The best power supplies for overclocking and overclocking: TOP-5 models with a capacity of 850 W and above

Chieftec does not quite add up with the Hi-End segment of power supplies. The company's product range is full of serious models with a power of 750 W or more, however, due to minor flaws and the need to save, few of them could impose serious competition on top models from Be quiet, Thermaltake and Seasonic. But the Navitas model has finally succeeded.

For $110, this model offers 1000W of power, which should be enough for any overclocker build, 90% efficiency (80+ Gold certified), a basic set of protections, 4 PCI-E slots and the ability to partially disconnect unnecessary cables to give the case decoration more tidy look. Considering the price, Navitas is actually the only competitor in the “1000W + 80+ Gold” class is a good, but rather noisy Zalman EBT EBT-ZM1000 Price from 6 560 up to 6 720 ₴. Everything else will cost much more.

However, what is more important here is not the price, but the final result. Due to the use of advanced circuitry and high-quality element base, Chieftec Navitas in tests proved to be a trouble-free small, stably withstanding any load of any nature and duration. What I liked the most was the quiet ball-bearing cooler, the ability of the power supply to deliver power 15% higher than the nominal power (1150 W) for a short time, and the ability of the stabilization system to keep the supply voltage deviation range on the main lines within ± 2% (instead of the permissible ± 5%). You can only complain about only 4 PCI-E slots, which may not be enough to connect additional power to video cards. However, in practice, he calmly “started” a system with four GTX 1070 Ti with a little overclocking. And this is more a story about mining, not video games.

When it comes to power supplies, the name Zalman is primarily associated with low-cost power supplies on OEM platforms. A couple of years ago, the brand decided to attract the attention of wealthy enthusiasts and introduced a new line of ARX power supplies, which became one of the most affordable "platinum" options in domestic retail.

And a reasonable question arises in my head, what did they save on here and what surprises should we expect? Looking ahead, we will say that there will be no surprises, the power supply is well-assembled, the circuitry is exclusively Japanese (capacitors from Nippon, Rubycon and Unicon), the hybrid cooling system does an excellent job, and the platform from Enhance Electronics gives no reason to complain. In tests, Zalman ARX showed high voltage stability (perfect for 12 V and good for the rest), minimal ripple and high efficiency.

There are a lot of connectors, they are distributed quite well along the cords, besides, all the cords are removable.

As testing has shown, the relative cheapness gives only the only objective reason for nit-picking - noticeable noise at high load. When running at low power, when the PSU is in passive mode, the noise level is very low, but at a load of 170 W, the fan turns on and makes a noticeable noise. In general, if the "gold" power supplies seem to be insufficiently efficient, and the "titanium" ones are too expensive, then this "platinum" option is a very attractive offer. In our opinion, it makes sense to choose more expensive alternatives only with increased requirements for acoustic comfort.

Gigabyte's range of power supplies is relatively small, but there are solutions for both the most economical and wealthy users. The former are represented by the Gigabyte P-Series P650B Price from 2 267 up to 3 407 ₴ and some slightly more expensive items. The second ones appeared only in the summer of 2018, and they belong to the Gigabyte Aorus gaming line. It is her representative that is the hero of today's review.

At first, enthusiasts were wary of the new player, but in the heat of the tests, doubts disappeared - we really have a Hi-End product without weaknesses, which will become a reliable basis for a gaming system with a couple of top-end video cards. Here you have an active power factor corrector with an extended voltage range (100 - 240 volts), and Japanese capacitors, and perfectly adjusted input voltages, and a low level of ripple. Efficiency is at a high level of 80 Plus Gold, and it significantly exceeds the performance of other Gold PSUs, in particular, at medium loads. And the power supply itself remains operational even with overloads at the level of 15% of the total power.

The list of other benefits is also impressive: fully modular cables in the form of stubs, a full range of security measures and a spinner on a pair of ball bearings with an extended life. She knows how to switch to passive mode, but at loads above average it starts to make a noticeable noise. At least when compared with other Hi-End power supplies like be quiet! Straight Power 11 BN280 or Corsair HX Series CP-9020139-EU Price from 6 499 up to 12 827 ₴. You can also complain about the short distance between the SATA and PATA connectors. In practice, this is unlikely to cause problems, but if you plan to create a large disk system, be sure to consider this point.

Corsair's HX1000i power supply is a very successful new model that pleases with very good performance and features. You'll get 80+ Platinum certification, a fully modular cable management system, and Corsair Link interface previously only found on the top Corsair AXi family.

It boasts 92% efficiency, 850W power and is based on a modern technical platform, with quality Japanese capacitors and all protection methods. In tests, the Corsair HX1000i delivered stable output voltages with low ripple/noise. However, he made almost no noise. Otherwise, everything is also more than worthy: high-quality circuitry and components are used, the cooling system is correctly configured, the design meets all modern requirements.

In tests, the efficiency of the model always corresponded to the level of 80+ Platinum, and in general, the results are no worse than the reference models Seasonic Platinum SS-1000XP . Although, both are expensive, so any problems in a good way should be viewed under a magnifying glass. Fortunately, there are practically none. The only drawback that we have identified is the increased thermal load of low-voltage capacitors at low and medium power. However, this disadvantage is inherent, to one degree or another, in all power supplies with a hybrid cooling system.

brand be quiet! is strongly associated with expensive and high-quality A-class products. However, the Dark Power Pro 11 power supply stands out even against the background of eminent brothers, its list of regalia is really impressive. For example, it reaches 94% efficiency (as evidenced by the 80+ Platinum certification), it can work 24/7 at an ambient temperature of 50 ° C (meets the requirements of server hardware), and the OEM hardware platform is well known to overclockers. -platform from FSP.

The concern for overclockers does not end there. For example, a separate switch for operating modes of the + 12V line is placed on the power supply case: it can be single or divided into four “virtual” channels with current limits. At the same time, the channel itself is dedicated and boasts a load capacity of 99% of the rated power. You can connect 4 additional coolers to the power supply itself, which will work in sync with the stock cooler. Well, the exceptionally quiet operation of that goodness is achieved thanks to the branded cooler be quiet! SilentWings on a hydrodynamic bearing.

There is no point in talking about line stability, peak power reserve and ripple frequency, all these indicators are at the level of the best power supplies on the market. The power reserve of 13%, which is available at peak loads, is also impressive. As a result, the tested model can no doubt be recommended for use in high-end systems with multiple graphics cards. Perhaps the only thing that can stop you from buying such a device is the high cost. But this is an uncompromising flagship with no weaknesses, so the price is justified. It is also one of the longest blocks in its category, be sure to consider this before buying.