Armor Gold
•Silverstone – Gold Evolution, Strider Gold, SX650/700/800 SFX, Strider Titanium
•Super Flower – Platinum King
•Thermaltake – DPS Gold/RGB, London, BlueEvo 2.0, Smart Pro RGB, Smart series >= 750W
•Vivo – 24K 650W
•XFX – Core > 650W, ProSeries Bronze >650W, TS Bronze >650W
•Zalman – EBT series
Tier-5 : Best PSU for High-end Gaming PC
Tier 5 is where the budget options ceases, and the chances are if you are a PC gaming enthusiast then these power supplies will hopefully satisfy you.
•Antec – EDGE, TruePower Classic series
•be Quiet! – Pure Power 10 , Pure Power 11
•Cooler Master – VSM-series (semi-modular)
•Corsair – Most RM variants, HX, CX grey.
•Enermax – Digifanless, RG, GX series
•EVGA – G1+, GQ, G3, B2, 550W and 650W GS series
•Fractal Design – Edison M, Tesla R2 650W/1000W, Newton R3 series
•FSP – Hydro G, Dagger SFX
•Gigabyte – XP1200M
•NZXT – Hale82 N higher-wattage versions
•Rosewill – Quark, Fortress, Capstone series
•Seasonic – S12G, G-series/SSRM, M12II 750W/850W
•Super Flower – Golden Green, Leadex Silver
•Thermaltake – Toughpower Grand/RGB, Toughpower Grand Platinum, Toughpower DPS Platinum
•XFX – Pro XXX, XTR, TS Gold series
Tier- 6 : Best PSU for Gaming PC with Multiple GPU
Tier 6 power supplies are the units for which you will have to sacrifice precious cash.
They provide the most basic functions of a power supply with absolutely nothing else to offer.
But one thing you must know that:
These are some kind of stress reliever for the PC enthusiasts.
There’s no doubt that these units will ever let you down. These Powersupplies are made for Beast like Gaming PC or workstations.
•Aerocool – Project 7 series
•Antec – High Current Pro, High Current Platinum
•beQuiet! – Dark Power Pro P10, Dark Power Pro 11, Straight Power 11 series
•Bitfenix – Whisper series
•Cooler Master – V-series (modular, not to be confused with the VSM), MasterWatt Maker
•EVGA – G2, G3, P2, PS, T2, 1000G1, 850W and above GS series
•Enermax – Platimax, Platimax Digifanless
•FSP – Aurum PT series
•GIGABYTE – AP850GM
•LEPA – G1600 series
•Mistel – MX650 series
•Riotoro – Enigma series
•XFX – Pro Gold, Pro Black, XTS series
•NZXT– Hale90V2 series
•Riotoro – Enigma series•Seasonic – X, Platinum, Snow Silent, all Fanless units, Prime, Focus Plus Gold/Platinum series
•Sentey – Platinum Power, Golden Steel Power
•Corsair – AX, AXi, HXi, RMi, RMx, SF, Vengeance, grey-label HX (2017), 2017 TXM greater than 650W
•Enermax – Platimax, Platimax Digifanless series
•SAMA – Armor Platinum/Titanium series•Silverstone – Nightjar series
•Super Flower – Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium, Leadex II series
•Thermaltake – 1250D-T RGB, Toughpower Grand/RGB 1200W
Important Reminders When Buying a PSU
I have given some common as well as very important that you need to ask yourself before purchasing a PSU. The answers to these questions will give you a better idea about which one to choose from those many options that are available on the market.
- How Many Watts Do I Need for My Gaming PC?
- What is the +12V Rail?
- What is an 80Plus Rating?
- Should I Get A Modular Power Supply?
- Do You Need A Good Power Supply for Gaming?
- Can You Have Too Much Wattage?
- Is Energy Saving Important for me?
Don’t worry if you are confused to answer. By reading this post till the end you will be sure of what are you gong to purchase.
How to Pick The Right PSU
You need to calculate your power usage (watts), system type and rating for picking the right Power Supply Unit (PSU).
Power supply units are the most sensitive part your your computer which can cause a big harm if not chosen wisely.
Your PC is running nicely with your power supply unit doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s perfect/sufficient for your PC. Sometimes your PC may require more power than usual times.
Moreover, while overclocking your PC’s CPU/GPU/RAM power consumption will be very high.So, for such a high end PC a Beast Power supply is a must.
It gets better:
When you choose a PSU perfectly and it is also capable to run your future upgrading component smoothly.
But choosing the perfect Power supply for your PC isn’t a child’s play.
You need to have a good amount of knowledge about PSU before buying it. There many factors that you will need to understand separately for this.
You might be wondering:
What if I buy a cheap but high wattage PSU or an expensive PSU?
The simple answer:
That’s how people fall in trouble with power supplies for the first time.
Don’t worry.
Read till the end and you will get to know all about power supplies and which one is the most suitable for your PC.
Also check out how to turn on 144Hz on your monitor.
How Many Watts PSU Do I Need
You can get to know about how much power will your new system require by using some power consumption calculators to calculate PSU watts.
To spend money on a way more powerful power supply than that of you will ever need.
I have given some links of some power calculators below that will give you a good idea about your system’s power needs:
- Cooler Master Power Calculator
- Seasonic Wattage Calculator
- MSI PSU Calculator
What Does Rating Mean on PSU
Power supply units have 4 important ratings marked on them which give you the information of what can you get as output from the PSU.
- Efficiency
Efficient PSU means less electric consumption and fewer e-bills. the more a power supply is efficient the more it can give output with ratio to it’s input.
- Stability
Stability is one of the most important feature of a power supply. If a Power supply isn’t stable enough,then it may shut down or lower its capacity under high temperature or other circumstances.
Talking of stability, here is a stable fix for scratch disks are full.
- Safety
All of your PC component’s safety depends upon your power supply. A good power supply is always well built and has good safety mechanisms like OVP (Over Voltage Protector) and UVP (Under Voltage Protector) etc.
- Components used
A power supply is generally consists transformers, rectifiers, filters and regulator circuits.
Some power supplies also come with good quality cooling fans. if these components are of good quality then the power supply will perform better as well as last for longer period.
These factors have a great impact on the performance of the Power Supply Unit. The Power supplies have ratings like:
80+, Bronze , Silver, Gold, Platinum and Titanium. Some power supplies don’t have any rating at all. These ones are recommended to be ignored while building PC.
Besides these ratings you can also choose your PSU by observing my given Tier list for PSU in 2021. I have made a list for you to get a clear idea about which power supply to buy.
Based on factors like Efficiency, stability, components used and safety I have made this tier list.
FAQ
Question: Does PSU rating matter?
Answer: Yes,there are few differences in performance.
Question: How does PSU tier help?
Answer: It helps in differentiating among the PSUs and also classifies the PSUs among groups to know about which one is better.
Question: What is modular PSU?
Answer: : Modular PSUs are the ones having no cables attached to them BUt they come with cables so that, you can use cables as your want.
Question: What is semi modular PSU?
Answer: Semi Modular PSUs are the ones having only the cables of 24 Pin and Pin cables attached to them and they come with other cables too so that, you can use cables as your want.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the Right PSU for you is as essential as protecting your PC from any horrible damage.
Choosing the Right PSU for you is as essential as protecting your PC from any horrible damage.
Good power supply units can cool it’s internal body efficiently and doesn’t spread heat inside the PC case. for this the PSU needs to have good Fan. Some of the new PSU also have the feature to change the fan or upgrading them.
Talking of thermal issues, you can fix your PC’s thermal problems very easily with few tricks. We have a separate article on How to monitor CPU & GPU temperature where you can find the easiest way to control your PC’s temperature.
If you choose a weak PSU you will need to upgrade it while upgrading other components of your PC.
So, I will recommend you to spend your money a little bit more for buying a good PSU for your PC.
