Ok, so the truth is that there’s no such thing as a gaming power supply; however, there are certainly some power supplies which are more desirable for your gaming PC.

What to look for – PSU Buying Guide:

Modular: A modular PSU is one whose cords are detachable. Considering how important efficient air flow is in keeping your system and hardware cool you should strongly lean towards a power supply that is modular. Remember that hardware that is overheated suffers from not only sluggish performance, but an increased chance of failure as well. Here’s a list of our top modular power supplies of 2011.

80 PLUS: Your power supply runs all of the power coming into your machine to all of your components. Why then would you short change it? Make sure that your power supply is at least 80 PLUS certified for efficiency.

How much power do you need? 

The power you need completely depends upon your build. I highly recommend you take a look at Thermaltake’s PSU calculator and enter your information to make sure that you have enough power. A general rule of thumb is to purchase a supply that has 100w over anything that you calculate. Better safe than sorry.

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While brand does matter as long as you stick with a brand with a good reputation that is 80 PLUS certified, then you should be ok.

Get a Good Deal – find a PSU that currently has a rebate.

If you look hard enough, then you’ll be able to find a power supply with a rebate. Companies are able to outsource rebates to lower the prices of their hardware because many consumers buy the product and don’t even turn it in. That being said if you don’t turn it in, then you’re helping to lower the rate for others.

Overall you’ll generally get what you pay for with your PSU but if you look around you’ll be able to find a modular power supply at a decent price. Recently the OCZ ModXStream Pro has had rebates of up to $30 on their 600-700w power supplies with typical load efficiency at around 86%. At $50-60 this is a solid deal and one you should definitely consider purchasing. We’ve already used this on several single GPU gaming rigs and have had no problem. Want more ideas? Take a look at our list of bestselling power supplies which has a specification and comparison of all of today’s highest rated power supplies.