Hardware pick

PSU / Power Supply (850W+, 80+ Gold)

The unglamorous part of a GPU build that is genuinely worth not cheaping out on - real headroom above the GPU's rated draw.

Typical price: $90-180

Why this is worth getting right

The full PC build guide covers the real failure mode here: people size a power supply for the GPU's listed draw alone and forget the CPU, drives, and fans pull from the same supply. A GPU rated at 450W under load, in a system with no other headroom, is exactly the kind of build that runs fine at idle and then crashes or throttles the moment a model actually starts generating.

Add at least 150-200 watts of headroom above your GPU's rated draw to cover the rest of the system - that's the number to actually shop by, not the GPU's spec sheet number alone.

What to look for

80+ Gold certification or better - this measures power efficiency, not raw capability, but a certified unit is also a reasonable proxy for build quality at this price point
850W minimum for a single high-end GPU build like the one in the full PC build guide; 1000W+ if you want real headroom for a future upgrade
Fully or semi-modular cables - not required, but genuinely helps with airflow in a case that already needs to move heat away from a large GPU

This is not the part to save $20 on. An unbranded or off-brand PSU failing doesn't just turn a machine off - a bad one can take other components with it. Stick to established brands with real warranties (Corsair, Seasonic, EVGA, and similar) rather than the cheapest listing that claims the right wattage.

I don't pin this to one specific model - PSU lineups get refreshed constantly and today's best value pick shifts often. This search link goes straight to current 850W+, 80+ Gold power supplies on Amazon:

See current power supply options on Amazon →

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