Best Modular Power Supplies for a Clean PC Build

After the debut power supplies from Gigabyte started to burn out left and right, many experts wrote off the brand and forgot about it. However, to the credit of the Taiwanese, they quickly made a serious effort to correct the mistakes and bounced back into the game. One of the company's main hits became the "gold" power supply PG5 with a gold quality certificate, detachable cable spaghetti, and Japanese capacitors Nippon Chemi-Con, which provide high quality, reliability, and durability of this PSU.

Gigabyte PG5 is made on the MEIC platform. This is a relatively new platform that, despite good reviews, requires additional optimization to achieve the best results. The platform uses the ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 architecture, ensuring full compatibility with modern systems and requirements. It also supports the latest PCIe 5.0 and ATX 3.0 standards necessary for powering especially powerful video cards of the current generation.

Despite the modest price (about 4000+ hryvnias for the 750 W model), it is a thoroughbred mid-range power supply that meets the standards of models one and a half times more expensive. With this in mind, we are ready to forgive it for not having the most successful cooling system, which works quietly at loads up to 50% but becomes noticeably noisy when the PC operates at its limits. There are also issues with the cables: for the sake of economy, the manufacturer used 2 EPS connectors on one cable, so the PSU may have problems due to overheating and voltage drop if you connect especially powerful and "greedy" components to it.

The Deepcool PN-M PN750M power supply meets high-quality standards, as confirmed by the 80 PLUS Gold certification. The model features a powerful +12V rail, providing a load up to 750W, and optimal efficiency at around 90%, which is enough for a modern gaming build. The overall ATX 3.1-based concept guarantees stability and safety of power supply in productive systems. The power scheme uses active power correction, DC-DC converters, and Japanese-origin capacitors, which have proven themselves on the best side. For cooling, a 120 mm fan with adaptive regulation technology based on temperature indicators is used. It is worth considering the noticeable noise even at moderate speeds.

The power supply is intended for those who appreciate a neat system unit. Modular wires take up less free space in compact cases and facilitate cable management. In the standard set of interfaces, the power supply line 8+8 pin for the most powerful processors stands out, as well as 16 pin standard PCIe 5.1 for top graphics cards with power consumption up to 450W. Additionally, 8 SATA and 2 MOLEX are available for drives of different generations. The wires are hidden in a braid to enhance aesthetics and provide extra protection against mechanical damage.

The manufacturer offers an extended protection system from threats. Besides the usual output overload and short circuit control mechanisms, there is input voltage stabilization, smoothing of startup currents, and safe operation in the absence of load. The company offers a 10-year warranty, which indicates the high reliability of the device. The PSU protects its components and connected components in real time, quickly reacts to dangerous situations, and withstands short-term excess power without shutting down.

Honestly, we're still not used to many Taiwanese PC component manufacturers recently venturing into creating monitors, mice, and power supplies for PCs. However, facts are facts, and MSI products quickly made their way onto the lists of recommended goods. The "gold" power supply MAG A750GL became one of the best-selling models of 2023, alongside Chieftec Polaris, Deepcool PK-D, and be quiet! Pure Power 12 M.

So, MSI MAG PCIE5 is an advanced and highly efficient power supply, adapted for ATX 3.0 architecture, featuring a 16-pin GPU connector, and supporting the PCIe 5.0 standard required for powering new-generation graphics cards like NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 and similar Radeon solutions. The wires are fully modular; unnecessary ones can be disconnected and stashed away for better times. Conveniently, the 12VHPWR connectors are colored yellow, making it easier for users to see if the cable is fully plugged in. According to MSI, improperly connected cables frequently brought users to the service center.

The unit is certified to 80 Plus Gold standards, guaranteeing high energy efficiency (90% efficiency). Inside is a superior component base with a resonant LLC converter, synchronous rectifier, and DC-DC converters, ensuring MAG PCIE5 delivers the highest precision and maximum output voltage stability, even under nearly 100% load. Also onboard are key protective tools, including overvoltage, overcurrent, and short circuit protection. Overall, the capabilities of the MSI MAG PCIE5 are quite suitable for powering a powerful processor and graphics card like Core i9-14900K and GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER.

The NZXT C750 Gold is a high-quality power supply for high-performance workstations and gaming PCs with an 80+ Gold efficiency rating, fully modular cable routing, a solid set of diverse protections, and an impressive 10-year warranty. Compared to the first versions, released several years ago, in this model, NZXT engineers switched to a hardware platform from Seasonic (which, to jump ahead, is very successful), improved the cooling system by adding an alternative quiet mode, updated the cable spaghetti, and basically everything.

If tests of first versions of this model received slightly mixed ratings in terms of efficiency, energy efficiency, and heating, then the 2022 update suggests a solid A. Inside the NZXT C750 are high-quality Japanese Nippon capacitors with a temperature rating of up to 105°C, ensuring long life and stable operation. The platform includes an LLC topology with a half-bridge converter and DC-DC converters, providing stable power with a smooth energy distribution curve and minimal spikes and dropouts. Additionally, two EPS connectors allow the model to be used with the most modern and high-performance processors, graphics cards, and motherboards.

In turn, the hydrodynamic bearing fan provides quite quiet and efficient cooling even at around 80% load, as well as support for Zero RPM mode. The only downside is that with a sharp power increase, the rotation speed increases exponentially, which on the one hand helps maintain optimal component temperature, but on the other can lead to increased noise. In general, it's the only negative. Otherwise, NZXT produced a rarely successful power supply that can be praised for a long time and have almost no reason to criticize.

The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M BP026 power supply allows for the creation of an efficient and quiet PC through the use of quality components and modern technology. The model is equipped with a low-noise (21 dB) 120 mm fan of its own manufacture with optimized blades to increase airflow while maintaining standard revolutions. The cooling system works in a semi-passive mode with fan shutdown during low loads. The PSU features a modular cable structure, which is the basis of a neat build, eliminating interference with airflow and extraneous noise.

The technical component includes proven energy conversion schemes, effective heat dissipation, performance enhancement, and protection against numerous threats to both the power supply and connected devices. The advanced active PFC module copes with unstable power grid parameters and increases the model's efficiency to 94% for confident and long operation at high loads. The PSU complies with the gold energy efficiency standard according to 80+ and Cybenetics classification and can be freely used in productive gaming PCs, as well as in multimedia content processing, development, design systems. The main +12V rail can output a stable 750W and withstand short-term excessive loads. The model is compatible with advanced Intel/AMD AI processors requiring complex 8+8 pin power, as well as top-segment graphics cards with a 16 pin connector (12V-2x6, 12VHPWR). An optimal option for enthusiasts and safe overclocking due to the extended protection system. Electronic components are resilient to overload, short circuit, unstable and lowered voltage.