Power supply test 2023

Welcome to the big power supply comparison 2021! The PC power supply is still the most underestimated part of a computer. Power supplies, also known as voltage converters, have a much higher life expectancy than, for example, processors or graphics Cards. 

That's why you should really give serious thought to your new power supply if you're planning to buy one. Here you can find out which power supply is right for you and your computer.

The best gaming power supplies at a glance [1000W+]

The best gaming power supplies at a glance [800W – 1000W]

The best gaming power supplies at a glance [600W – 800W]

The best gaming power supplies at a glance [400W – 600W]

The big power supply guide: Everything you should know!

Unfortunately, there are still big rumors about the power supply! Everyone who is self-respecting has a special opinion and knowledge in store. Surely you also have various questions on the subject of “buying a power supply”, because you don’t buy a power supply every day. Here we want to clear up wrong opinions and enlighten you as to which is the best power supply for you.

What is a computer power supply and what do I need it for?

Put simply, the power supply is the lifeline of your PC. It is responsible for supplying all your components with sufficient power. It is important to know that the current that comes out of the socket is a so-called direct current. But your computer can't do anything with this, because it needs alternating current to work (you probably know the rock band AC/DC - their abbreviation means nothing else than: AC = alternating current and DC = direct current). 

The power pack now has the task of making the power from the socket usable for your PC. The PC power supply has a lot of different cables. This is due to the fact that almost every component in your computer has its own power supply. However, not every component requires the same amount of current and the power supply now optimizes the current and voltage for each cable beforehand. 

It would also be fatal if a wiring were accidentally plugged in incorrectly just because a plug fits in two different places. That's why the power supply has these many different cables. In addition, the power supplies are divided into non-modular and modular power supplies. 
The difference between the two models is that with the modular variant, the excess plugs can be removed - this way you get more space and the cooling is also more effective.

How much does a good power supply cost me?

Since a power supply is the heart of a computer, you shouldn't look at the euro here. Of course you can buy a power pack for 20,00 euros, but you won't be satisfied with that in the long run. However, there are already models "for the smaller purse", which can certainly keep up with the high-priced competition. Basically, you should reckon with acquisition costs of around 40,00 euros to over 140,00 euros. With expensive models, however, you have installed the absolute top class in your PC.

How many watts should my power supply have?

The most important information to find out how many watts your new power supply needs is the maximum amount of watts your computer consumes. This is an important value that is still very much misunderstood by many. However, networks do not require full load to function optimally, but around 45-75% of the maximum power is sufficient for them. 

So the power supplies with a high wattage are not necessarily the right thing for an entry-level PC. So if you want to determine the right wattage for your new power supply, it has proven to be very helpful to use one of the various power supply calculators on the internet. Although these calculators do not show any absolute values, they do give you a relatively good estimate of how many watts your power supply should have.

What happens if the power supply does not have enough watts?

Since all components in the computer have to be supplied with electricity, a powerful power supply is important. However, the new graphics cards are real power guzzlers and it can happen that your old power supply unit gives up because it simply cannot supply enough power. 

This can be observed especially in gaming, because everything still works perfectly in the 2D display, but when it comes to the 3D graphics, the graphics card simply needs “more juice”. If your power supply cannot do this, the worst-case scenario can be crashes or frozen images.

What are the best power supply manufacturers and brands?

Recommended manufacturers are for example: Antec, be quiet!, BitFenix, Chieftec, Cooler Master, Corsair, Cougar, DeepCool, Enermax, EVGA, Fractal, FSP, In Win, Inter-Tech, LC-Power, Modecom, Nofan, NZXT, Seasonic, Sharkoon, SilentiumPC, SilverStone, Super Flower and Thermaltake.

Buy power supply? You should consider this before you buy!

As mentioned in the section above, money shouldn't be your primary concern when choosing a power adapter, as it is an important part of your computer and without the power adapter, your PC cannot be powered. If you choose a cheap power supply, it can happen that other components of your computer wear out faster than would normally be the case. 

Of course, it is also very important to choose the right wattage for the computer. If your power supply does not have enough watts, the hardware components cannot be supplied with sufficient power. It is different if your power supply has too many watts. That brings you nothing, but then you have wasted a few euros. Also, watch out for the plugs! How many plugs does the power supply have, how many plugs does your computer need? 

Do you spend a lot of time in front of your PC? Then also pay attention to the volume of the new power supply unit. Because if it's too loud, it can really get on your nerves. Does the power supply have its own on/off switch? Perfect - it's a high-quality power supply, because this fact is clearly a quality feature. be quiet! offers a very nice feature here. You can find a power supply calculator on their homepage bequiet.com. Here you only have to enter a few specific details (VGA, CPU and RAM) and the calculator will determine the right computer power supply for your needs.

Install power supply? That's how it's done!

Before you get to work, you should first check whether all components of your computer are disconnected from the power supply. It also can't do any harm if you free your body from any static charge - you simply touch a radiator. Usually with this type of work, the risk of damage from static electricity is not so great, but you should consider all eventualities if you want to enjoy your new power supply for a long time.

Step 1: Remove the existing power supply. To do this, you close the connections mainboard and the peripheral devices. To release the thick plug, you have to press the latch above the hook on the side. Now remove the four screws on the outside of the housing. Normally you can now remove the power supply unit.

Step 2: Prepare the new power supply for installation. If you overzealously plug the new power supply into the PC, you may not be able to properly attach the connectors. It is therefore easier to do this work in advance. The mainboard could have a four-pin socket, for example near the main processor. The additional power supply usually belongs here. 

You can recognize it by the fact that it is usually marked with a “CPU” on the cable. You can recognize the graphics cards by the fact that they either have a flat socket or a six-pin one, especially for plug-in cards. For this you can find the marking "PCI-Express" or "PCI-E" on the cable.

Step 3: Install and connect power supply. Now place the new power supply in the Housing. Then look at the back of your computer. Does the recess for the fan fit? Are the screw holes free? If not, then take out the power supply again and rotate it 180 degrees. Is everything perfect? Then screw the power supply back on with the four screws. Now you plug in all the peripherals one after the other, at the end you plug in the mainboard and graphics card. Make sure that you don't forget a plug, otherwise your PC will either not start up or make no sound at all after switching on.

Power supply test: our conclusion

When buying a new power supply, it is essential that you know the consumption of your computer, only then can you start looking for a suitable power supply. But don't be fooled by supposed bargain offers, because you won't be happy with these mostly inferior goods. Go for a model that gives your computer enough power, but don't overdo it. 
Installing a true "watt monster" in your PC will not make it the "new PC from hell". If you follow our tips from this article and maybe also the tips for the best manufacturers, then you are already on the safe side!

Video instructions: Install the power supply correctly