Best PC power supply 2018: top PSUs for your PC

When you’re building one of the best PCs, the most important things you can do is get one of the best PC power supplies. We know it doesn’t sound too exciting, but every component in your rig relies on the best PC power supply for life. Even if it means you have less money for one of the best graphics cards, you shouldn’t compromise on your power supply. 

We’re just going to come out and say it – having a power supply die on you is an awful experience. This is due to the fact that many of the symptoms of a dying PC power supply can slip by unnoticed.

Sure, some are as obvious as your PC just outright refusing to turn on, but they can also be as subtle as a power efficiency dip. By the time you notice your PSU is beginning to fail, it may be too late. So, do yourself a favor and buy one of the best PC power supplies today, so it doesn’t fail tomorrow.

There’s some good news, though – there’s a wide range of power supplies out there right now. And, even if you're on a budget, you can still pick up one of the best PC power supplies. Plus, there are some amazing high power units out there if you can stretch your budget, with RGB lighting and everything that can power the best gaming PCs. No matter what you’re looking for, the best PC power supplies are right here on this list.

And, if you’ve been waiting for a deal, your time is almost here. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are right around the corner, and with them all the best PC components deals of the year. So, keep an eye on all your favorite manufacturers and retailers, because it’s about time to save some cash. And, as always, stay tuned to TechRadar for all your holiday shopping needs.

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. 

If you’re looking to save some cash on your PC build, you don’t have a ton of options for cheap power supplies that aren’t terrible. In situations like this, an economical option like the EVGA 500 B1 might be the best PC power supply for you. For less than the cost of a AAA game, you can expect 500 watts of power transmitted through several SATA cables and two PCIe cables – it covers the bare essentials, which is exactly what a budget power supply should do. The three-year warranty is just the cherry on top.

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair RM750x 

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.  

Unfortunately, the best PC power supplies have a tendency to be these giant hunks of metal that won’t fit in smaller PC cases. However, there are plenty of compact pc power supplies out there that can still provide sufficient power. The Silverstone SFT SST-SX550 is one of the best PC power supplies for compact systems – it’s half the size of most of the other PSUs on this list, allowing for more room for better airflow. This makes it the best PC power supply for micro ATX and mini-ITX builds, you can even slide it into a mid- or full-tower, if you feel like it.

If you’re a serious builder that plans on building an absolute behemoth of a rig, with multiple graphics cards, cooling systems on top of some healthy overclocking, the Corsair AX1500i is the best PC power supply for you. It has the highest possible 80 Plus Titanium efficiency rating, and is fully modular, so you only need to add the cables your build actually requires. 

If you’re really trying to maximise the visual appeal of your build, a modular power supply is almost essential – you can avoid all of those messy looking wires cluttering up your case. The NZXT E650 takes things a step further. Not only is it a fully modular power supply, meaning you only need to connect the wires you actually need, but it’s also extremely attractive itself, begging to be shown off in your case. This is all topped off with an 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating and a 10-year warranty – not only will it look good, but it’ll deliver power efficiently and last forever while it does it. 

In 2018, if your PC isn’t strapped to the nines with RGB lighting, you’re not trying hard enough. Enter the Thermaltake Smart RGB 700W – not only does it have beautiful, addressable RGB lighting, but it also features a reliable 80 Plus efficiency rating and enough power to support even the best gaming PCs. Yeah, it’s not modular, but at less than a hundred bucks, we’re willing to look the other way – especially with that sick lighting. 

• Pick up the best processors while you're at it

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article