Power Supply Calculator
Use our PSU Calculator to choose the right PSU wattage for your GPU and CPU. Input your main components and the calculator will estimate the best CORSAIR power supply for your PC build, including extra headroom for common parts like fans, RAM, storage, and cooling.
How to choose the right PSU wattage for your GPU
Your graphics card is usually the biggest factor in PSU selection, but it is not the only one. A good PSU recommendation should consider:
- GPU power draw: Higher-end GPUs need more wattage and may require modern power connectors.
- CPU pairing: A power-hungry CPU can push a system into the next PSU tier.
- Transient power spikes: Modern GPUs can briefly draw more power than their typical rating, so headroom matters.
- Overclocking: Overclocked CPUs and GPUs use more power and generate more heat.
- Upgrade plans: Extra wattage can help you avoid replacing your PSU when you upgrade later.
- Case and form factor: Standard ATX cases support the widest PSU selection, while Small Form Factor builds may need SFX or SFX-L power supplies.
- Connector support: Many current GPUs benefit from PSUs built for ATX 3.1, PCIe 5.1, and the 12V-2x6 power connector.
As a simple starting point:
| PSU wattage | Best for |
|---|---|
| 650W | Mainstream gaming PCs with efficient CPUs and mid-range GPUs |
| 750W | Higher mid-range GPUs, stronger CPUs, and moderate upgrade headroom |
| 850W | High-performance gaming PCs, and many enthusiast builds |
| 1000W | High-end GPUs, high-end CPUs, overclocking, and larger upgrade headroom |
| 1200W–1500W+ | Flagship GPUs, extreme CPUs, heavy overclocking, or workstation-style builds |
The calculator uses your selected CPU and GPU to narrow this down, then recommends a suitable CORSAIR PSU from current families such as CX-M, RMe, RMx, RMx SHIFT, HXi, and HXi SHIFT, where applicable. For Small Form Factor cases, it will prioritize compatible compact PSU options.
Current GPU wattage guidance
The exact PSU you need depends on the full system, but these examples can help you understand where different GPUs usually land.
| GPU class / example | Typical PSU range to consider | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstream GPUs, such as the RTX 5060 | 550W–650W | Suitable for efficient gaming builds with stock CPU settings |
| Upper mainstream GPUs, such as the RTX 5070 | 650W–750W | 750W is safer with a higher-end CPU or for future upgrades |
| High-end GPUs, such as the RTX 5080 | 850W–1000W | 750W may work in efficient builds; 850W gives more headroom |
| Flagship GPUs, such as the RTX 5090 | 1000W+ | 1000W is generally suitable, but extreme overclocking or workstation builds may need more |
Always check your GPU manufacturer's PSU recommendation, especially for factory-overclocked graphics cards.
If you want a quick lookup instead of using the calculator, see our Recommended PSU Table & GPU Power Requirements page.
Why ATX 3.1, PCIe 5.1, and 12V-2x6 matter
Modern graphics cards can draw power differently than older GPUs. A PSU built for current standards is designed to better support high-power graphics cards and their short-duration power spikes.
- ATX 3.1 defines updated power supply behavior for modern systems.
- PCIe 5.1 relates to current PCI Express power delivery requirements.
- 12V-2x6 is the updated GPU power connector standard that succeeds 12VHPWR and is designed to improve connector reliability when properly inserted.
If you are building with a current-generation GPU, choosing a PSU with native support for these standards can reduce cable clutter and improve compatibility.
How does the PSU calculator work?
It adds up the power requirements for your selected GPU and CPU, then adds extra wattage to account for other components typically found in a medium to high-end gaming PC. This extra allowance covers parts such as:
- Up to 4x sticks of RAM
- Up to 4x M.2 SSDs
- Up to 2x SATA SSDs
- An AIO CPU cooler
- Up to 10x RGB fans
The calculator also accounts for overclocking, upgrade headroom, PSU form factor, and the type of recommendation you may need: best overall, premium, or budget-friendly.
Example PSU calculations
Example 1: Mainstream gaming PC
| Component | Example |
|---|---|
| CPU | Ryzen 5 9600X |
| GPU | RTX 5060 GPU |
| Other parts | 2x RAM sticks, 1–2x M.2 SSDs, air or AIO cooling, several fans |
| Estimated system load | Moderate |
| Added headroom | For GPU spikes, fans, storage, and future upgrades |
| Recommended PSU range | 650W |
For this type of build, a quality 650W PSU is often a strong fit. If you plan to upgrade the GPU later, a 750W model can be a better long-term choice.
Example 2: High-end gaming PC
| Component | Example |
|---|---|
| CPU | Ryzen 7 9800X3D |
| GPU | RTX 5080 GPU |
| Other parts | 2–4x RAM sticks, multiple M.2 SSDs, AIO cooling, RGB fans |
| Estimated system load | High |
| Added headroom | For transient spikes, CPU boost behavior, and upgrades |
| Recommended PSU range | 850W–1000W |
For a high-end GPU and CPU combination, 850W is often a practical baseline, while 1000W gives more room for overclocking and future upgrades.
