As PC components continue to get more power hungry over time due to increasing sizes and capabilities, they require both adequate cooling and an excellent, reliable power supply. Given that the Power Supply Unit (PSU) is the most crucial aspect of a gaming PC when it comes to reliability and ensuring components can both function as intended and are protected from damage in multiple ways, one should always aim to get a quality PSU unit which should both meet or exceed their needs while being cost-effective and as silent as possible.
With Intel pushing the ATX 3.0 standard into play since 2022, more recently released PSUs and upcoming models tend to be ATX 3.0 compliant. This is more crucial of late thanks to Nvidia's release of the RTX 4000 series GPUs which feature the 16-pin 12VHPWR connector which is also part of said standards; It can deliver up to 600W of power across a single 16-pin connector.
While ATX 3.0 is a new and safer standard with much tighter standards in terms of spec of what a PC can expect a PSU to do, the new connectors themselves, or rather their implementation did initially cause much hue and cry over them causing permanent damage to some RTX 4090 cards due to improper fitting in some cases. This has led to users to skip the Nvidia-provided connector with these GPUs altogether, picking a quality 3rd party cable kit or simply getting a PSU with native support for the 16-pin connector.
Given that said connector is pretty much the future of what GPUs will be powered by, getting a PSU with either a native 16-pin connector or a first-party adapter is a future-proof approach that could pay off down the line by getting a PSU that is compliant to the needs of your brand-new graphics card.
Note: All options listed below either have native support for PCI-E Gen 5 cables or come with the necessary adapters to make them compliant for the RTX 4080/4090 GPUs out of the box. We have also given preference to ATX 3.0 PSUs wherever possible as part of our buyer's guide.
MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU
Gen 5 Power Behemoth
The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU is built from the ground up to support the ATX 3.0 spec while also being PCI-E 5.0 compatible in a fully modular design without costing an arm and a leg unlike some of its nearest competitors, making it a viable contender for your gaming PC
- Brand
- MSI
- Output
- 1000 Watts
- Modular Cabling
- Yes, Fully Modular
- 80 Plus Efficiency Rating
- Gold (Upto 90%)
- Connection type
- 16 pin x 1, 4+4 pin x 2, 6+2 pin x 6
- Protection Features
- OCP / OVP / OPP / OTP / SCP / UVP
- Excellent Value for Money with its stated ATX 3.0 and PCI-E Gen 5 compatibility in tow
- Natively comes with the latest standard 16 Pin PCI-E Power connector that can deliver upto 600W
- Has a fully modular design with plenty of connectors, allowing users to upgrade or go for specific hardware needs (such as more hard drives) with ease
- Offers Industrial level circuit protection coupled with capacitors rated at 105 degrees C
- Has an aggressive fan curve; Keeps temperatures down but could result in louder-than-expected operation
The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 Power Supply ticks all the right boxes and then some when it comes to delivering the goods for a current and next-generation gaming PC build. The 1000W PSU is ATX 3.0 compliant and comes with a native 16-pin 12VHPWR connector capable of delivering the full-spec 600W that the connector is capable of driving, making it an excellent PSU to get for your RTX4070TI/4080/4090 GPU.
The MSI MPG A1000G uses excellent internals but arguably goes into something of a fan overdrive when it comes to higher power loads, a common theme for most of our ATX 3.0-compliant PSUs; This results in audible noise from the PC if you are in a quieter setting. The inverse however is true if you are running a low load thanks to MSI's Zero-fan mode on a sub-50 percent load with the MPG PSU delivering excellent power without making any discernable noise whatsoever.
ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II EVA Edition PSU
Evangelion Looks Meet Thor Reliability
The ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II EVA Edition PSU is one of the quietest and most efficient PSUs available in the market. Thanks to the co-branding with Evangelion, it comes in a sleek package which houses arguably one of the best-looking PSUs in the market currently, somewhat compensating for its relatively high asking price.
- Brand
- ASUS ROG
- Output
- 1000W
- Modular Cabling
- Yes
- 80 Plus Efficiency Rating
- 80Plus Platinum
- Connection type
- 4+4 pin x 2, 6+2 pin x 8
- Protection Features
- OPP/OVP/UVP/SCP/OCP/OTP
- Excellent, reliable power delivery with high efficiency to boot makes the Thor 1000W an excellent PSU to get
- The Thor's Lambda A++ noise rating means that this operates quite silently with a built-in 0GB fan mode
- Has an extensive set of power cables available for use thanks to its modular design
- Excellent packaging and looks make it one of the most premium-looking PSUs on the market
- The Price is quite costly for a 1000W PSU PSU and cheaper options from competitors are readily available.
- To get the most out of this PSU you might need to get a case that can display it in all its glory to justify the aesthetic investment
The ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II EVA Edition is a marriage of Asus's Excellent Thor 1000W Platinum II PSU with the Evangelion theme and the results are a sight to behold. The Thor 1000W P2 is one of the quietest PSUs we have personally experienced and as a Platinum-tier 80-plus PSU, it tops most of the efficiency charts while keeping things quiet at all but the highest loads.
With its Evangelion-themed design and the OLED display coupled with the RGB lighting and some of the most premium sleeved cables to be bundled with a PSU, The ROG Thor is a premium PSU that happens to look and feel the part. Just make sure your case can display the PSU in all its glory if you go this route. While the Thor is pricey, it does bring better efficiency to the table in addition to excellent aesthetics in one premium packaged box. If you need a bit more power or simply need a more standard look, consider looking at the 1200W ROG Thor Platinum PSU instead which is priced similarly.
GIGABYTE GP-UD1000GM PG5 Rev2.0 1000W PSU
Budget ATX 3.0 Compliance
The GIGABYTE GP-UD1000GM PG5 Rev2.0 1000W is the 2nd revision of the successful PG5 PSU with the addition of a native 16-pin PCI-E 5.0 power connector and compliance with Intel's new ATX 3.0 PSU standards in a fully modular design backed by as much as 10 years of warranty at an affordable price
- Brand
- Gigabyte
- Output
- 1000W
- Modular Cabling
- Yes
- 80 Plus Efficiency Rating
- 80 Plus Gold
- Connection type
- 16 Pin x 1, 6+2 Pin x 4 4+4 Pin x 2
- Protection Features
- OVP/OPP/SCP/UVP/OCP/OTP
- Excellent value for money; Clocks in under $200 at MSRP for a 1000W PSU that can sustain
- Comes with a native 12+4 (16 pin) connector for use with current generation RTX 4000 Series GPUs
- Is compliant with Intel's ATX 3.0 specs completely
- Somewhat noisier operation when under load when compared to the competition
The GIGABYTE GP-UD1000GM PG5 1000W PSU is an excellent PSU that is compliant with ATX 3.0 and a native 16-pin connector that allows it to power all the latest and greatest RTX 4000 series GPUs with ease. Priced under $200 for a premium PC brand, the UD series PSU by Gigabyte checks all the right boxes and some of the wrong ones as well.
While the GIGABYTE GP-UD1000GM PG5 does pass ATX 3.0 specs, it doesn't really go the extra mile. Teardowns tend to show that despite the extensive 10-year warranty, the components inside the PSU are somewhat wanting and result in higher temperatures and noisy operation, making this budget PSU a tradeoff that would work for most users well but might want power users to consider another option altogether.
Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1650W PSU
Multi-GPU Power Goes Gen 5
The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1650W PSU is an excellent PSU that trades at a competitive price point for its feature set and sports 2 x 16-pin PCI-E power connectors natively while delivering power at acceptable ambient temperatures; It can get a bit noisy however as Thermaltake achieves said low temperatures by making use of an aggressive fan curve for its 140 mm fan.
- Brand
- Thermaltake
- Output
- 1650W
- Modular Cabling
- Yes
- 80 Plus Efficiency Rating
- 80 Plus Gold
- Connection type
- 16 Pin x 2, 6+2 Pin x 9, 4+4 Pin x 1, 8 Pin x 1
- Protection Features
- OCP/OVP/UVP/OPP/SCP/OTP
- One of the only PSUs on the market that offers dual 16 Pin PCI-E Power Cables
- Covered by a comprehensive 10-year warranty
- Meets Intel's ATX 3.0 Power supply requirements handily
- Uses a large 140mm fan to keep temperatures under control
- Noisy at high power draw levels thanks to a somewhat aggressive fan curve
- Negligible OTP protection (if present)
As one of the few PSUs in the market that offers dual 16-pin PCI-E Gen 5 power connectors, the Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1650W PSU has its work cut out for itself as it aims to deliver as much as a whopping 1200W across 2 connectors. It however does get noisy fast despite its efficient design and high-quality components being used. The good news however is that It's hard to max out this PSU on current hardware, but if you do find a way, it will surely be a noisy affair.
Backed by a solid 10-year warranty, however, the Toughpower GF3 does have a lot to offer if you are in the content creation business or somehow have a reasonable explanation for wanting 2 RTX 4080 or 4090 GPUs on the same system. It does comply with ATX 3.0 and is available at a reasonable cost. This is not a mean feat by any measure and credit must be given to Thermaltake where it's due.
If you have already zeroed in on a PSU purchase for your system, you might want to swap out PC Cases while you are at it. Our team has an excellent guide to help you make a better investment in your new gaming PC or long-overdue upgrade.
FAQ
Q: What power supply capacity do I need to run an RTX 4080?
The RTX 4080 Founders Edition requires at least a 750W PSU. We do recommend going for at least an 850W PSU, if not a 1000W unit to allow for future-proofing/upgrades down the line. But if you want to be as specific as possible about the limit, a high-quality 750W PSU should have you covered for an RTX 4080.
Q: What Power Supply should I get for an RTX 4090?
Nvidia's official specs for an RTX 4090 GPU state that a minimum of 850W is required. Some AIB partners that offer overclocked versions of the same recommend a 1000W PSU. It would be a smart play to go for a 1000W PSU just to cover all bases and allow some leeway in terms of power draw if needed.