Introduction
Picking out a power supply on a budget can be a difficult task at times. For those that have limited themselves to $200, there are a myriad of power supplies available on the market, providing you with plenty of options to choose from. But how do you choose the best power supply to buy under $200? Is ATX 3.0 necessary for your PC build? Is efficiency rating an important quality to consider?
All of these factors will ultimately affect your choice of power supply, which can significantly increase how much money you spend. For this reason, sticking within a $200 budget for your power supply of choice can be quite convoluted. However, we’ve alleviated all of the stress that comes with deciding on a power supply, by rounding up the best options to buy under $200. We’ve been careful with our considerations, picking out a plethora of power supplies that cater to different use-cases, but also provide consumers with some alternative wattage options too.
Best Power Supply to Buy under $200: ASUS ROG THOR 850W Platinum
📸 View the ROG THOR gallery.
The best power supply to buy under $200 is the ASUS ROG THOR 850W Platinum. This power supply stands out as the best option under $200 primarily down to its efficiency, rated noise levels, and features. The ROG THOR is extremely quiet, even under load, thanks to the finely tuned fans, efficiency rating. This ensures that the fans will remain off at lower loads, minimising any buzzing or whirring sounds from your system. The ROG THOR is also able to display power supply information, providing enthusiasts with a way to tinker and view performance metrics while your system is running.
Efficiency: 4.7/5
Cabling & Modularity: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4.6/5
Our Verdict: 4.6/5
Skip to the full testing, gallery and where to buy the ROG THOR Platinum. ⬇️
Suggested Article: Best ASUS Intel Motherboards to Buy in 2023 – Our Top Picks!
The Best Power Supplies Under $200
1. Cooler Master V750 i Gold
Best ATX 3.0
Cooler Master’s V750 i Gold is a refresh of their renowned ‘V’ range of power supplies. These particular units shaped the power supply space, and have been popular options among consumers building a mid-range system.
The refresh upgrades some of the core specs from the original V750, such as utilising a semi-digital platform, providing users with more controls and configuration without having to delve into the BIOS.
The V750 i Gold supports the ATX 3.0 standard as well, so those with RTX 4000 graphics cards can use a single cable to easily plug in their GPU.
Key Specs
- Size: ATX
- Efficiency: 80 Plus Gold
- Modularity: Fully
- ATX 3.0: Yes
It is worth noting that the V750 i Gold sports an 80 plus gold rating, so there should be minimal power lost as heat at a 50% workload, which is the expected power draw you’d get from gaming. This is also fully validated by Cybenetics too, so there’s some security in knowing that the efficiency is consistent. Overall, the V750 i Gold is an excellent 750W power supply that provides some modern upgrades and improvements versus the original V750.
Pros
- 80+ Gold efficiency.
- Fully modular form factor.
- PCI-E 5.0 compatible.
Cons
- Overkill if you don't have an RTX 4000 GPU.
- Gold accent not for everyone.
2. ASUS ROG THOR 850W Platinum
Best Overall
The ROG THOR 850W Platinum from ASUS is our best overall power supply under $200, offering consumers an excellent set of features at its price point.
The most impressive thing to note about the ROG THOR is the fact that it performs almost silently, even under load. This means that during demanding tasks like gaming, noise levels should be kept to a minimum.
This PSU doesn’t feature support for the ATX 3.0 standard, but you’ll still be able to install an RTX 4000 graphics card with the included adapter. The ROG THOR also has an LCD screen and some addressable RGB on the side of the unit.
Key Specs
- Size: ATX
- Efficiency: 80 Plus Platinum
- Modularity: Fully
- ATX 3.0: No
These can be controlled using the included USB header cable, allowing you to change colour and lighting options. The screen on the side provides users with power information, such as wattage or fan speed. This is a useful way to view real-time system data, without having to go into the BIOS, which is an extremely useful feature for enthusiasts and tinkerers.
Pros
- RGB lighting
- LCD screen is useful
- Low noise levels
Cons
- Very expensive
- Not ATX 3.0
3. Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 850W
Best 80+ Gold
Thermaltake’s Toughpower GF A3 is a great ATX 3.0 compatible PSU, sitting well under the $200 mark. Picking up a PSU that supports the ATX 3.0 standard is a must-have for those with an RTX 4000 graphics card, as you can avoid the pesky NVIDIA adapters, which should aid with cable management. While the Toughpower GF A3 isn’t the most feature-rich power supply that we’ve looked at, Thermaltake have put more of a focus on power delivery and safety above all else.
This means the Toughpower GF A3 is a reliable unit that will minimise any spikes or surges, with the various protection mechanisms put in place.
Key Specs
- Size: ATX
- Efficiency: 80 Plus Gold
- Modularity: Fully
- ATX 3.0: Yes
It is also worth mentioning that the Toughpower GF A3 does offer a ‘Smart Zero Fan’ mode, which will keep the fan switches off until it exceeds a power load of 40% or higher. This will reduce the amount of noise coming from your PC build, keeping things quite across the board.
Pros
- Supports the ATX 3.0 standard.
- Solid noise and efficiency rating.
- Well priced.
Cons
- Can be a bit harder to find.
- Overkill for those without an RTX 4000 GPU.
4. Deepcool PX1000G
Best for Enthusiasts
Enthusiasts that have picked up the most powerful components money can buy, are likely going to need a 1000W unit to provide enough juice to their system. This is where the PX1000G comes to the fold as a perfectly viable option. This ATX 3.0 power supply from Deepcool offers an 80 plus gold rating, which is backed up with Cybenetics testing.
Turning on the fan-less mode of PX1000G using the dedicated switch will keep noise levels to a minimum, ensuring the fan is in a zero RPM state when under a lower load levels. The PX1000G also offers consumers a vast array of protection mechanisms, along with a 10 year warranty.
Key Specs
- Size: ATX
- Efficiency: 80 Plus Gold
- Modularity: Fully
- ATX 3.0: Yes
Should your PX1000G suffer any damage or not function properly, getting a replacement or a refund should be relatively easy. Overall, if you’re looking to secure a high wattage option for a top-end PC build, the PX1000G is a very solid power supply under $200 worth considering.
Pros
- Very solid efficiency rating.
- Offers a fan-less mode for minimal noise.
- 10 year warranty.
Cons
- No SFX variants available.
- Not as easy to secure.
How We Tested the Best Power Supplies Under $200
To determine which power supply is the best option on the market, all of the units that we’ve looked at have been put through a range of tests and analysis to ensure they perform as expected, and offer consumers an excellent value-proposition. When analysing power supplies, we take a range of factors into consideration to forge a solid overview, these include:
- Features
- Noise Levels
- Modularity
- Efficiency Rating
- Value for Money
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $200 Enough for a Solid Power Supply?
Yes it is. Although you’re not necessarily going to find a power supply that offers all of the bells and whistles, $200 is a great budget that will provide consumers with a wide breadth of wattages and efficiencies.
Is Efficiency Important?
It is, and it isn’t. While the efficiency rating of your power supply will affect how much power is lost as heat, protection mechanisms and warranty are often more important to consider. But this entirely depends on your use-case and the kind of PC you’re building.
Do I Need ATX 3.0?
If you’re an RTX 4000 owner, yes, as this will slim down cable management. If you’re not an RTX 4000 owner, an ATX 3.0 power supply will not be as vital.
