Last year, we reviewed the top 10 PSU manufacturers and came up with the conclusion that Seasonic, Enermax and Corsair were the most reliable and efficient manufacturer of power supplies. But we also found that these 3 units had similarities and we were not certain if we could separate them from each other. So we decided to revisit the PSU market and see how the brands measure up in 2021.
With power supplies (PSUs) being the most important part of any gamer’s build, you want to ensure that the PSU you are using will be able to handle your system requirements. It is important to note that these PSU brands are not just made for gaming, but are also used to power other systems, such as computers, servers, etc.
We know that power supplies are important for everything you do. Gaming computers, SSDs, large-scale server farms, and even regular desktops all need to be plugged in. These power supplies are even important for the everyday home user, because using them can prevent fires and reduce your energy bills.
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The modest power supply unit has to be the underdog of gaming PCs (PSU). Your computer’s power supply can’t match the newest Ryzen processor’s blazing speeds or wow you with lifelike ray tracing like the latest RTX series GPU. All a PSU can do is provide power to these devices. A powerful power supply will go unnoticed. It simply supplies power to all of your components, RGB lights, and peripherals in a quiet and efficient manner.
A poor power supply, on the other hand, may destroy your motherboard or other expensive components. Many gamers are tempted to save money by skimping on the quality of their power supply, but we would argue that it is one of the most essential components of a PC.
In this post, we’ll look at the top five power supply brands for 2021. We’ll look at not just the names, but also the finest premium, mid-tier, and budget power supplies available. This will offer you the assurance you need when selecting your new power supply.
But, before we get started, keep in mind that wattage, efficiency, and dependability are frequently more essential than brand when shopping for a new power supply. Because there are only a few PSU OEMs, the label on the side may not be as important as you think.
As a result, our top 5 PSU manufacturers provide constant quality regardless of your budget.
What to Look for in a Power Supply Unit
Choosing the proper power supply for your PC may be difficult. There are many brands and models available, each with different wattages, fan types, and efficiencies. Because each brand and model has its own fan base, deciphering reviews may be difficult.
We suggest looking at four distinct components to make sense of things: necessary wattage, efficiency, form factor, and warranty. PSUS has more complex features, such as 12V rails and circuit layout ideas, although they are usually saved for more experienced and extreme PC builders.
Wattage
The first step is to figure out how much power you’ll need. This is a crucial consideration since many power supply have gotten negative publicity because the builder didn’t match the appropriate wattage with their requirements. There are several simple wattage calculators available to assist you in determining your wattage requirements.
In 2021, however, the typical gamer will need a 600 to 850W power supply. Extreme overclocking gamers using several graphics cards with the newest Ryzen CPU and 64GB+ of RAM may need 1000W+, while budget gamers may get away with as little as 450W.
It’s worth noting that only a small percentage of gamers will need more than 850W. Also, since not all PSUs provide their stated wattage, and you may wish to update your components at some time, it’s always a good idea to increase your wattage by 50 to 100W.
Rating of Effectiveness
The efficiency rating is the second item to consider when purchasing a new power supply. There are many excellent online resources that can explain this in more detail, but there are six main efficiency ratings: 80 PLUS, 80 PLUS Bronze, 80 PLUS Silver, 80 PLUS Gold, 80 PLUS Platinum, and 80 PLUS Titanium.
Simply said, this rating system implies that the power supply unit will have an efficiency rating of at least 80% or greater. The higher the rating, the better the efficiency and the lower the cost. In 2021, the majority of PSUs will be 80 PLUS Bronze, Gold, or Platinum/Titanium rated.
Factor of Form
Finally, make sure you have a power supply with the correct form factor. Installing an ATX power supply in a Mini ITX chassis will be challenging, if not impossible. Even if you have the correct form factor, double-check measurements before buying, since many manufacturers now provide “compact” ATX PSUs.
Warranty
The warranty is the final item to consider when purchasing a new power supply. Budget power supplies typically have a 2-5 year guarantee, mid-tier power supplies have a 5 to 10 year warranty, and premium power supplies have a 10+ year warranty.
It’s crucial to consider the guarantee, since a good power supply should last you 5 to 10 years under normal conditions. You’ll want to make sure you’re protected if your power supply fails.
Brands of Power Supply Units to Watch in 2021
We’ve compiled a list of our top 5 power supply brands that are presently on the market. To suit your gaming requirements, we’ve selected a budget model, a mid-tier model, and a premium model for each brand.
As previously said, always ensure that the PSU you choose is the correct form factor for your case. The ATX form factor will be supported by all of these power supplies. We’ve done our best to offer high-quality suggestions for each tier, but wattage, efficiency ratings, and price point seem to be the most important factors.
Allow our guide to serve as a starting point for your study as you seek for the finest product for your next construction project.
1. Seasonal foods
If you’re acquainted with power supplies, you’ll know that Seasonic, along with SuperFlower, is one of the most well-known power supply manufacturers. Seasonic began manufacturing power supplies in the early 1980s, thus their products are backed by 40 years of expertise.
They also manufacture power supplies for a number of well-known manufacturers, like Corsair and EVGA, and are known for their constant quality and reliability throughout the globe. As a result, they are our preferred option.
Seasonic also stands by their goods. They are one of the few PSU manufacturers that provide a 12-year guarantee on a number of their products. While the bulk of their power supplies have a 5- to 10-year guarantee, a business that offers such a lengthy warranty indicates that they are confident in the quality of their products.
Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 Titanium 1000W
Seasonic’s “Best Premium PSU”
The Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 marks the peak of quality power supply in 2021, and is one of the finest PSUs available. We hope so, too, since this power supply will most certainly set you back a small sum. This PSU provides 1000W of power, which should be plenty for even the most demanding gamers.
The Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 is completely modular and comes with one of the strongest warranties we’ve seen, a whopping 12-year warranty. Because this PSU is certified as 80 Plus Titanium, you may anticipate a 94 percent efficiency at 50% load. At lower loads, you may anticipate significantly better efficiency than with Gold or Platinum rated power supplies.
In addition, the PRIME TX-1000 is very quiet. Your GPU fans will most likely be noisier at a noise level of 15db. This PSU’s reliability and efficiency should make it a top choice for gamers looking for the finest in their PC.
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FOCUS GX-750 by Seasonic
”Seasonic’s Best Mid-tier PSU”
The Seasonic FOCUS GX-750 is an excellent mid-tier 750W power supply for gamers that need enough wattage to run all but the most extreme PC setups. This power supply is completely modular and comes with a ten-year guarantee. The only disadvantage we discovered is that the cabling is a little stiff, making cable management difficult but not impossible.
At a 50% load, you may anticipate 90 percent efficiency with an 80 Plus Gold rating. As a result, the 140mm fan will operate quietly and smoothly. With a low price tag, the Seasonic FOCUS offers reliable quality at an affordable price.
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S12III 550W Seasonic
”Seasonic’s Best Budget PSU”
Seasonic’s S12III 550W is our affordable choice. This is a popular PSU among gamers that desire quality yet are on a budget. The S12III will take care of your requirements while still leaving money for your GPU, with prices starting at about $75. In the case of a breakdown, the 5-year guarantee will offer you piece of mind.
This 550W power supply has an 80 Plus Bronze certification, indicating an efficiency of 85 percent at 50 percent load. The S21III impressed us with its quiet 120mm fan, which is unusual for a cheap power supply. Even when loaded heavily, it remained quite quiet and inconspicuous. This is a power supply that just performs its function without needing to be recognized.
The only significant disadvantage we discovered is that the non-modular cable will make cable management more difficult, although this is a typical occurrence with low-cost power supply. Overall, this is one of our favorite PSUs for less than $100.
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2. EVGA
In the gaming PC world, EVGA is a well-known name. EVGA began as a motherboard and GPU manufacturer in 1999, but has since grown to include PSUs and a range of other PC components. EVGA is our second pick in our top 5 PSU brands, because to its reputation for high-quality and low-cost goods.
They provide comparable guarantees to the other manufacturers, with most PSUs lasting 3-5 years and a few lasting 7 to 10 years. If you do need to utilize one of their warranties, EVGA offers some of the finest customer support in the industry.
They also have their well-known Step Up program, which enables players to upgrade a component within 90 days after purchase. Because new items are introduced on a regular basis, you will be able to return and update your EVGA component with reasonable simplicity.
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 T2 EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 T2 EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 T
”EVGA’s Best Premium PSU”
The SuperNOVA 1000 T2 is our top choice for EVGA. If you intend to use several graphics cards, this 1000W PSU is SLI Ready. It has an Eco mode, like many other PSUs on this list, which prevents the 140mm fan from turning on under low to medium loads.
You may anticipate efficiency of 94 percent or greater with an 80 Plus Titanium rating, as well as silent operation under normal loads.
A 10-year guarantee and heavy-duty industrial safeguards are also included with this power supply. It’s less expensive than our other 1000W recommendations, and you should be able to find one for less than the Seasonic PRIME. This completely modular power supply may not be showy, but it performs exactly what a decent power supply should: it delivers reliable and efficient power to your ideal gaming PC.
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EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2 EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2 EVGA SuperNOVA 750
EVGA’s “Best Mid-tier PSU”
The EVGA 750 P2 is a completely modular power supply with a 750W output and an efficiency rating of 80 Plus Platinum. The efficiency rating alone makes it an excellent option for mid-tier PCs for a PSU around $200.
The SuperNova 750 P2 is extremely similar to its 1000W counterpart, and it offers many of the same excellent features at a fraction of the cost. It has a 140mm twin ball bearing fan with the same Eco mode to keep your PSU almost quiet under normal loads.
You can rely on it to keep your PC operating for years to come, thanks to a 10-year guarantee and high-quality Japanese capacitors.
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EVGA 600 BR EVGA 600 BR EVGA 600 BR
”EVGA’s Best Budget PSU”
The 600 BR PSU from EVGA is our affordable pick since it delivers 600W of reliable power. This power supply is 80 Plus Bronze certified, meaning it has an efficiency of at least 85%. Under normal loads, a 120mm long sleeve bearing fan will keep the fan quiet.
The main disadvantage of this power supply is that it is non-modular and only has a three-year guarantee. These characteristics, however, aren’t unexpected given the pricing. This power supply is designed for budget gamers that need more than the standard 450W “budget” power supplies while keeping prices down.
It’s also ideal for budget gamers who want to update their CPU or GPU in the future without having to change their power supply.
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Corsair 3
Corsair began as an L2 cache producer before expanding to DRAM and subsequently a range of PC components, and has a long reputation for high-quality PC components. Their PSUs are regularly rated as among of the finest available because to their partnership with Seasonic. They’ve earned the third spot on our list.
While Corsair makes great goods, their customer service seems to be a mixed bag. They’ll stand behind their goods, but we’ve heard that customer support may be difficult to contact at times. Of course, your experience with Corsair may differ from what we’ve observed.
Having said that, their power supplies are excellent. They provide comparable guarantees to the other manufacturers, with most PSUs lasting 3-5 years and a few lasting 7 to 10 years.
AX1000 by Corsair
”Corsair’s Best Premium PSU”
The Corsair AX1000, which is based on the Seasonic 1000W Titanium, provides comparable performance and power for the most demanding PC builders, and it is our premium Corsair option. Under normal loads, an 80 Plus Titanium rating will provide 94 percent efficiency. The 135mm fan should also stay stationary under low to medium loads due to the efficiency rating.
By no means is this a low-cost power supply. The AX1000, which costs about the same as the Seasonic PRIME, is designed for gamers who see their power supply as an investment and possibly the most important component of their PC.
If there is ever a problem, you will be covered by a 10-year warranty for that amount. Other 1000W PSUs are available for less than $400, but they may lack the reliability and flexibility of a Corsair offering.
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RM750x by Corsair
”Corsair’s Best Mid-tier PSU”
The RM750x is our Corsair mid-tier choice. This 750W power supply is powerful enough to satisfy the demands of most gamers. It’s been tuned for silent operation, so it shouldn’t be audible even at heavy loads. It’s also extremely efficient and generates very little heat, thanks to an 80 Plus Gold certification and Japanese capacitors.
Although the RM750x is completely modular, we found the shrinkwrap on the wiring to be stiff and difficult to use. Connecting the wiring may test your patience if you intend on utilizing a smaller enclosure. This PSU should be housed in at least a mid-sized enclosure.
The RM750x has a hefty price tag, but it comes with a 10-year guarantee that will offer you piece of mind if the worst happens.
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CX550M by Corsair
”Corsair’s Best Budget PSU”
The Corsair CX550M is a fantastic 550W PSU for gamers on a budget. It isn’t fancy, but it is a reliable power supply that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. This PSU is also extremely quiet, thanks to its thermally regulated 120mm fan. The fan won’t turn on until it’s needed, and it’ll stay silent even while it’s working hard.
The CX550M is semi-modular, which adds another degree of quality and ease-of-use to a cheap power supply.
The CX550M has an 80 Plus Bronze rating, which is typical of a cheap power supply. You may play with confidence thanks to a range of safeguards such as OVP and UVP. In the event of a total failure, it also comes with a 5-year guarantee. For cheap to mid-tier players, this is an excellent choice.
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4. Thermogenesis
Thermaltake is well-known for its PC cooling and power supply devices. Thermaltake was founded in 1999 and mainly manufactures cases, coolers, and power supplies, although it has lately expanded to include additional PC components and peripherals.
While RGBs aren’t unique to Thermaltake, they do include high-quality RGB lighting in a significant number of their products. A Thermaltake power supply is a fantastic option if illumination is as important to you as quality.
In terms of customer service, they, like Corsair, are a mixed bag. Many of Thermaltake’s power supplies come with a 5-year guarantee, with some of the higher-end models offering a 10-year warranty.
They still make good power supplies, and you should get a product that performs well and looks well.
1200W Thermaltake Toughpower PF1 ARGB
”Thermaltake’s Best Premium PSU”
The Toughpower PF1 ARGB 1200W is the highest wattage PSU on our list, providing all the power you’ll need and more. This PSU has a similar casing style to the GF1 ARGB and comes with a stunning RGB display on the top. It will be the centerpiece of your PC’s lighting show, with 18 controllable LEDs and over 16 million claimed colors.
Under a normal load, the completely modular PF1 ARGB 1200W is certified at 80 Plus Platinum, and you may expect an efficiency of 92 percent. With a 140mm fan, Japanese capacitors, and industrial safeguards, this power supply will keep you cool even while you’re working hard.
It should outlive the current generation of GPUs, since it comes with a 10-year guarantee. Although this PSU is less costly than the Seasonic and Corsair 1000W PSUs, it is still a significant investment.
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Toughpower GF1 ARGB 750W by Thermaltake
”Thermaltake’s Best Mid-tier PSU”
The Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 ARGB 750W PSU is an excellent choice for gamers looking for high-quality RGB lighting and enough energy to power their mid-tier PC. In terms of RGB lighting, this PSU is basically the same as the PF1 ARGB 1200W, but at a fraction of the price.
With an 80 Plus Gold rating, you can anticipate 90% efficiency. The GF1 ARGB 750W is a highly efficient PSU under $200, featuring a 140mm fan, Japanese capacitors, industrial safeguards, and a 10-year guarantee. It’s also completely modular, giving you complete control over wire management.
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Toughpower GX1 RGB 500W by Thermaltake
”Thermaltake’s Best Budget PSU”
The Toughpower GX1 RGB 500W from Thermaltake is our affordable choice. While it doesn’t have as many RGB choices as its siblings, this PSU nevertheless provides RGB illumination to budget gamers. It also has an 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating, which is higher than most other cheap PSUs. An efficiency grade above Bronze for less than $100 is remarkable.
To reduce heat to a minimum, the GX1 RGB 500W has Japanese capacitors and a 120mm hydraulic bearing fan. It also comes with a 5-year guarantee, which is very generous for a PSU at this price. Any budget gamer seeking for quality and amazing RGB lights should choose the GX1 RGB 500W.
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Cooler Master is number five.
Cooler Master is our final choice for the top PSU Brands in 2021. Cooler Master has long been regarded as the industry standard for cooling solutions, providing quality without breaking the bank. Cooler Master is also an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for big corporations such as NVIDIA and AMD.
Cooler Master, like the other businesses on our list, is extending its product line and currently produces a broad range of PC components and accessories.
While we adore Cooler Master products, their warranty durations are the lowest on our list. Our top choices all come with a 5-year guarantee, while many of their other items only come with a 2- to 3-year warranty.
If you value long-term support, as you should, double-check your Cooler Master PSU’s guarantee before buying.
MWE Gold 850 V2 by Cooler Master
”Cooler Master’s Best Premium PSU”
Cooler Master’s MWE Gold 850 V2 is our top choice for a premium power supply. While it doesn’t have the same wattage as our other premium choices, 850W is more than enough to keep your new RTX3090 happy.
This premium power supply is completely modular, as anticipated, and has a 120mm hydro-dynamic fan to keep your PC cool and silent.
One of the features that distinguishes this PSU from others is the presence of two EPS connections, which provide universal compatibility regardless of the components in your PC.
They have increased the heat resistance to 50°C with the second generation of this PSU, enabling overclockers to push their systems to the limit. The MWE Gold 850 V2 is a quality PSU without the premium price tag, coming in at around $200.
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MasterWatt 750W from Cooler Master
”Cooler Master’s Best Mid-tier PSU”
The MasterWatt 750W PSU from Cooler Master is our mid-tier pick. This PSU costs less than $100 and has specs that are quite comparable to those of the other MasterWatt models. The addition of a 16AWG PCIe cable is one of the MasterWatt line’s selling features. This translates to reduced GPU resistance and more consistent power.
Your power supply should stay cool and quiet thanks to an 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency rating and a 120mm fan. It’s also fanless up to 15% load, so it’ll keep fan noise to a minimum when you’re not using it. For moderate gamers, this is an excellent mid-tier option.
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MasterWatt 550W from Cooler Master
”Cooler Master’s Best Budget PSU”
Last but not least, there’s the Cooler Master MasterWatt 550W PSU. This PSU will offer quality for budget gamers for about $75. This model is identical to its more powerful 750W cousin but for the wattage and a few minor differences.
We would suggest this if you know for a sure that the 750W model would be excessive for your setup and the price difference is small.
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Final Thoughts
These are our top five power supply brands for 2021. While each brand and power supply has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, any of these devices should suffice for your gaming requirements.
If you need further help with your next PC build, please do not hesitate to contact us. We like hearing from our readers and want to help you succeed in your gaming endeavors.
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When it comes to power supplies, we’ve always believed that the most important factor is not just how powerful the PSU is, but also how reliable and efficient it is. That’s why we’ve gathered the best brands and products and put them through a series of tests to create this list of the best PSU brands in 2021. This list will help you pick the best PSU brand for your budget and needs, and it might even help you choose a PSU model for your next build.. Read more about best budget psu and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which brand is good for PSU?
Corsair is a good brand for PSUs.
Is Seasonic the best PSU brand?
Seasonic is the best PSU brand because they are one of the most reputable brands in the industry.
Who makes the best PSU for computers?
The Corsair RMx series is one of the best PSUs for computers.
Managing and running (mostly) successfully multiple eCommerce lines of Business. Writing enthusiastically for the past 7 years. In between loves to travel and explore worldwide culture.