Best 850W PSU for gaming (2023)

Considering your choice of power supply for your build, we find the best 850W PSU. With a lot of choices when it comes to what you might need we go through plenty of options to choose from. Along with outlining makes a good choice of PSU.

When choosing a power supply for your gaming PC, you already know the wattage you need, so that’s one less thing to worry about. The best power supply is one that can handle the power demands of your graphics card, and CPU which are the biggest power draws in your PC. You’ll also need to factor in overclocking and the ambient temperature of your computer – all of which can affect the running of your PSU.

A significant change in 2023 has been the new ATX12V v3.0 spec with the addition of a 12+4 pin PCIe connector. While you may not be looking for the best PSU for the RTX 4090 or best PSU for RTX 4070, the new 12+4 pin PCIe connector will provide up to 600W of power, up from 300W from a pair of PCie 6+2 connectors.

Best 850W PSU for gaming

Below you’ll find our top 850W PSU recommendations, covering different budgets. All our picks are fully modular which is great for cable management. We’ve also prioritised PSUs with warranty periods and that operate quietly, even under heavier loads. For a wider choice, you may like to see our selection of the best PSUs for gaming. Before committing to a PSU, make sure you check out exactly ho much wattage you need with this PSU calculator.

Now for an overall good choice of the best 850W PSU, we have the Corsair RM850X. It is a combination of reliable and robust design that makes it a popular choice in the market. It is a fully modular design that boasts quiet running and high-quality design and components. Especially the ever-valued Japanese capacitors.

It has a Gold 80 Plus efficiency rating for more efficient running and lower power consumption. It does have a quiet fan installed, with a good fan curve to minimize noise, especially at full load. As the zero RPM fan mode keeps it off until necessary until the medium loads hit.

Part of the modular power supply units lineup, it has various amount of cables available. As for its connectors, it has two EPS (CPU), ten SATA, one floppy, six PCIe, and one ATX (motherboard) connector.

Now for something a bit more attainable when you’ve spent too much on the rest of your system, the best budget 850W is the better choice. There you can find the Cooler Master MWE Gold 850 V2. Still offering good efficiency, it strives for a more affordable entry into that.

This means you get a typical 90% efficiency in power conversion. Offering an improved version, it aims for quiet cooling and better temperature resistance so it can stay silent for longer. The standard cables are flat and so easier to manage around the case. And for the connectors, you get one ATX 24 pin, two EPS (8 & 4+4 pin), twelve SATA, four peripheral 4 pins, and four PCIe 6+2 pin connectors.

For the highest efficiency, and want to spend the least over time running your rig, the Seasonic Prime TX-850 is the most power-efficient 850W power supply. Boasting a Titanium 80 Plus rating, it reaches a 94% efficiency at 50% loads, but always above 90% across the load amount.

It also has tight tolerances that make sure the output voltages are in a very tight range. This helps with those transient spikes from certain parts like a powerful GPU from overloading the PSU. It also helped with the OPP (overpower protection), OCP (overcurrent protection) and SCP (short circuit protection) to protect your components.

This high quality comes with a much higher price over other PSUs at 850W but with much greater peace of mind. For the connectors, you can find with the TX-850, you can find one ATX, two CPU, six PCIe, fourteen SATA, and five molex. So it is fully loaded for any connection you might need.

4. Best PCIe 5 850W PSU – MSI MPG A850G PCIE5

MSI MPG A850G PCIE5

Dimensions

5.9 x 5.9 x 3.4 inches

80 PLUS Certification

GOLD

Wattage

850W

Modularity

Full

How We Review

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Pros

• Native 12VHPWR support
• Best suited for RTX 4080 or 4070 Ti

Cons

• More expensive than options at its level

Now with the choice of the RTX 40 series cards, you do get the use of the 12-pin 12VHPWR power connector. And for native support of it, the best PCIe 5 850W, the MSI MPG A850G is the choice to go for. One of the first few ATX 3.0 power supplies it is a good option for the new cards or any future ones to feature the power connector.

The new power standard also takes into consideration the power excursions generated by the system. If you’d like to find out how PCIe 5.0 compares to PCIe 4.0, we’ve got you covered. With the likes of the transient GPU spikes that can overload the system this power supply is built to handle it. Especially with the 16-pin capability to talk with the GPU with how much power it in fact requires. It has the capability for a various number of connectors and still provides a gold efficiency, with a 0% fan RPM mode button available.

For the cables available, you do get flat options in the fully modular design. And by standard includes one ATX, two EPS, one PCIe 5.0, six PCIe, eight SATA, four MOLEX, and one FDD connector.

How we choose

We chose these PSUs based on reviews, user experience and technical specifications. We also took the brands into account, and opted for a range of budgets to accompany different people’s needs. If you’re having second thoughts about an 850W PSU, consider the best 750W PSUs instead.

Best 850W PSU – things to consider

Choosing between the various options available, there are different factors to consider for your best 850W PSU. Here are some of the factors that might affect which options you go for.

Efficiency standards

The efficiency standard indicates your PSU’s effectiveness in handling power. Higher efficiency means lower power usage and less heat production depending on your load. The 80+ certification is a common industry standard, though Cybenetics is striving to innovate in this area.

These standards provide a snapshot of efficiency, indicating how much of the AC power input is converted to DC energy, ensuring you get value for your money. For instance, a bronze power supply is less efficient than a titanium or platinum option but will cost a lot less upfront.

PSU Modularity

Modularity predominantly affects the assembly process and airflow and doesn’t necessarily impact your PC gaming experience unless you frequently tinker with your PC. But it is significant for your cable management for a cleaner finish.

Semi and Fully Modular designs offer significant convenience and improved airflow due to the lack of surplus cables cluttering up unused space within the case. Choosing a semi or fully modular PSU is highly recommended, regardless of your budget. This will also enable you to get custom cables for your build that can improve the look of your build.

Different models may offer various connectors. For example, if you have a new Nvidia RTX 40 graphics card, you may require a 12/16-pin connector, eliminating the need for an adapter and reducing the potential for failure points.

Form Factor

Another hardware consideration is the physical space your components will occupy. If you’re planning a compact ITX build or smaller, you’ll likely need an SFX PSU instead of a full ATX power supply. Although they offer the same wattage, SFX PSUs often come with a higher price tag for the premium of smaller and more efficient designs.

Quality and reliability

No matter what budget or user needs dictate, the importance of quality remains paramount. The primary function of a PSU is to supply the necessary power to your valuable components. Inferior power supplies may lack efficiency, cause unnecessary noise due to coil whine or poor fan design, and may also have a thin metal housing, potentially transmitting vibrations to the PC case.

So you want to choose the best options out there which means your PC build is not in danger. The products recommended in this article are from well-known power supply unit manufacturers with exceptional quality, energy efficiency, and comprehensive warranties.

Final thoughts

Now you have a range of the best 850W PSUs, you have a range of good options for your system. There is a good range of options to pick from depending on what factors matter. And with the option to get the best PSU for 4080 or the best PSU for 4070 Ti you have a range of power for now or good access to GPUs to come.

Frequently asked questions

Can an 850W PSU run a 3080?

While the PSU requirement of a 3080 is 750W, the GPU is not the only thing in your PC that needs power. It depends on your CPU, RAM and motherboard. While you might be able to get by on 750W, an 850W is probably the best option for gamers.

What GPU can you run with an 850W PSU?

It depends on how old your 850W PSU and how much wear it’s got. Previous gen 30-series cards should have no problem, and up to an RTX 4080 should be okay too. You may be at a push with the RTX 4090 though, and it’s always best to have some wiggle room in your system to protect your PC parts from throttling.