I'm building my first PC with an RTX 5070 Ti, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32 GB of DDR5 memory, and a motherboard that hasn't been chosen yet. I was originally considering a Corsair power supply in the 800–1000W range, but spending $250–$300 feels excessive. I'm open to other reliable brands and would appreciate advice on the appropriate wattage and models.
4 Answers
A good 850W Gold power supply is probably the sweet spot. Models such as the be quiet! Pure Power 12 or 12 M, MSI MAG A850GL, Thermaltake Toughpower, Cooler Master, or ASRock Steel Legend are worth considering when discounted. Your system should draw roughly 540W under load, so 850W leaves plenty of margin; 1000W is optional rather than necessary.
Use a reputable PSU tier list as a starting point, but you can find a dependable unit for around $90–$130. Look for an ATX 3.x model with a native 12V-2x6 cable if possible, since that makes it a better match for a modern graphics card. An 850W model would be my recommendation unless you plan unusually heavy overclocking or major future upgrades.
You can get away with a quality 750W or 850W unit, and an 80 Plus Bronze model from a reputable manufacturer should be enough. Prices around $120–$150 are much more typical than $300 for this setup.
A Corsair RM850e would be a solid choice. An RM750e can work too, but 850W gives you more breathing room and is a better fit for this kind of build. You don’t need to spend anywhere near $250–$300 for a good unit.
I’d lean toward 850W rather than 750W if the price difference is small, since it gives you some extra headroom for transient power spikes and future upgrades.