PC hardware is evolving over time, and with each new generation of components, the power consumption increases as well. However, we often see that PSU getting underrated, especially by the new PC builders. The power supply is one, if not the most important, part of your gaming system. And going cheap with this latter puts your entire battle station in a big danger. And sometimes, the consequences can cost you your entire build. But asking you to avoid going cheap in a power supply doesn’t mean that you should spend a premium price if you want to deliver enough and constant energy to your components. In fact, there are some high-quality PSU under $100 that will not only deliver the energy required to your gaming rig but also last for several years.
Yeah, that’s right, the list you are about to discover below highlights some amazing power supplies that are reasonably priced.
1-EVGA 700 GD, 80+ GOLD 700W
EVGA is one of the most reliable brands when it comes to PC components. And with the EVGA 700 GD, you will provide excellent energy delivery to your system, that can handle top tier graphics card up to Nvidia RTX 3070.
Furthermore, the EVGA 700 GD is a non-modular power supply. This means that the cable can be irritating for some users, but considering its features for the price it cost, we can not ask for more.
Besides, the EVGA 700 GD features OVP (Over Voltage Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OCP (Over current protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), and SCP (short circuit protection). These type of features will ensure high protections for your PC components. Plus, on top of these amazing features, the EVGA 700 GD is very silent even under load. Also, its build quality gives it excellent longevity which makes it a great value for money.
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2-Corsair TX550M 550 W 80+ Gold
We can’t talk about reliability without mentioning Corsair. Corsair has always produced high-quality PSUs. And with the Corsair TX550M 550 W you will have a fantastic power supply at a reasonable price.
First of all, the Corsair TX550M 550 W is Semi-Modular PSU. With this type of PSUs, you will have half of cable fixed, while the other half will be detachable. Therefore, in order to have clean cable management, you will need to spend some time since some of the cables will simply need to be hidden as they can not be removed.
Moreover, the Corsair TX550M 550 W comes with 100% Japanese Capacitors, which are high-quality capacitors. It also has a 120mm fan. Another interesting feature with this PSU is that its fan decreases its speed automatically once the PSU reaches a certain low degree.
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3-Seasonic Focus GM-650 80+ Gold
With Seasonic PSUs, you can be confident that you will have a silent operation and excellent power delivery. The Seasonic Focus GM-650 is one of their improved series of PSUs which comes with three different PSUs (550W, 750W, and 850W) at a different price range.
This series of PSUs comes with 120mm fan running with fluid dynamic bearing. It also features Smart and Silent Fan Control technology which makes the fan ramps up when it’s under load, whereas when the PC is on idle, the fan remains quiet.
Also, the Seasonic Focus GM-650 comes with a stunning chassis, along with 7 Years warranty. For a midrange PSU, 7 years of warranty is amazing, and it shows how reliable this PSU is.
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4-Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 80+ Gold 600W
Another reliable option for those who are looking for a great PSU for their gaming machine, the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 80+ Gold.
The Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 comes with high-end components, which gives it excellent longevity. It also features 120mm Ultra Quiet Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan. As you can see from its name, the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 is 80 Plus Gold rated with up to 90% efficiency.
However, unlike other PSUs mentioned above, the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 is not a modular PSU, which means that you will have to deal with the cables in order to build a clean gaming machine.
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5-Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 RGB 700W 80+ Gold
If you want to optimize the RGB lighting on your gaming rig, without compromising on the build quality of its components, then you may be interested with the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 RGB.
First and foremost, the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 RGB is an excellent PSU. This power supply comes with ultra-quiet 120mm hydraulic bearing fan. The fan features up to 7 different colors. You also got the ability to turn on or off the RGB lighting effects with a button on the rear of the PSU.
On top of the appealing lighting effects, the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 RGB comes with high-quality Japanese capacitors. Overall, both build quality and feature that this PSU comes with makes it worth your money.
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6-Cooler Master Watt 750 W 60+ Bronze
Last but not least is the Cooler Master Watt 750 W. If you are building a power-hungry gaming machine, and you got a limited budget, then this PSU will be the most reliable choice.
Unlike other PSUs mentioned above, the Cooler Master Watt 750 W is 60+ Bronze. However, this PSU does its job pretty much well by delivering the power needed for your components. Also, its build quality is decent, which makes it another reliable option.
Moreover, the Cooler Master Watt 750 W is Semi-Modular. It also features a 120mm fan that provides quiet operation. Therefore, if you want more wattage for your components, and you don’t have the budget to go with a 60+ Gold, then this PSU will be your best option.
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Most Frequently Asked Questions
Difference Between Peak & Continuous Power Delivery
First of all, don’t get caught in the trap of big numbers. In other words, it’s not because a PSU is advertised with a high wattage means that it’s the right one.
When it comes to the wattage, you should know that there are 2 crucial factors, which are continuous power and peak power. Continuous power is the energy that will be delivered to your system continuously.
However, the peak power will be the highest amount of energy delivered in a short period of time. Therefore, what you should focus on is continuous power because that’s what your PC requires.
80 Plus Rating
There’s also the 80 Plus Rating that matters when choosing a power supply, and if you wish to learn more about this subject, we highly recommend you read this article from Tom’s Hardware where they provide all the information you need to learn about the 80 Plus Rating.
PC’s Energy Consumption
Now it’s much easier to know what’s the energy required for your gaming system with the Power Supply Calculator. However, we highly recommend you always buy a PSU that delivers higher energy than what your PC requires.
And the main reason why is because PSU’s capacitors degrade over time, which can lead to less energy delivered to your system. Another interesting point is the future upgrade. It’s always advisable to go with a higher wattage than what your gaming PC needs in order to leave enough headroom for a future upgrade.
Fan Quality
While choosing a power supply, you should always look for the quality of its fan. As a PC user, and mainly as a gamer, noise is one of the most irritating problems. And by going with a reliable PSU, you will ensure not only excellent power delivery to your system but also quiet operation due to the high fan quality that they often come with.
Modular & Non-Modular PSU
The difference between them is that the Non-Modular power supply comes with a fixed cable. In contrast, Modular PSUs comes with detachable cables which are great, especially for those who want to have clean cable management.
Though the modular PSUs may look like premium ones, you should understand that they do not offer any extra advantage over the non-modular power supply.
Bottom Line
By going with one of the PSUs mentioned above, you will ensure a great power delivery to your components as well as system stability. Also, if you think that you are going to upgrade your PC’s components in the future, then try to get a power supply that offers higher wattage than what your PC requires.
Therefore, we hope that we could help you in choosing the right power supply for your build. If you have already owned one of the PSUs mentioned above, you can share with us your experience with it in the comment section below.
If you are looking to spend your money wisely by choosing the best components for your gaming PC in terms of price performance, we highly recommend you reading our review of the best gaming keyboards under $50
