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It can be tough to find a great reliable budget power supply. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the best reliable and efficient PC gaming power supplies under $50. Additionally, the power supplies listed below are all 80 plus certified. They are also constructed to perform great for almost any computer build that requires a 450W to 620W PSU.
The Heart of a PC Build
While the CPU is considered the brain of a PC, the power supply is the heart that provides power to all components of a PC. If you have a bad heart, then other organs of the body wouldn’t receive sufficient oxygen-rich blood. This can cause organs to not perform properly or even worst cause them to become damaged. This same principle applies to power supplies. A bad PSU will cause other components of a PC to not receive adequate power. This will lead to poor performance and even damage to those components. Therefore, one could even say that the power supply is the most important hardware of a PC.
Two most important factors when buying a power supply:
Reliability
A power supply must be reliable. Meaning it is constructed of high-quality parts for better durability and dependability. It should also feature the latest heavy-duty protections to ensure the safety of other PC components.
Efficiency
A power supply must have at the very least an 80 Plus White efficiency rating. An efficiency rating of 80 plus means that a power supply is at the very least 80% efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% under typical loads.
80 Plus Efficiency Rating:
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EVGA 500 W1 Power Supply
From their budget options to the higher end models, EVGA is famous for their excellent and very durable power supplies. The EVGA 500 W1 is a 500W power supply that should be more than plenty for a budget or mid-range PC build.
This is an 80+ White power supply, which guarantees at least 80% efficiency under typical loads. The W1, even though a budget model, comes with quite a lot of features, including over voltage, under voltage, over current and over power protection, as well as short circuit protection.
You’re getting a single +12V rail for the best power output, as well as rail stability, and the PSU is rated in continuous power, instead of peak power which is common for many budget models. This is where you want to be if you’re aiming at building your PC now and keeping it running for a good while without replacing the PSU.
EVGA 500 W1 Specifications:
| Efficiency Certification Rating | 80 Plus White |
| Type | ATX12V |
| +12V Rails | Single |
| Maximum Power | 500W |
| Dimensions | 85mm x 150mm x 140mm |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Modular | No |
| Connectors | 1x ATX, 1x EPS, 2x PCIe, 6x SATA, 3x 4-pin peripheral, 1x floppy, 1x AC |
| Protections | OVP (Over Voltage Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OCP (Over Current Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), and SCP (Short Circuit Protection) |
Pros:
Single 12V rail for maximum power and efficiency
Provides 85% efficiency under typical loads
Reliable and efficient
120mm sleeve bearing fan
Heavy-duty protection that keeps components safe
Cons:
Not modular
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Thermaltake Smart Power Supply
The Thermaltake Smart is a 500W power supply that can be used in most budget to some high-end PC builds. It has an 80+ White efficiency rating, meaning that it will run at 80% efficiency under typical load. Additionally, this power supply has all the important protections to ensure the safety of your PC components. It also features an embedded intelligent cooling fan and a quiet dynamic fan bearing. If you’re looking for a great 500W power supply under $50, look no further than the Thermaltake Smart power supply.
Thermaltake Smart Specifications:
| Efficiency Certification Rating | 80 Plus White |
| Type | Intel ATX 12V 2.3 |
| +12V Rails | 1 |
| Maximum Power | 500W |
| Dimensions | 3.39 x 5.91 x 5.51 inches |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Modular | No |
| Connectors | 1 x MB 20+4 Pin, 1 x CPU 12V 4+4 Pin, 4 x SATA, 3 x Peripheral 4 Pin, 1 x FDD Cable 4 Pin, and 2 x PCI-e 6+2 Pin |
| Protections | (OPP) Over Power Protection, (OVP) Over Voltage Protection, and (SCP) Short Circuit Protection |
Pros:
Efficiency of up to 86%
Fluid dynamic fan bearing
Embedded intelligent cooling fan
Heavy-duty protection that keeps components safe
Cons:
Not modular
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EVGA 500BR
The 500BR is EVGA’s entry-level power supply, but it’s still one that has all the necessary bells and whistles of a good PSU. With a 500W maximum power, it’s enough to run most entry-level or midrange builds. The efficiency is 80+ bronze, which means you’ll get 85% efficiency, or higher, under typical loads.
While the 500BR is not modular, that’s not something we would expect at this price point. It does have all the necessary connectors – even a floppy connector if you still need it. To add to this, you get all the industry-standard protections – OVP, UVP, OCP, OPP, SCP, and OTP, so you’re pretty much set and nothing can happen to the PSU. Pair this with a 3-year manufacturer warranty, and you’ve got yourself an excellent budget PSU to power your next build.
EVGA 500BR Specs:
| Efficiency Certification Rating | 80+ Bronze |
| Type | ATX12V |
| +12V Rails | Single |
| Maximum Power | 500W |
| Dimensions | 85mm x 150mm x 140mm |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Modular | No |
| Connectors | 1x ATX, 1x EPS, 2x PCIe, 6x SATA, 3x Four-pin peripheral, 1x floppy |
| Protections | OVP (Over Voltage Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OCP (Over Current Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection), and OTP (Over Temperature Protection) |
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Apevia ATX-PR600W Prestige
If you thought you could only getWhite and Bronze rated PSUs below $50, check again. The Apevia Prestige 600W is not only more powerful than most of its similarly-priced competitors, but it also comes with an 80+ gold rating which means it’s more reliable and stable under load, too.
With a single 12V output for more demanding scenarios, you’ll be able to push the PSU quite a bit. There are a 6pin and 8 pin PCIe connectors, which means you can easily go with a dual GPU setup here, and you also get four SATA ports, as well as four peripheral ports, too. Unfortunately, it’s not modular, but at this price, we aren’t too surprised.
All of the required protection standards are here, so you can rest assured this is a reliable PSU, and it’s also got RoHS compliance certification, too. If you want the best bang for your buck, this is it.
Apevia ATX-PR600W Prestige Specs:
| Efficiency Certification Rating | 80+ Gold |
| Type | ATX12V |
| +12V Rails | Single |
| Maximum Power | 600W |
| Dimensions | 85mm x 160mm x 150mm |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Modular | No |
| Connectors | 1x ATX, 1x EPS, 2x PCIe, 4x SATA, 4x Peripheral |
| Protections | OVP (Over Voltage Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OCP (Over Current Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection), and OTP (Over Temperature Protection) |
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Thermaltake Smart 430W
Thermaltake is a pretty popular name in the peripherals and cases industry, but they’ve also got some really nice budget power supplies, too. The Smart 430W is their solution for users who want to power an entry-level build, and with an 80+ certification, it gets 80%efficiency under minimal load.
As you would expect at this price, this isn’t a modular power supply, but it still has plenty of connectors, including the standard ones, as well as two PCIe, four SATA, four peripheral, and even an FDD port. Another compromise was made in terms of protections, because the Smart 430W only comes with OVP, OPP, and SCP, whereas many competitive products have quite a lot more. If you don’t mind this, however, and would like to save a few bucks, it’s still a great budget pick.
Thermaltake Smart 430W Specs:
| Efficiency Certification Rating | 80+ White |
| Type | ATX12V |
| +12V Rails | Single |
| Maximum Power | 430W |
| Dimensions | 86mm x 150mm x 140mm |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Modular | No |
| Connectors | 1x ATX, 1x EPS, 2x PCIe, 4x SATA, 4x Peripheral, 1x FDD |
| Protections | OVP (Over Voltage Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection) |
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