PSU Tier List 2020 – PSU Hierarchy

In general, the PSU (Power Supply Unit) is always ignored. Several customers do not buy PSUs being not familiar with the product.

But if you look around the market, there are several Pc PSUs available, in such a quantity that it becomes hard for you to decide which model to select.

But

The question on almost every customer who is fond of gaming comes is that what is the best PSU for gaming?

To answer this question, some products are listed below based on their quality and considering their prices. Before moving any further, it is essential to tell what the PSU tier list exactly is?

Most users, especially those who have games on their PC, know about them. It is a device that is attached to your desktop system, and further, it converts Alternating Current (AC) to Direct Current (DC).

Why is this so because your PC works better and needs DC for proper functioning. Additionally, it also controls the overheating of your PC.

Most of the PSU comes inbuilt with the system. However, the people who are a massive fan of gaming and other stuff do consider that an extra PSU shall be attached. Once you have it, you need to be very careful and productive.

Importance of the Best Power Supplies

A good quality PSU is highly recommended as this allows you to upgrade to high-end graphics. The low-quality PSU does not allow you for up-gradation, and you have to become restricted.  

It is an essential element because the gaming power supply remains unable to provide you with a facility to experience outstanding game quality without it. In this regard, you have to select the best PSU for a high-quality gaming experience.

The 800W-1000W range is not a good option when you want to run numerous video card configurations on the same extreme system. Therefore, do not for higher power too but go for a good PSU.

Before Buying, Things to Consider:

If you are here looking for the best PSUs for you, you are in the right place. Here are the PSUs hundreds of companies manufacturing. That brings you to a question: which one is the best? Are all PSU the same? What thing makes which PSUs different from the rest? How to opt for the perfect PSU for me?

We believe that these are the few queries that need to be clarified. Before moving forward, let us explain and place in front the names of the available brands; CoolMax, Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, and Ultra. Selecting a PSU from one of the best-renowned brands does not guarantee quality. You need to go through the multiple steps to opt for the best PSU for yourself.

Before we begin, just imagine that you are ready to buy the best processor from the market. Let’s just suppose that you find two most famous companies for it; Intel and AMD. Now it’s not that simple. You buy a processor, an Intel or AMD will satisfy all of your demand. Similar is the case with PSU.

Components Used

Some critical components are used in the PSUs. A list of those components is given below.

• Filters, Rectifiers, Transformers, and Regulator Circuits.
• Most of the PSU come with fans with silent features, and some are fan free.

If your PSU does possess all of these components of good quality, then definitely you have selected a reliable PSU. But still, you need to understand the details about what steps to be followed to opt for the best PSUs.

Some of the Common PSU Ratings:

PSUs usually come with a surfeit of gradings and a discrete certification system. One of the most popular certifications is mentioned below:

• 80 PLUS
• 80 PLUS BRONZE
• 80 PLUS SILVER
• 80 PLUS GOLD
• 80 PLUS TITANIUM

Safety Measures:

All the safety of your components depends on the type of power supply. The more reliable power supply, the more you will be secure. PSUs are embedded with automatic shutdown systems that help them to not malfunction and destroy the expensive components.

OVP (Over Voltage protection): An automatic shutdown features that activate when the power exceeds 110% of the rated grading.

OPP (Overpower protection): Usually, activates when the power grading exceeds 130%.

OCP (Over Current Protection): This integrated sensory detection happens when the PSU is overloaded with the current. Edgy currents can also promote this sort of behavior, leading to a complete shutdown. Since current production involves heat dissipation, it’s worth noticing that the feature has its advantages.

On the contrary, it could be disadvantageous as well. Some of the time, components require more current. This triggers the sensory alarm in the PSU resulting in another shut-down. So yeah, it’s cumbersome.

SCP (Short circuit protection): short circuit can be minimized with the help of this feature. When CPUs and GPUs run hotter, and juice out more current from the PSU, the PSU disconnects itself from short-circuiting the transistors on the motherboard. Otherwise, your system can die predominantly.

BOP (Brown Out protection): Inconsistent electrical grids and fluctuation in voltage levels can do more severe harm to your components. This feature eliminates such possibilities.

OTP (Over Temperature Protection): When the temperature inside the case exceeds the threshold, the PSU automatically shuts-down the system.

Stability

The stability of a power supply is directly proportional to the power grading, and the type of PSU. Most of the locally manufactured power supplies tend to run erroneous, indicating a dead end for your components. Make sure you buy a power supply which is greater than the added TDPs of all the components, otherwise if by chance, it’s lower, then you have no choice but to pray for your components for living a little longer.

Wattage of PSU

If you believe that the power of a PSU depends on increasing the output in watts similarly as someone may think that the power of a motor car depends on the bigger engine.

In both cases it is wrong. So how do you select the best powerful PSU that can complete your desire in the gaming world? 

Therefore, if you are confused about deciding what PSU best supports your system. You need to understand some basics. That is to say, PSU is mostly rated between 200 to 2000 Watts.

Now what you need to do is that you must calculate the required power of your Central Processing Unit (CPU) which is known as Thermal Design Power (TDP).

In short, TDP is the aggregate of the power requirements of all the elements on your computer. Are you confused about calculating this? Here is a simple solution to your problem.

Several online calculators are available to figure it out. Just put the required values in their places and the machine will calculate the TDP for you.

Users’ Reviews

Some companies are working on manufacturing PSUs. You might end up confusing yourself about which company’s product to root for. To understand which PSU is reliable and can fulfill all of your demands, you must go through the customer review section.

That will solve your problem and through this, it will become easy for you to select the best PSU for your system.

Efficiency

For better understanding the efficiency of the PSU. This is not enough that it does not get very hot and things like this.

Rather, if you are familiar with the PSU or even if you have seen the PSUs in your life you may have heard about an 80+ rating.

Now, this is an important part. Some of the ratings are 80 Plus, 80 Plus Bronze, 80 Plus Silver, 80 Plus Gold, 80 Plus Platinum, and 80 Plus Titanium.

As you can yourself figure out that the best among these 5 is TITANIUM. This is the best rating that a PSU can get.

The concept of this 80 Plus rating means that the PSU is efficient to the tune of 80%. Now the problem arises: what rating must you go for?

For instance, if you have a 16-core processor which is overclocked to 5GHz and your room temperature is controlled with some air cooler. You may require 80 Plus Silver. But 80 Plus and 80 Plus bronze are enough in this case.

From the above example, you must be pretty clear about which PSU rating is best. Most of the gamers prefer 80 Plus and 80 Plus Bronze. These two ratings best suits and even satisfy your demands as well.  

PSU Tier List 2020- A Summarized Table

Here is an ultimate Power Supply Tier List for you so that you can select the best one according to your requirements.

Tier S (Platinum)

The top Platinum tier is dedicated to high-end PSUs. These ratings are usually 1000+ making them suitable for flagship models and gaming beasts. These Power supplies are one of a kind you can get your hands on. It’s surprising to see that these PSUs are usually kept for enthusiasts who are into building a gaming rig with expensive components. Well, these PSUs are recommended for GPUs like Nvidia RTX Titan V. Similarly, if you are blessed with core i9 9900K, then what are you even waiting for?

Unfortunately, if you are a budget gamer, then these PSUs are a big no for you!

Name of the Power supplies in tier S

Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro11

MasterWatt Maker 1200 MiJ

Seasonic PRIME Series

FSP Aurum PT

Antec High Current

Enermax Platimax

Corsair-AXi Series

Tier A (Diamond)

Tier A is another withstanding list that is limiting to huge powerhouse machines. If your system harbors high-end and flagship models which are hungry power machines, then these PSUs are made just for you.

 Tier A’s rating staggers between (800-1600) which is ample to turn on the powerhouse. These PSUs are also reviewed to be best for on-spree gaming and rendering purposes. How about you buy the AMD Thread ripper already?

Name of the Power supplies in tier A

Corsair RMi/RMx Series

Bitfenix Formula Gold

Aerocool Project 7

Bitfenix Whisper

XFX Pro Gold

Corsair Vengeance

Riotoro Enigma Series

Corsair HX/HXi series

Super Power Gold

Sentey Platinum

Thermaltake 1250D

Gigabyte Aorus AP850 GM

Tier B (Golden)

Tier B requires you to be well-versed regarding the modulation and the norms regarding a PSU. It’s been endorsed carefully, that you spend your savings in a right direction. This tier holds all the veteran and top PSUs that can save you for a lifetime.

 It’s worth noticing that these PSUs are still costly, but incredibly powerful and useful for 4k+ gaming and rendering. Not to mention, this is the tier that also harbors most of the PSUs, so your ultimate shot is to find the most reliable and worth spending PSU.

Name of the Power supplies in tier B

MasterWATT Maker Series

Antec Edge

Seasonic Focus Plus Gold

Enermax Digifanless GX

Seasonic Focus Gold

Seasonic Focus Plus Platinum

XFX XTS

Seasonic SnowSilent

Lepa G1600

EVGA G3

FSP Hydro G

EVGA GS

Riotoro Enigma

LEPA G1600

Seasonic M12II

Silverstone Nightjar NJ600

Seasonic S12G

Thermaltake Toughpower Grand

Sentey Solid Power SS

Enermax Digifanless GX

Tier C (Silver)

The silver tier incorporates most of the top-notch PSUs with lowered price tags. In short, you can easily buy off a PSU from this tier without spending too much.

Notwithstanding, this tier is sufficiently powered and protects your components, regardless of taking the 4^th spot on the tier list. It’s worth mentioning, that if you are a budget gamer who has realistic dreams, then the PSUs from this tier is just for you.

Name of the Power supplies in Tier C

Seasonic G Series

Fractal Design Newton R3

FSP Aurum Pro

Fractal Design Tesla R2

Antec TruePower Classic

Be Quite! Straight Power E10

Corsair CX

Antec Neo ECO II

Kolink Continuum

Super Flower Platinum King

Riotoro Onyx

Silverstone Gold Evolution

Fractal Design Integra M Series

Zalman EBT

Vivo 24K

Rosewill Silent Night

XFX ProSeries Bronze

Tier D (Bronze)

It’s certainly understandable that you might be having afterthoughts regarding the bronze tier. This is the tier most suitable for budget-friendly gamers who are pursuing mid-range gaming rig. affordability is the key element for this tier. You don’t have to worry about the performance of these PSUs, they are still of high quality and have a name in the market.

Name of the Power supplies in Tier D

SAMA Armor Gold

Silverstone Strider Titanium Series

Silverstone Gold Evolution Series

Cooler Master GM Or GX Storm

Seasonic SS

PC Power & Cooling Turbo Cool

XFX TS Gold

Be Quiet! Power Zone

Deepcool DQST

LEPA G Series

Cooler Master GM

Fractal Design Tesla R2

Silverstone Strider Gold

Rosewill Capstone G

Thermaltake Smart Series

Enermax Revolution X’t

Cooler Master MasterWatt Lite

Thermaltake Toughpower Gold Series

Tier E (Bronze-Medium)

Tier E takes on PSUs that are below the bronze belt, giving you mediocre performance spikes. It doesn’t necessarily connote them being a deserted choice. You can still make most out of them, sort of juicing in performance.

Surprisingly, these PSUs can be bought easily by budget-fanatics, who are not looking to spend a lot on PSUs. So yeah, that’s the gist regarding this Tier.

Name of the Power supplies in Tier E

Seasonic ECO

Enermax NaXn

Thermaltake Paris

Corsair Gaming Series

Be Quite! Power Zone

Corsair CX Green Units

XFX XT

Seasonic M12II

Antec Basiq BQ

OCZ ZT or ModXStream

EVGA 600

Tier F (Bronze-Low)

I would like to break it to you, that these PSUs fall below the recommended threshold, hardly touching the 80+ rating efficiency. They are most suitable for powering purposes, and that’s all. If you have RGB’s or greedy components that munch on greater power Rate, then this tier is just not for you.

Well, if you have a much lower-end PC for office purposes, then sure go ahead with these nearly-ancient PSUs.

Name of the Power supplies in Tier F

Cooler Master B2 Series

Fractal Design Integra R2

Rosewill Glacier

Thermaltake TR2 Series

Antec Basiq BQ

Antec VP Series

NZXT HALE 82 v2

EVGA B1

LEPA MX-F1

OCZ Fatality

Tier U (carbon)

Not recommended at all. This carbon tier is known for exploiting components. They seem sketchy and provide zero protection features. If you are in the mood to burn your pc to cinders, then why not. Go ahead with this tier and buy the PSUs.

Honestly speaking, these PSUs shouldn’t exist anymore. They are endangering expensive components. In short, stay away from them!

Name of the Power supplies in the tier U

FSP Hexa

Cooler Master Elite Series

EVGA N1

5 Best PSU for Gaming in 2020

Let’s check which PSU is the best in the year 2020. For understanding this we will compare a few significant PSUs available in the market.  

Seasonic SSR-750PX

Seasonic SSR-750PX is a full modular that is built with advanced technology after consecutive research of many years. 

It comes in a compact size with a hybrid silent fan to make it suitable for three operational stages.moreover it has many other specs some of which are given below.

Specifications

Brand Name:	Seasonic
Model Number:	SSR-750PX
Color:	Platinum Modular PX
Modular:	Full Modular
Dimensions:	5.5 x 5.9 x 3.4 inches
Weight:	3.53 Pounds
Input:	Up to 750Watts
Output:	DC 750W
Form Factor:	ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Cooling Power:	120mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan
Efficiency:	89% efficient at 100% load, 92% efficient at 50% load, and 90% efficient at 20% load
Warranty:	10 Years

Pros

• Good quality PSU
• Within the budget of anyone
• Compact and suitable dimensions
• At 47°C gives full power
• High efficiency at all loads

Cons

• Short peripheral distance
• High OPP
• 3.3V transient response
• 5VSB OCP

Corsair AX850

Corsair AX850 has an unbelievable stable voltage with extremely low ripple noise. It comes with a 135 mm fluid-dynamic bearing fan. It has a rating of 80 Plus Titanium because of its extremely high level of efficiency. 

Its fan with Zero RPM mode functions in silent mode and its fully modular flattened cables makes your PC to be easily upgraded. It possesses all- Japanese 105 capacitors which enable tightest voltage regulation. 

The magnetic side is 3 color customizable that allows you to select your personal PSU’s style that can be matched with your build. 

Specifications 

Brand Name:	Corsair
Model Number:	CP-9020151-NA
Color:	80+ Titanium
Modular:	Full Modular
Dimensions:	1 x 1 x 1 inches
Weight:	4.43 Pounds
Input:	Up to 850Watts
Output:	DC 850W
Form Factor:	ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Cooling Power:	120mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan
Efficiency:	135mm Cooling Fan
Warranty:	10 Years

Pros

• Long runtime
• High Efficiency
• Excellent performance and top quality
• Quite operational

Cons

• Peripheral connection short distance
• High OCP
• Expensive

Corsair RM550x

Corsair RM550x is one of the most reliable PSUs accessible in the market. Its reliability is all because of the Japanese 105 DegreeC capacitors. Additionally, it is made with such a professionalism that its components deliver 80+ Gold efficiency. 

Corsair RM550x has everything you want. It is efficient and has Fan-bearing Technology. It can also be easily upgraded because of the modular cables that are installed in it. 

The company gives a 10-year warranty that attracts most of the customers towards this Corsair RM550x. The Zero RPM mode enables it to work ineffectively silent at low and medium loads even if it is using the max power.

Specifications

Brand Name:	Corsair
Model Number:	CP-9020177-NA
Color:	80+ Gold
Modular:	Full Modular
Dimensions:	6.3 x 5.9 x 3.4 inches
Weight:	3.36 Pounds
Input:	Up to 550Watts
Output:	DC 550W
Form Factor:	ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Cooling Power:	135mm Cooling Fan
Efficiency:	89-91%
Warranty:	10 Years

Pros

• Excellent performance and top quality
• Semi-passive operation
• Quite operational and silent
• Fully Modular Cables
• Japanese Caps
• High Efficiency

Cons

• No button for fan testing
• Expensive

Seasonic SSR-600TL

Seasonic SSR-600TL is the most advanced PSU you have seen till now. It is rated at 80+ Titanium because of the efficiency and it has the highest power output as well. The results are clean and output is stable because of the components installed in it that are of high quality.

This SSR-600 TL allows the best cable management in the personal computers due to the fully moduled cables that are being used in Seasonic SSR-600Tl. 

Most significantly it is a fanless technology that makes it unique among all the available PSUs in the market, eliminating any kind of fan noises.  

Specifications

Brand Name:	Seasonic
Model Number:	SSR-600TL
Color:	Silver
Modular:	Full Modular
Dimensions:	6.7 x 5.9 x 3.4 inches
Weight:	2.2 Pounds
Input:	Up to 650Watts
Output:	DC 600W
Form Factor:	ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Cooling Power:	Passive
Efficiency:	90% efficient at 100% load, 94% efficient at 50% load,and 92% efficient at 20% load
Warranty:	12 Years

Pros

• Excellent quality with long time warranty
• Silent to zero noise
• 2x EPS & 4x PCIe connectors
• High efficiency
• High temperature resilient

Cons

• Short peripheral distance
• No top-notch transient performance
• expensive

A Comprehensive Wrap-Up

In short, the selection of a reliable and good quality PSUs must be followed by the above-mentioned vital steps. Reliable and stable PSUs will deliver their best. For purposeful surety, it’s recommended to always check the safety protection features in the PSUs like OVP, OPP, etc. Some PSUs are free from fans that eliminate the risk of noise-producing. Finally, the best PSU shall be selected and searched before finalizing it randomly. If the buying process is followed by random selection it will be the waste of both time and money.

I will recommend you to root for either Tier S, A, or B. They are renowned for providing high-end performance with a prolonged lifespan. Even Warranty is around a couple of years. Buy once, and enjoy for a lifetime!

Frequently Ask Question

What is the consensus on the PSU tier list 3.0?

The list is arbitrary and subject to change. Most of the consensus correlates to the record being biased and generally flawed. The reason is nothing but the stuffing of PSUs that are not based on the generally accepted view of the majority of the population. Although some of the components in the tier speaks volumes, the others are just not in their right position.

What PSU brand is the best?

There’s not a concrete answer to it. It’s because most of the existing PSUs from top brands are reliable and flagged as the best brands to get hold of. For example, you can consider Antec, Corsair, Enermax, FSP, OCZ, Seasonic, and XFX to be equally reputable. It’s entirely okay to cherry-pick from any one of the mentioned brands. They all are of top-notch quality.

Is Enermax a good PSU brand?

Truly speaking, Enermax falls within the “go-to” category. It means that you can consider buying Enermax PSUs without putting in any negative thoughts. Although it lacks a couple of offerings that are being made from other reputable PSU brands, I’ll say Enermax could be your middle ground.

Are Deepcool PSUs good?

Honestly speaking, Deepcool is known for producing mediocre (average) PSUs. It sorts of falls within the category of “Just okay” PSU. It’s better to either root for Seasonic or corsair PSUs, which are formidable and versatile. It’s not recommended to comprise on the quality of the PSU since most of the components are dependent on it.

Is PowerSpec a good PSU brand?

Well, PowerSpec comes with a DC-DC design, which is a good thing for a PSU. It’s worth mentioning that the PowerSpec is an exclusive microcenter brand. It might not fascinate you because of a few negative findings of the brand. What you can do is sieve through all the top products from the PowerSpec and choose the one which related to you. Otherwise, Corsair and Seasonic all the way long!

Read Also:

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GPU Tier List 2020